Team Policy

MJFC Team Policy


The Montmorency Junior Football Club is a community based Club with the goal to provide a platform for Girls and Boys to play competitive football from the ages of seven through to seventeen, in a safe and friendly environment. We aim to not only develop the children’s skills as footballers, but also as human beings by instilling values of teamwork, selflessness, and discipline.

The Club also provides a wonderful opportunity to broaden the friendship base of both children and their families.

It is the stated objective of the Montmorency JFC to give as many children as possible the opportunity to participate in junior football at a level commensurate with their ability.

It is the preferred position of Football Victoria, the NFL and this Club that children play in the correct age group. We believe that players who play in the correct age level are easily able to extend their friendship/peer group and that they develop better in football, social and intellectual aspects.

Listed below are age groups for our upcoming season.

GIRLS

AGE GROUP – YEAR OF BIRTH

Under 12 –

Under 15 –

Under 18 –

BOYS

AGE GROUP – YEAR OF BIRTH

Under 9 –

Under 10 –

Under 11 –

Under 12 –

Under 13 –

Under 14 –

Under 15 –

Under 16 –

Under 17 –

Under exceptional circumstances the Montmorency JFC may give favorable consideration to allowing a player to play outside his/her age group. This would be unusual however, and both the request and permission would be given in writing and with the understanding that it would not be considered a precedent for future years.

The committee of the Montmorency JFC will be the sole arbiter of what is considered “exceptional circumstances.”

A highly likely occurrence of this situation being employed by the MJFC committee would be to ensure we have even numbers across the age groups, thus ensuring maximum participation time for as many players as possible. For instance if there were 29 players in Under 11′s and 33 players in Under 12′s we would prefer to have three even teams over this spectrum. Of course the player’s ability, size and family’s desire would also need to be very strongly considered. The goal of having each player achieve satisfactory ground time is paramount in our club.

Selection of players for teams is done by the Club each year. Where there is more than one team in the same age group the selection will be done with an emphasis upon ensuring all teams in the age group are competitive. It is also our stated desire not to have multiple MJFC teams in the same division of the same age group (Under 9‟s excluded).To this end we would try and ensure that both teams are of a competitive standard suiting the Division they would play in.

The MJFC committee, in consultation with the coaches and parents will endeavor to have all players play in a team which they desire. Of course the team allocation must also be conducted in harmony with all MJFC ideals. The teams will be composed upon several factors which include, player’s ability/size, immediate and intimate friendship group, family circumstances and, very importantly, with an even distribution of player numbers across all teams in the age group.

Importantly, every player will receive the same level of coaching & minimum game time requirements so as to develop their skills in all age groups and at all stages of development.

Game Time Entitlements

Under 9– Under 12’s Minimum 3 quarters per week.

Under 13’s – Under 16’s Minimum of 2 quarters per week with the aim of 3 quarters per week

Under 17 – Minimum 2 quarters per week

1. Policy on Entering Two or More Sides In The Same Age Group

(i)From Under 9‟s – Under 12‟s: There should be an even number of players in each team.

Teams are strongly encouraged to train together where practical and where coaching time availability allows. The teams are to train as one group for substantial portion of training session.

(ii) If the teams do not have even numbers then the team(s) with the greater number of players shall provide player(s) where practical to the other teams(s) when required.

(iii) Due to the truncated playing time and young age of the players the MJFC has a strong desire to keep the under 9′s team numbers at manageable levels.

2. More than 24 players in the team

(Note, whilst the 2013 NFL By Laws allows an unlimited bench in Under 9/Under 12 the MJFC advocate that only 24 players per week play in the team during the home and away season. This makes it far easier for the Coach to achieve the requirement of 3 quarters per game and implement the required rotations)

(a) When there are more than 24 players available and players need to be rostered off, the following guidelines should be applied.

(i) Under 9′s: Coaches should aim to maximise the number of players and the amount of game time for each player in negotiation with the opposition coach. If it is possible to play 20 V 20 then this is quite acceptable.

(ii) Under 10’s – 15’s inclusive: rostering should occur evenly across all players with no players being rostered off a second time before all other players being rostered off at least once.

(iii) Under 16-17′s: Rostering off should be at the discretion of the coach but no player should be rostered off for consecutive games.

(b) Exceptions to rostering off may occur in the event of injury, illness, or misconduct on the part of the player concerned.

(c) All players will be eligible to play finals if the team qualifies as long as the player has played the minimum game requirements set by the League.

3, Supplementary players (top up players)

(a)A younger player may fill in for an older age group if there is a shortage of players within the following guidelines

(i)The supplementary player may not play more than one age group higher without the permission of the MJFC Committee.

(ii)The supplementary players on field playing time must not exceed the on field time of any regular team members who is participating in the match (excluding injuries or send offs).

(iii)A supplementary player may only be employed in instances where there are less than 20 regular players available on one given day. (21 for finals matches) (iv)The team employing the Supplementary player must have the express permission of the player’s regular team’s coach and/or team manager.

(v)The team employing the supplementary player must have the explicit consent of the supplementary player’s parents.

(b)A like age player may fill in for another same age team if there is a shortage of players within the following guidelines

(i)The team wishing to employ the supplementary player has the permission of an MJFC committee member each and every time they wish to employ a supplementary player.

(ii)The supplementary players on field playing time must not exceed the on field time of any regular team members who is participating in the match (excluding injuries or send offs).

(iii)A supplementary player may only be employed in instances where there are less than 20 regular players available on one given day (21 for finals)

(iv)The team employing the Supplementary player must have the express permission of the player’s regular team’s coach and/or team manager.

(v)The team employing the supplementary player must have the explicit consent of the supplementary player’s parents.

Finals

The MJFC fully understand and accept that there is a heighten level of competitiveness associated with Finals games. In view of this the MJFC understand that playing time and rotations may need to be adjusted to suit the circumstances. This does not in any way mean that the MJFC are advocating at win at all cost ideology or deviating from our position of placing a premium on participation. We do however acknowledge that a heightened focus upon winning the game may mean the Coach may have to implement game day tactics on a tangent to the home and away game day tactics. We trust that by having high quality coaches, with the correct feel for Junior Sport and the ideals of the MJFC and our families, we can ensure that our Club strikes the correct balance of participation V result. Whilst it is nice to win the MJFC are fully committed to ensuring it is not the only thing that matters at our club.

Team Selection-(To be read in conjunction with existing Supplementary Players Policy)

Under 10-Under 12 (Boys)

There is a limit of 30 players allowed per team in these age groups. Where there are more than 30 players qualified to play in a team the selection of the players will be overseen by the Coach in accordance with MJFC Policy’s.

Under 12 (Girls)

There is a limit of 21 players allowed per team in these age groups. Where there are more than 21 players qualified to play in a team the selection of the players will be overseen by the Coach in accordance with MJFC Policy’s.

. (Subject to Rule 3a(iii))

Under 13-Under 17(Boys)

There is a limit of 24 players allowed per team in these age groups. Where there are more than 24 players qualified to play in a team the selection of the players will be overseen by the Coach in accordance with MJFC Policy’s.

The policy’s relating to the under 13-17’s Finals team selection are;

The MJFC place a great deal of importance on Club loyalty. In reciprocation there will be preference given to selection of players based upon years of service to the MJFC.

This does not mean a long serving player will get automatic selection (i.e. training behaviour are also factors) but it does mean length of MJFC service will be of very strong consideration when selection decisions are made.

If a Player was denied the opportunity to play in a Grand Final solely because of inferior service time to the club this player would, for the rest of their career at MJFC, be exempt from any future rotation in any club game.

No player can be omitted from selection for 2 consecutive finals game so long as their conduct is to the coach’s satisfaction.

Under 15/18 (Girls)

There is a limit of 21 players allowed per team in these age groups. Where there are more than 21 players qualified to play in a team the selection of the players will be overseen by the Coach in accordance with MJFC Policy’s.

If you would like to discuss the MJFC team policy further, please contact any member of the Executive Committee who would be happy to discuss this matter further with you.

Thank you in advance.