Graded Coaches & Managers

> Football gear and kit bag

Every team will be issued with a kit bag containing:

– Sufficient playing shirts for your team

– Cones

– 2 x Ground Marshall fluoro vests

– Training bibs

– 10 training balls in a mesh bag

Gear can be picked up from the Clubhouse once team sorting has been done and team lists have been finalised. Responsibility to return ALL gear lies with you and the complete set of items must be returned the week after the season has finished.

End of year trophies will NOT be issued until all gear has been returned.

Balls should not be given out to players to take home or to be used other than at training or on game day.

Balls get damaged or lost when given out separately and replacement costs will need to be passed on to all players in the form of higher registration fees.

It is recommended NOT to hand out shirts to individual players to keep/wash after the game. Shirt washing should be rotated each week amongst the team parents, with one player’s parents to wash ALL the shirts in one batch. Ensure that they arrive with the shirts in time for the next game. It may be helpful to align the shirt washing duties with the Player of the Week / Encouragement Award.

Washing instructions:

> ALWAYS WASH IN COLD WATER!

> DO NOT use a clothes dryer – let them dry naturally.

> Don’t mix white shirts with coloured clothing.

> Try and remove stains as soon as possible after the game.

Damaged shirts/balls and lost balls/cones/bibs can be replaced by contacting the Gear Steward: gear@balgowniejuniors.com.au


> Coaching courses & qualifications

For Graded teams it is advisable for all coaches to have completed the Grassroots Football Certificate as well as the Skill Training Certificate for U12 and U13 and the Game Training Certificate for U13-U17.

> Training days and times

Generally training times are dictated by the availability of the coach but parents are free to discuss changing times so that the majority of players are accommodated.

You can request a training time on the Coaches Info Day and usually everyone can be accommodated.

Please bear in mind that the MiniRoos teams usually train between 3:30pm and fi nish around 5:00pm so Graded teams tend to train after that.


> Insufficient players for a game, forfeits and changing times/location

If your team is unable to field a full squad, there are several options available to you:

– borrow players from another Bally team in the same age group and a lower division or from a younger age group

– change the day or time to a mutually acceptable one. This request needs to be made by the Club Secretary on your behalf and ratified by Football South Coast.

– forfeit the match. Again, you will need to contact the Club Secretary so you can arrange this well before the game.


> Checking your game time

It is your responsibility to check the draw in Dribl. 

FSC can, and does, change the draw – sometimes quite late in the week – and the Club does what it can to notify you in exceptional circumstances but it is still up to you to double-check your game time. Any changes will generally be made by FSC by 5.00pm on the Thursday prior to the match weekend.

Ensure that your team arrives at least 30 mins before the game to allow for a warm-up and also to discuss playing positions.

To check whether the game has been cancelled due to wet weather, you can either:

> Wollongong Council website

> Shellharbour Council website

> Kiama Council Website

 DO NOT assume that just because it has rained that the game has been cancelled.


> Coach/Manager – Code of Conduct

Although the Club appreciates you volunteering as coach/manager, the role is not without responsibility.

Every coach and manager is expected to maintain the highest standards of behaviour at all times.

Remember, you are representing the Club and you are also a role model for the kids.

Kids look to you for guidance and to test where the behavioural boundaries are.

> If you continually question or backchat referees… they’ll back chat referees.

> If you exhibit an overly aggressive or physical attitude toward the other team… that will rub off on the players and you can expect an increase in cautions, yellow cards and send-offs.

As a more mature and experienced person, you need to provide a calming influence and lead by example, especially when things don’t go your team’s way. BJFC is a leader in exhibiting fairness and good sportsmanship – to other players, game day marshals, opposition officials, all spectators and referees.

Any Balgownie Juniors coach/manager brought before the Football South Coast Disciplinary Judiciary for any offence contrary to the Football South Coast Constitution or the Code of Conduct will also be accountable for his /her actions to the Balgownie Junior Football Club.

Any offence that the Football South Coast Judiciary finds to be proven for which a penalty is imposed will be enforced by Balgownie Junior Football Club. If any further conduct is deemed inappropriate, that coach/manager will be asked to relinquish his/her duties and a new coach/manager will be appointed by the club. The said coach/manager will also not be permitted to hold a coaching/managing position for the following year.

All coaches and managers are expected to read the Code of Conduct which is available on our website.

For serious incidents involving a coach/manager that don’t reach the FSC judiciary but are investigated by the BJFC Executive Committee and are found proven, will result in a written caution being issued.

Any subsequent proven incidents will also result in the coach/manager being asked to relinquish his/her duties and a new coach/manager will be appointed by the club. The said coach/manager may also be restricted from holding a coaching/managing position for the following year.

All coaches and managers of teams must remain within a distance of five (5) metres on either side of the halfway line on the same side of the field or in the marked technical area during the course of a game. Should the playing field/ground be so marked with a technical area/s in accordance with FIFA regulations, then these are to be utilised in lieu of the preceding ruling. Coaches and Managers ID cards must be worn on a lanyard. A generic acting coach/manager card can be used if necessary.

Coaches and Managers must not officiate as a referee or assistant referee during the course of their match. Any breach of this section will result in the game being declared a forfeit against the offending team .


> Filling in team sheets

Team sheets should be filled in 20 mins before the game and is usually done by the Manager. Ensure that details are correctly entered and that the team sheet is signed. Incorrectly filled-in team sheets incur fines for the Club. If you are unclear on any issue, please ask the Senior Marshall on duty.

A maximum of sixteen (16) players can be put on the team sheet by each team for U12 – U18.

Each player’s name and FFA registration number must be printed on the team sheet to correspond with the number of the playing strip, including substitutes. The player’s names and FFA registration numbers must be the same as that printed on the ID Card.

A player listed on the team sheet, unless crossed out, shall be deemed to have participated in the match.

Should a team use a player registered in another team from their club, i.e. borrow, then the team sheet must indicate the age and division in which the player is officially registered, as per ID card, in the borrowed column.

The coach’s and manager’s name and registration number must also be printed on the team sheet and correspond with their ID cards. In the case of an acting coach or manager the word ‘Acting’ is to be shown as the registration number if the person is not registered.

At the conclusion of the match and after the referee has completed the team sheet, each coach or manager is to ensure that the details are correct and should sign in the appropriate place(s). If there is a dispute then the coach/manager is to report the problem to the match day supervisor immediately. If the problem cannot be resolved then the coach or manager must submit a written report.

Game time and ball sizes

Age group Game time Ball size
U12 25 minutes each way Size 5
U13 30 minutes each way Size 5
U14 30 minutes each way Size 5
U15 35 minutes each way Size 5
U16 35 minutes each way Size 5
U17 40 minutes each way Size 5
U18 40 minutes each way Size 5
Women’s Youth League 40 minutes each way Size 5

The Manager’s role

The role of manager is an important one.

> You relay information from the Club to your team’s parents and players

> Custodian of coach/manager ID cards and team ID sheet

> Confirm match details each week

> Assist the coach on game day

> Fill in team sheet

> Organise the weekly Best & Fairest award

> Organise social activities

> Do your best to create a harmonious team atmosphere.

> Notify the Club immediately if you are unable to fi eld a team due to illness or players away on holidays. Parents should advise the manager if their child will be unable to play.

> Organise volunteers (canteen and Ground Marshall duties).

Each team is required to provide 2-3 volunteers to assist in the canteen when rostered to do so. Your allocated day and time will be emailed to you as well as posted on the Bally website.

Each home team is required to provide 2 ground marshalls for their game. Two fluoro Ground Marshall shirts will be provided in the team bag or can be obtained from the clubhouse. The Ground Marshall shall be over the age of 18 and shall not be a Coach or Manager of a game in progress.

An explanation of a Game Marshall’s duties are available on the Bally website and on-the-job training will be provided.

Ground Status

Click here to check the status of all Wollongong Council grounds

Click here to check the status of all Shellharbour Council grounds

Click here to check the status of all Kiama Council grounds

Where & when am I playing?

All teams can check their game times & locations at FSC Match Centre – select your Age Group and scroll to find your game.

Ground Locations for other clubs

Balgownie Junior Football Club Incorporated ABN: 91 822 455 631
Clubhouse: 17 Para Street, Balgownie, NSW, 2519
Postal Address: PO Box 3096, Balgownie, NSW 2519