Player Placement Policy – Boys and Mixed

(1) Purpose

Fitzroy Junior Football Club (FJFC) acknowledges that players join our club for a variety of reasons, and our goal is to provide a pathway for them regardless of their motivation. As a club we want to develop and encourage each player’s football journey, starting with team placement.

(2) Policy Statement

The Yarra Junior Football League (YJFL) By-Laws define age groups, which are based on calendar years (e.g. Under 11s means turning 11 during the year). There are some qualifications for Under 8s and Youth Boys, which are addressed below.

Where there is more than one team in an age group it is important for clubs to provide players, parents and coaches with clear player placement guidelines. FJFC is a large club with multiple teams in most age groups.

The age groups are known as ‘Mixed’ up to and including Under 14s. Although most girls choose to play in the girls only teams, some prefer the Mixed teams.

(3) Oversight

The process is managed by the Football Department, a sub-committee that includes the Football Director and Coaching Director. Designated members of this group manage cohort subsets as follows:

• 5s (Auskick) to U10s: Although player placement does not technically commence until Under 8s, FJFC has introduced a full pathway model. Thereby, the transition from Auskick -> Superkick -> U8s can be relatively seamless. Not only does this enhance enjoyment and skills acquisition, but prospective coaches emerge earlier
• U11s to U15s: Full competition commences at Under 11s; primary school becomes secondary school; streaming commences at Under 13s; and players’ physical development varies.
• U16s to Youth Boys: The final years of secondary school with competing priorities. To encourage retention in these age groups we are conscious of VCE obligations.

(4) Implementation

Under 8s

The Under 8 competition is the introductory phase, with a unique age group definition. Players must, at a minimum, turn 7 years old by 30 April in the year they commence playing. Hence a small proportion of the cohort will play two seasons of Under 8s.

Under 9s – Under 12s

The club does not allocate players to teams according to perceived playing ability at this age. We encourage them to play with their friends, make new friends, have fun playing football, learn and develop their football skills and enjoy being part of a team.

Players are placed in teams:

• with a friendship and/or peer connection. This often translates as a school connection, although efforts are made to ensure one school does not dominate a team due to the likelihood of school commitments clashing with football commitments (eg. school camps).
• with a variety of players of varying degrees of skill, ability and confidence.
• to achieve similar numbers to minimise the risk of one team having a shortfall of players on match days.

When there is a request from a parent/player for the player to move to another team in the same age group, that request will be considered consistent with this policy.

Players are given the opportunity to play in different positions around the ground throughout the season. The primary focus is on player enjoyment and development, and team spirit. We will endeavour to give all players a minimum of three quarters of football during each home and away game.

All players should be given a chance to lead, whether as team captain for a match, in training activities, or in other leadership roles.

Under 13s – Under 16s

From Under 13s to Under 16s, players are selected for a team that will compete at a level commensurate with their physical size, development and football skills. This is known as ‘streaming’ and starts at Under 13s. Streaming is not to be confused with ‘grading’, which is a YJFL process for placing teams in suitable divisions.

We recognise that children grow, develop and mature at very different rates. At this age, there can be significant differences in physical development and emotional maturity between players. At the same time, there is also a significant increase in the physical intensity of the competition, particularly in YJFL Division 1 for each age group.

Some players may choose to opt out of the streaming process and nominate for the lower- graded team.

Players are placed in teams:

• to maximise their opportunities to develop and enjoy their playing experience, and minimise undue risks of injury;
• along with players that have similar skills, ability and confidence; and
• to achieve similar numbers across teams so as to minimise the risk of one team having a shortfall of players on match days.

Where necessary, the coaches will assess players in each age group during the pre-season period and consider the skills, experience, physical size and strength of each player. The selection process may continue during YJFL grading games (Rounds 1-4) and is managed by the Coach Development representative for the age group.

Generally, the teams will differ from the preceding season, particularly for Under 13s. The coaches will communicate the process for team selection to parents and players throughout the selection period. Once teams are selected there is minimal movement between the teams, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Players will have the opportunity to play in a variety of positions around the ground throughout the season.

We will endeavour to give all players a minimum of three quarters of football during each home and away game, and a minimum of two quarters of football for any finals game.

Playing out of Age Group

Players will be required to play in their age group unless an exemption is granted. This can take two forms: playing down an age group or playing up an age group.

Playing down is known as an age dispensation request and must be approved by the YJFL. There is a formal process involved which if successful, applies for one season only. To initiate a request parents should contact the Football Department. The Committee determines whether a request should proceed.

Playing up is managed at club level. An application for an exemption must be submitted by parents in writing and should set out the reasons why the exemption is sought. Exemptions will be granted only in special circumstances, and will be assessed considering factors including:

• YJFL By-Laws
• Whether there is a shortfall of numbers in the player’s actual age group or in the age group above
• Player safety and wellbeing
• Advanced skill level
• Whether a player has previously been granted an exemption to play up.

The Committee will consider playing up requests and if accepted, will approve for the current season only. If a playing up request is approved the following year (eg. 2 years in a row), the player will be considered a permanent member of the older age group and will not need to apply to play up for a third season. They will not be ‘locked’ into the higher age group and may request to return to their true age group for the third season.

Youth Boys

Youth Boys teams consist of boys turning 17 and 18* in the current year and the players train as a squad. Selection in each team will be decided by the chair of selectors (Youth Boys Chair) on a weekly basis, with the aim of fielding competitive teams. Teams usually consist of both top and bottom age players.

The selection criteria for the highest graded teams in this age group are like the U13s to U16s but there is an increased emphasis on overall team competitiveness as well as commitment to training and team rules.

We acknowledge that at this age, players have competing priorities (study, work) and differing attitudes to competitive sport. The lower graded team(s) will accommodate players wishing to develop and improve their football as well as those who wish to continue playing football at a more social level.

Coaches will still endeavour to work with players to promote development and expose them to various positions throughout the season, however there is greater consistency of positional placement in these years.

We will endeavour to give all players a minimum of three quarters of football during each home and away game, and a minimum of two quarters of football for any finals game.

*Youth Boys Transitional Exemption Regulations

Youth Boys is technically an Under 17.5 competition, requiring YJFL exemption approval for any boy turning 18 between 1 January and 30 June of the relevant season.

The YJFL assesses exemption approvals according to AFL Victoria rules. Conditions, such as that the applicant must be in their final year of secondary school, apply.

(5) Evaluation & Review

This policy was updated in October 2026 and is scheduled for review in October 2027.

(6) References

YJFL Statement of Rules and By Laws (current season)

(7) Related Policies

Player Placement Policy – Girls

Updated 25 October 2026