Player Placement Policy – Girls
1. Purpose and principles
Players participate for different reasons, from friendships, enjoyment and belonging to development, challenge and pathways.
Fitzroy Junior Football Club (“FJFC” or “the Club”) believes all players should have equivalent opportunities to participate, develop and pursue their football ambitions. However, differences in participation levels and competition structures means a single player placement model may not always be appropriate across girls and boys / mixed teams.
FJFC recognises that players have different levels of experience, confidence, motivation and aspiration, and that these may change over time. The Club aims to support different player journeys without relying on team placement alone to meet each player’s development needs. Where appropriate and practical, development may be supported through team placement, specialist training clinics, additional training support, and broader pathway opportunities.
At younger age groups, the emphasis is on participation, enjoyment, friendships and social connection. At older age groups, greater consideration may be given to players’ development needs, playing aspirations and preferred football experiences, while continuing to prioritise enjoyment, participation, retention, belonging and wellbeing.
Team formation will reflect Yarra Junior Football League (“YJFL” or “the League”) competition structures and players’ age and stage of development.
2. Oversight
Team allocation is managed by the Football Department, which includes the Football Director, Coaching Director and Female Development Director. Designated members oversee age-group allocations, with support from Coach Development representatives and consultation with relevant coaches as appropriate.
3. Team Formation and Player Placement
Players will ordinarily be placed within their eligible age group as per the competition structure established by the YJFL. Age group is determined in line with YJFL age eligibility requirements, consistent with bylaw clause 6.1.7. This is based on the player’s age as at 31 December in the year prior to the applicable playing season, subject to the Under 8 provision (see Section 3.1).
Girls may choose to participate in mixed teams up to and including the Under 14 age group, subject to applicable YJFL eligibility requirements and the Player Placement Policy – Boys and Mixed.
At all ages, the Club encourages having fun playing football, learning and developing football skills and enjoying being part of a team.
3.1 Under 8 eligibility
The U8 competition is an introductory phase with a specific age requirement. Players must turn at least seven years old by 30 April in the year they commence playing. As a result, some players may play two seasons of U8.
3.2 Team formation where YJFL competitions combine year-of-birth cohorts
Where YJFL competitions combine year-of-birth cohorts, FJFC will adopt an age-appropriate approach to team formation, retaining flexibility to accommodate different development needs and cohort dynamics, without defaulting to full streaming.
For all age groups, where only one team is formed, both year-of-birth cohorts will play together.
U8, U10 and U12
Where multiple teams can be formed, FJFC will prioritise friendships, social connections, development and belonging, with an emphasis on having fun and encouraging team spirit. Players will not be streamed by ability and, where viable, teams will ordinarily be formed by year of birth.
U14 and U16
Team formation will reflect player numbers, cohort distribution and the range of playing and development needs across the age group.
- Two teams: teams will ordinarily be formed by year of birth where viable. Where this would not provide appropriate opportunities across the age group, FJFC may adopt a more flexible approach having regard to the considerations in Section 3.8.
- Where cohort numbers do not support viable year-of-birth teams: mixed-cohort teams will be formed having regard to the considerations in Section 3.8.
- Three or more teams: greater weight will be given to player experience, development, ability and appropriate challenge.
Youth Girls
Where multiple teams are formed, teams will be streamed to provide appropriate levels of competition and development, having regard to player ability, experience, and positional needs.
The Club will have regard to forming competitive teams with the intent of competing in different divisions, subject to YJFL grading process and outcomes.
3.3 Where YJFL competitions are structured as single age groups
Where YJFL competitions are structured as single age groups, teams will be formed accordingly. FJFC will adopt an age-appropriate approach to forming multiple teams in a single age group, should participation rates allow.
U12 and below
Where FJFC fields multiple teams within a single age group, teams will focus on friendships and social connections, participation, development, positive team dynamics and team viability. Players will not be streamed by football ability.
U13 onwards
Where FJFC fields multiple teams within a single age group, teams will ordinarily be formed by streaming, giving consideration to player ability, safety, development and appropriate challenge.
3.4 Streaming and grading
Streaming does not necessarily mean selection is based solely on ability. It refers to the Club forming teams with consideration to player ability, experience and development needs, with the aim of providing appropriate playing environments and levels of challenge, while creating teams which can be competitive in their anticipated division.
The Club does not adopt streaming as the default approach across all girls’ age groups. Whether streaming is appropriate will depend on the age group, player numbers, stage of development, competition structures and the broader considerations outlined in Section 3.8.
Players may opt out of the streaming process, where relevant, and nominate for the lower-graded team, should they wish to do so.
Grading refers to the YJFL’s allocation of teams to competition divisions. While the Club may provide information to support this process, final grading decisions rest with the League.
3.5 Team numbers
To support meaningful participation and game time, girls teams will ordinarily have a maximum of 22 players, subject to the Youth Girls provision below. Where younger age groups have fewer players on the field, a lower recommended maximum squad size will be considered accordingly.
Teams may include up to 24 players where individual player availability or other circumstances make a larger squad appropriate, subject to consultation with the relevant coach and approval by the Football Department.
Youth Girls may have up to 26 registered players per team, recognising the greater availability constraints commonly experienced at this age group.
Match-day player numbers will comply with applicable YJFL bylaws.
3.6 Player Placement Preference
Players with specific placement requests may submit a Player Placement Preference which may relate to playing aspirations, preferred football experience, social connections, development, playing in a mixed team (up to and including U14), or a request to play with another year-of-birth cohort or different YJFL age group.
Where teams are streamed, players may opt out and nominate for the lower-graded team. Such requests will ordinarily be accommodated, subject to team viability, available places and applicable competition requirements.
Preferences will be considered alongside individual needs, team balance and the broader age group. Submission of a preference does not guarantee a particular placement, other than where a player elects to participate in mixed football, subject to applicable YJFL eligibility requirements and availability.
3.7 How preferences operate where teams are formed by year of birth
Where teams are formed primarily by year of birth, players have priority for places within that cohort until the end of February. Requests to play with the other cohort will be considered from 1 March, subject to available places. Where teams require a more flexible formation approach, Player Placement Preferences will be considered as part of the team formation process alongside the other considerations outlined in Section 3.8.
Where several preferences cannot all be accommodated, placements are made having regard to the considerations in Section 3.8.
3.8 Considerations and process for team placement
In determining team formation and player placement, the Club will consider, where relevant:
- football experience and development;
- player safety;
- appropriate level of challenge;
- confidence and wellbeing;
- playing aspirations;
- physical and developmental readiness;
- friendships and social connections;
- forming teams that can be competitive in their resulting division;
- any Player Placement Preference submitted by the player;
- team viability and sustainable player numbers; and
- applicable YJFL competition requirements.
No single consideration will determine placement, and individual preferences do not guarantee placement with particular players or teams.
Where ability is a leading consideration, it will not be the sole determinant of placement. Coaches will assess players during pre-season and grading rounds, considering skills, experience, physical development and readiness, with support from Coach Development and Football Department representatives as appropriate.
The Football Department will make final placement decisions in consultation with relevant coaches, considering the principles outlined in this Policy and the broader needs of the Girls Program.
Where relevant in merged age groups, families will be notified prior to the registration period whether their players’ age group is likely to have teams formed by year-of-birth or via a more flexible approach.
Where assessment for streaming is undertaken, the Club will communicate the process and relevant timelines to players and families.
4. Player Movement Between Teams and Age Groups
4.1 Playing in an older YJFL age group
Playing in an older YJFL age group is distinct from requesting placement with the older
year-of-birth cohort within a combined-age competition.
A player seeking to play in an older YJFL age group may submit their preference via the Player Placement Preference form. Requests will be considered by the Football Department having regard to the considerations outlined in Section 3.8, with approvals presented to the Committee.
Approval is not automatic. However, where a player has played in an older age group for two consecutive seasons, their default placement from the following season will be with the older cohort.
4.2 Playing in a younger YJFL age group
Participation in a younger YJFL age group is determined by the League in accordance with the National Age Dispensation Policy and current YJFL requirements. Age dispensation is generally only considered where medical, developmental or physical-size considerations support participation in a younger age group.
A player seeking to play in a younger YJFL age group should indicate this via the Player Placement Preference form; however, any placement remains subject to League approval.
Applications are made via the Club. Supporting documentation, including medical evidence where required, must accompany any application.
4.3 Movement between teams
Once team placements have been finalised, players will ordinarily remain with their allocated team for the season, except where exceptional circumstances warrant a change.
Players may have opportunities to temporarily play or fill in for another FJFC team where this is safe, developmentally appropriate and consistent with YJFL bylaws. This may provide additional participation, challenge or development opportunities.
5. Coaching, Playing Time, and Leadership
5.1 Coaching
FJFC is committed to providing quality coaching across all girls teams to support player enjoyment, confidence, development and retention, regardless of team placement.
Coaching appointments are made annually in accordance with FJFC’s Coach Selection Policy, with coaches required to apply for appointment or reappointment each season.
Access to a particular coach, or perceptions about the relative strength of coaching between teams, will not ordinarily determine team placement.
5.2 Playing time and leadership opportunities
At U12 and below, coaches will endeavour to provide equitable and meaningful playing time, with opportunities to experience a variety of positions, develop skills and build confidence.
Coaches will provide opportunities to develop leadership skills, which may include rotating captaincy and other team responsibilities.
In older age groups, game time, roles and rotations may increasingly reflect player experience, development and readiness, while ensuring all players receive meaningful opportunities to participate, contribute and develop. Coaches may appoint a captain and leadership group while continuing to encourage leadership and responsibility across the playing group.
During finals, FJFC will endeavour to provide every player with a minimum of two quarters of football, subject to player availability, fitness, safety and match-day circumstances.
6. Evaluation and review
This Policy was created in October 2026, and is scheduled for review in October 2027.
7. References
This Policy has been developed with reference to:
- YJFL Competition Regulations and By-Laws (current season)
- FJFC Player Placement Policy – Boys and Mixed
- National Age Dispensation Policy
- AFL National Female Community Football Guidelines
- FJFC Coach Selection Policy
- FJFC Girls Program member feedback and Future Direction Survey findings 2026.