For girls and women aged 7 and over playing AFL community football (Under 8 to Seniors) in the 2026 season. Covers age groups and minimum ages, mixed football to Under 14, playing up and down, the AFL Gender Diversity Policy, AFLW-style senior women's rules, registration, transfers and playing while pregnant.
AFL community football age groups run from Under 8 to Under 19, then Seniors. The national handbook does not set separate girls' groups, so girls play in the same age groups as boys: mixed teams or girls-only teams up to Under 14, and girls' competitions from then on (see the mixed teams question below).
To play in a competition you must be 7 years old by a set date in the playing year, which depends on your state or territory:
The 2019 AFL National Female Community Football Guidelines recommend that leagues run single-age groups for each year level in junior and youth girls' competitions where possible, and two-year groups where the girls' pathway is still developing. What your league actually offers is its own decision.
Source: AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook, February 2026, Section 3.1.
Your age group depends on your age as at 31 December of the year before the season. The AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook (February 2026) gives this example: a player who is 11 on 31 December 2025 plays Under 12 in 2026 (assuming single age groups).
The table below shows the age you turn in the playing year for each group, and the minimum age as at 31 December before it:
| Age group | Minimum age at 31 Dec before season | Age turning in the playing year |
|---|---|---|
| Under 8 | 7 | 7 or 8 |
| Under 9 | 7 | 7, 8 or 9 |
| Under 10 | 7 | 8, 9 or 10 |
| Under 11 | 8 | 9, 10 or 11 |
| Under 12 | 9 | 10, 11 or 12 |
| Under 13 | 10 | 11, 12 or 13 |
| Under 14 | 11 | 12, 13 or 14 |
| Under 15 | 12 | 13, 14 or 15 |
| Under 16 | 13 | 14, 15 or 16 |
| Under 17 | 14 | 15, 16 or 17 |
| Under 18 | 15 | 16, 17 or 18 |
| Under 19 | 16 | 17, 18 or 19 |
| Seniors | 16 | 17 or older |
You may be asked to provide evidence of your age.
Mixed competition age groups are only permitted up to and including Under 14 (AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook, February 2026, Section 3.1(b)(v)).
A player who is 14 or older as at 31 December of the year before the playing year must play in a competition age group that matches their gender. The only exceptions are where the player is approved under the AFL Gender Diversity Policy: Community Football, or where a state football body decides, in its absolute discretion, that there are exceptional and compelling circumstances (and the Gender Diversity Policy does not apply).
The 2019 AFL National Female Community Football Guidelines say girls up to 14 may choose a mixed or a female-only competition, and recommend that girls aged 13 and 14 play in a structured youth girls' competition where possible unless they are skilled, confident, physically capable and have their coach's and parents' consent.
Not if you are 14 or older. The AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook (February 2026) says a player who is 14 or older as at 31 December of the year before the playing year must not take part in both a boys' competition and a girls' competition at the same time or interchangeably. The rule stops players switching back and forth.
From that age you must also be in a competition age group that matches your gender, unless you are approved under the AFL Gender Diversity Policy: Community Football, or your state football body decides there are exceptional and compelling circumstances (where that policy does not apply).
Younger girls are not covered by this rule, because mixed competition age groups are allowed up to and including Under 14.
Only with approval. Under the AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook (February 2026), a controlling body (the league or state body running the competition) may let a player into a higher age group only where it finds exceptional and compelling circumstances. It must consider your physical capacity, experience, skill level and social maturity.
The 2019 AFL National Female Community Football Guidelines add:
Possibly, through age dispensation under Section 4 of the AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook (February 2026). You can apply to play in an age group below your own on the basis of a disability or physical size considerations. Being a girl, or being new to the game, is not a ground.
The AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook (February 2026) sets the minimum age for Seniors at 16 as at 31 December of the year before the playing year. In practice you are turning 17 or older in the season.
The 2019 AFL National Female Community Football Guidelines are softer: they recommend girls should be turning 16 in the year the competition starts, and that a younger player can apply in writing through her club, with her parent or guardian's written consent on a Parent Consent Form. A league may approve that only in exceptional circumstances.
If the two differ, the handbook's Seniors minimum age is the later and more detailed national policy. The handbook also lets a controlling body (the league or state body running your competition) allow a player into a higher age group in exceptional and compelling circumstances. That decision considers physical capacity, experience, skill level and social maturity.
Players below the Seniors minimum age play in the Under 19 or younger age groups.
The AFL National Female Community Football Guidelines (2019) recommend that leagues align senior women's competitions, where possible, with the AFLW rules of that time:
These are guidelines, so your league may run different numbers. The AFL's reasons include better player depth, more teams and tiers, and a less congested game.
The guidelines also say umpires must pay a free kick for a breach of the Laws, such as prohibited contact with the ball player, even if the contact was accidental.
The AFL Gender Diversity Policy: Community Football (issued 1 October 2020, adopted into the 2026 Policy Handbook) says:
Players aged 14 or older must play in an age group matching their gender unless approved under this policy.
Under the AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook (February 2026):
Yes, with medical support. The AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook (February 2026) says the AFL respects the right of pregnant, breastfeeding and carer players to take part and prohibits discrimination because of pregnancy.
The AFL National Female Community Football Guidelines (2019) recommend modified rules at junior and youth girls' gala days, "come and try" events and school gala days, whatever the players' age:
These are recommendations for gala days and "come and try" events, not rules for a regular season competition.