Junior Football Policies & Code

A decision by a family to have their child play football with the Club is a significant one.

It brings with it, new friendships, new experiences and, of course, tremendous excitement, substantial benefits in many areas. Junior football is certainly a great way to get fit and to develop physically. It is also a great introduction to many of life’s learning processes such as the development of camaraderie, the development of team spirit, learning to win with humility and, conversely, to lose with dignity. In sport, no one wins all the time. The lessons young players learn and will mould their character and help them throughout the rest of their life.

The overriding aim of the Club, at a Junior level, is to encourage participation at all levels and to teach young boys, and girls, how to play the game. To achieve these aims the Club, and above it, the EDFL, and above it, the AFL, have developed various Policies and “Codes of Conduct” which are applicable all young players, their Coaches, Officials and their parents. These Policies and Codes are contained in this website and should be read and understood by all. We want all players and their families to enjoy their time at the Greenvale Football Club but, above all, the game is there to be played by the kids - and their enjoyment should not be lessened by external pressures.

Having a child play with a Club involves more than simply paying a Membership fee and turning up to play each weekend. The Greenvale Football Club – is just that, it is a Club, not a business. Although the Committee bears the responsibility of ensuring that the Club is run properly there is an expectation that all Members of their Club and their family will contribute to the overall running of the Club.

A few people will ultimately serve on the Committee which can be a very satisfying experience. Other families may be able to become “sponsors” and financially assist the Club. However, the most direct way that families can assist the Club is by helping to “put the team on the field” every week. Every Junior team requires the following people to help make it operate smoothly:

• Coach
• Assistant Coach
• Runner
• Umpires’ Escort
• Time Keeper
• Goal Umpire
• Boundary Umpire

and perhaps more.

You will enjoy yourself much more if you become involved in helping out the team.

Furthermore, the operation of the canteen on “home games” is something that is essential in raising much needed funds for the operation of the Club. For instance, the Club pays the Essendon District Football League something in the order of $50,000.00 a year just in affiliation fees and Umpiring fees as well as incurring all the other administrative expenses to operate the Club and provide clothing, equipment and footballs.

The Club therefore relies on all families helping out from time to time with the operation of the canteen. Most teams only play 7 or 8 home games for the year and, given that it only takes 2 or 3 people to operate the canteen, it should only be necessary for each parent to help in the canteen one or two times.

The Club runs a number of functions throughout the year. These include Sportsman’s Nights, Dinner Dances, Meet the Coach Nights, large raffles and Presentation Nights. The Club looks forward to the support of all families so that these functions will be successful and will help raise funds.
The Club would strongly urge all families to become involved and maximise the social enjoyment that is to be gained from participating in such a great Club as the Greenvale Football Club.

Listed below are the various Policies and Codes of Conduct that are applicable to the operation of the Junior section of the Club. You should take time to read them.

Our Junior Football Policy (click here)
Player Code of Conduct (click here)
Parents’ Code of Conduct (click here)
Coaches’ Code of Conduct (click here)