What coach and sports trainer accreditation does my team need?
Rule- New South Wales
- NSWRL
- Community rugby league
- Under 6-Open Age
- 2026
- Team managers
- Volunteers
Under NSWRL Policy 4.8, each team must have an appropriately accredited coach in attendance before any match can commence. No match starts under any circumstances without, as a minimum, the on-field safety personnel prescribed by the NRL On-Field Policy at the venue. A coach cannot act as both coach and the required on-field safety person in the same game. A match is deemed a forfeit by any team that does not have the required personnel present.
The NSWRL 2023 Team Managers Manual sets out the minimums for trainers:
| Age group | Minimum accreditation | Shirt colour |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 to Under 9 | League First Aid | Green |
| Under 10 to Under 15 (including Tag) | League First Aid | Green |
| Under 16 to Open Age | Level 1 Sports Trainer | Blue |
- Under 6 to Under 12: the home venue must have at least a volunteer with League First Aid accreditation for games to proceed.
- Under 13 to Under 15: each team must have a League First Aid accredited trainer or the game will not proceed.
- Under 16 to Open Age: each team must have an accredited Level 1 Sports Trainer or the game will not proceed.
The manual says a team without the right trainer cannot play and is deemed to have forfeited. Coaches who have not completed their accreditations by 30 June of the season cannot continue to coach at training or on game day. Volunteers who only want to run water can do the free online League Safe course.
Added 24 Oct 2026