Accordion | Primary Australian Football Resources

• Rules and Competition Basics

  Expand Rules and Competition Basics

  Understanding the modified rules for primary school footy is straightforward and designed to maximize participation for both mainstream and multiclass students. Modified Rules: Tailored to keep games safe, engaging, and age-appropriate. Key Features: Simplified gameplay, modified tackling, and flexible field setups.

• Educational Videos

  Expand Educational Videos

  Watch our video series to assist teachers, student officials, and parents with the modified competition rules and matchday arrangements.

  Topic	Video Description
  Quick Tips	Key takeaways for game day success
  How to Setup the Field	Step-by-step guide to laying out your oval
  Umpiring	Essential guidance for officiating games
  Modified Tackling	Safe tackling guidelines and rules
  Number of Players	Team numbers and player rotation tips
  Perfect Play	Demonstrating ideal gameplay and flow

• Equipment Distribution and Ordering

  Expand Equipment Distribution and Ordering

  AFL Victoria is supplying goal posts, footies, and equipment kits directly to the School Sport Victoria community to support competition delivery.

  Standard Distribution

  • SSV Districts: 1 goal post set (including storage bag).
  • SSV Divisions: 4 complete equipment kits.
  • SSV Regions: 4 complete equipment kits.
  • SSV State: 4 complete equipment kits.

  Note: Each standard kit includes 2 size 3 footballs, 1 goal post set with a bag, and a set of marker cones. Need Extra Equipment?

  Schools and districts can purchase additional equipment directly from the AFL Store.

  • Purchase Extra Equipment

  Note for new users: First-time users must contact the AFL Customer Support Team to activate their account. Registered members will receive a username via email to set up a password.

• Lesson Plans

  Expand Lesson Plans

  Four-Week Lesson Unit

  Designed to build fundamental motor skills, our four-week unit teaches Australian Football through fun, structured play while developing rule awareness.

  • Download Lesson Plan

• Region Key Contacts

  Expand Region Key Contacts

  SSV and AFL Victoria region managers are available to assist teachers with education, matchday setups, and competition delivery.

  • Metro South: Eliza Straford — eliza.straford@afl.com.au | 0433 942 302
  • Metro East: Sam Howell — sam.howell@afl.com.au | 0499 303 290
  • Metro North: Chris Grigoriadis — chris.grigoriadis@afl.com.au | 0413 726 091
  • Metro West: Tim Downes — tim.downes@afl.com.au | 0499 224 098
  • West Country: David Alderuccio — david.alderuccio@afl.com.au | 0437 558 971
  • North Country: Kris Mannix — kris.mannix@afl.com.au | 0417 666 853

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

• Q: Why has SSV changed its Australian Football offering toward Primary students?

  Expand Q: Why has SSV changed its Australian Football offering toward Primary students?

  A: In partnership with AFL Victoria, School Sport Victoria (SSV) is making Australian Football as accessible as possible through modified rules. This aligns with SSV's strategic plan to align competition rules with State Sporting Organisations.

  The changes are designed to provide a better student experience for all participants—including seeing more touches of the ball, more goals, and keeping players constantly involved in the game. It also enables more students and schools, including multiple teams from single schools, to experience SSV primary school Australian Football.

  The change in format was discussed with the SSV community through coordinator region forums in 2023 and considered by the SSV Executive Team before approval. Trial Region competitions were conducted in 2023 and 2024 by AFL Victoria (with a State Finals event in November 2024), alongside research conducted by ACHPER Victoria to assess the suitability of the new approach.

• Q: Where can I find the rules for Primary Australian Football?

  Expand Q: Where can I find the rules for Primary Australian Football?

  A: The full rules can be found on the SSV Australian Football page.

• Q: I am a sports coordinator and/or SSV coordinator and am unsure how to get started. Where do I find all relevant information?

  Expand Q: I am a sports coordinator and/or SSV coordinator and am unsure how to get started. Where do I find all relevant information?

  A: SSV has set up a designated Primary Australian Football Resource Hub on the SSV website. This is your one-stop shop to get familiar with the format and includes:

  • Educational videos
  • Information sheets
  • Scorecards
  • Lesson plans for students
  • Guidelines on what you need to get started

• Q: How do you umpire the game?

  Expand Q: How do you umpire the game?

  A: Check the [SSV Primary Australian Football Resource Hub] to view critical information and video resources for umpires.

• Q: I'm a teacher and I'm not sure how to teach the game to my students. Where do I start?

  Expand Q: I'm a teacher and I'm not sure how to teach the game to my students. Where do I start?

  A: Check out our designated Resource Hub on the SSV website for educational videos and step-by-step lesson plans designed specifically for classroom teachers.

• Q: Where can I find the dates for my District/Division/Region competition in 2025?

  Expand Q: Where can I find the dates for my District/Division/Region competition in 2025?

  A:

  • District Competitions: Contact your District Coordinator directly for primary competition dates.
  • Division, Region, and State Competitions: Dates are available on each respective area's page on the SSV website.

• Q: What are the dates for the SSV Australian Football - State Primary Championships in 2025?

  Expand Q: What are the dates for the SSV Australian Football - State Primary Championships in 2025?

  A: Updated dates can be found directly on the Australian Football page.

• Q: How many teams progress from District to Division, to Region, to State in 2025?

  Expand Q: How many teams progress from District to Division, to Region, to State in 2025?

  A: In 2025, one boys/mixed team and one girls team will progress from each level:

  • District to Division
  • Division to Region
  • Region to State

• Q: How many teams can a school enter into the SSV competition pathway (District onwards)?

  Expand Q: How many teams can a school enter into the SSV competition pathway (District onwards)?

  A: Schools should contact their District Coordinator to check specific team entry limits. If you are unsure who your District Coordinator is, you can look up your school using the SSV school database.

• Q: Can AFL Victoria help me with the delivery of District/Division/Region competitions? Is support available?

  Expand Q: Can AFL Victoria help me with the delivery of District/Division/Region competitions? Is support available?

  A: Yes! AFL Victoria is available to support Coordinators and Teachers in the lead-up to competitions. Their support includes:

  • Professional Development (PD) Sessions: Online and in-person sessions covering rule modifications and umpiring.
  • Field Set Up: Assistance with optimal field setup based on the number of participating schools.
  • Fixturing: Guidance and fixturing support to maximize the day's play.
  • Direct Regional Support: Tailored advice from your local AFL Victoria region staff member.

• Q: Given you cannot smother, what happens if a player unintentionally smothers the football (e.g., a player kicks the ball into an opposing player in close proximity)?

  Expand Q: Given you cannot smother, what happens if a player unintentionally smothers the football (e.g., a player kicks the ball into an opposing player in close proximity)?

  A: This is deemed play on, as it was not an intentional smother.

• Q: Can a player smother the ball if they are standing on the mark?

  Expand Q: Can a player smother the ball if they are standing on the mark?

  A: Yes. Standing on the mark is the only exception to the smothering rule (it is not deemed a smother). If a ball is touched on the mark in general play or while kicking for goal, the umpire can adjudicate it as touched.

• Q: How does an umpire judge a player losing the ball when an opponent wrap tackles and accidentally takes the ball out of the hands of the player with possession?

  Expand Q: How does an umpire judge a player losing the ball when an opponent wrap tackles and accidentally takes the ball out of the hands of the player with possession?

  A: This is adjudicated based on umpire interpretation and whether the player with the ball had a prior opportunity to dispose of it:

  • If a wrap tackle is executed correctly and the player loses the ball without prior opportunity, it is play on (provided the ball was not stolen directly out of the player's hands).

• Q: Does the holding the ball rule still exist?

  Expand Q: Does the holding the ball rule still exist?

  A: Yes. If a player has a prior opportunity to dispose of the football and is legally wrap tackled, it is deemed holding the ball, and a free kick is awarded to the opposition.