Version control: Original 1990/ Updated 1999/ Updated 2003/ Updated 2010/ Updated 2015/ Updated Feb 2023/
Updated Mar 2023/ Updated 2025/ Updated Oct 2026
Introduction
Teachers must follow these Specific sport and physical activity guidelines together with the Sport and physical activity procedures and Supporting tools and resources to meet duty of care and manage risks effectively at the local level.
All teachers delivering sport and physical activity should be familiar with the Concussion information and protocols included in the Supporting tools and resources and have completed the School Sport Unit - Recognising and responding to concussion MyPL online course.
The guidelines support safe, inclusive and compliant sport delivery through:
- weekly school sport
- one-off events or gala days
- the Representative School Sport Pathway.
They outline compliance measures to address inherent risks, offer advice on modifying traditional rules and equipment to reduce risk, and provide guidance on adapting activities to support the inclusion of all students.
Key
The following key indicates the level of teacher qualification required to deliver a specific activity as part of a school sport program:
Note: This key does not determine the WHS risk level for an activity. It may inform local risk assessment as one component of the broader WHS risk management process, as outlined in the WHS Risk Management procedure.
Modified Australian footballLow risk (Green)
Australian football can be modified to promote safe participation, skill development and inclusion by adjusting rules, equipment and playing conditions. Modifications may include, but are not limited to:
- using a smaller or lighter ball, for example, an AFL 9's football
- tackling is not permitted; only tagging or touching is allowed
- marks are uncontested
- adjusting the playing area, participant numbers and other rules to match student ability and to increase involvement and safety
- delivering the activity as a non-competitive program that prioritises skill development, confidence, decision-making and full participation.
Teacher qualifications
There is no additional professional learning/accreditation required for modified Australian football.
Permission
Parent/carer permission is not required for students to participate in modified Australian football activities that are delivered by teachers on school grounds or within walking distance.
See Permission page for more information.
Equipment
Field of play
- Goal posts must be padded with a height of at least 2.5 m, with 35 mm high-density foam covered in durable material, for example, canvas and wide enough to fully cover the post circumference.
Personal:
- No personal safety equipment is required for modified Australian football.
Safety
The ground surface and immediate surrounds must be clear of obstructions, loose objects and obstacles, including equipment, seating and school bags.
Activities must be suitable for safe participation in the clothing, footwear and personal items students are wearing. Jewellery, ornaments and other items likely to cause injury must be removed or secured before participating.
Activities should be adjusted to support participation for students with minor pre-existing injuries or temporary limitations, ensuring the activity remains safe.
Resources
Australian footballHigh risk (Red)
Australian football has the following characteristics:
- involves tackling and contested marks
- typically includes training for, or playing in, structured match conditions, for example, set field of play, team positions, officiating and competition rules
- may be played competitively
- as part of an interschool event
- as part of the Representative School Sport Pathway.
Teacher/instructor qualifications and experience
Teacher and instructor
The following course(s) are mandatory.
- The relevant Essentials course , Junior Coaching Players 5-12 years for primary and Youth Coaching Players 13-18 years for secondary, is the minimum compulsory requirement for every teacher/coach and match official participating in school Australian football.
The school principal must record qualifications of the teacher/s and/or instructors.
Permission
All students must have parent/carer permission to play Australian football. The permission note must include the Collision sport mandatory inclusion.
- Collision sport: Australian football, rugby, Australian football - Mandatory inclusion(DOCX 233KB) (updated May 2024)
See Permission page for more information.
Supervision
Supervision ratios must not exceed average class size. Where a non-teacher provides instruction, a teacher must be present for each class-sized group to take overall supervision responsibility and to hold duty of care.
Accompanying teachers must have completed the department’s mandatory Emergency Care training. At least one accompanying teacher must hold current department-approved CPR training.
Officiating should be appropriate for the level of play. Where possible, a suitably qualified or experienced umpire should officiate competitive matches, particularly for higher level competition.
Equipment
A first aid kit that meets the checklist in the First Aid Plan, as outlined in the department’s First aid procedure, is required.
Field of play
- Check goal posts and structures to ensure they are stable and pose no risk of falling forward.
- Fit all goal posts with appropriate padding.
Personal safety
- A correctly fitted mouthguard is mandatory and must be worn during all training sessions involving contact, including tackling, and during matches.
- Boots designed for Australian football or another football code such as rugby league, must be worn for all matches. Boots are optional for training sessions involving contact, including tackling. However, if one student wears them, all students must. Metal studs must have rounded edges.
Teachers should assess the level of risk for non-contact training sessions when determining the need for safety equipment such as mouthguards, boots, headgear or shoulder pads.
Venues
Venue selection and assessment should consider available shade, sun exposure, access to water, rest areas and suitable locations for students to wait between events, in line with the department’s Sun safety guidance.
All event areas and their immediate surrounds must be free of obstructions, loose objects and obstacles, including equipment, seating and school bags. The playing surface must be of a suitable and safe standard.
- Pre-activity venue checklists, available in Supporting tools and resources, may assist staff to inspect the venue before the activity.
Spectators and reserve players must be positioned well back from the side line during play.
Hydrated lime must not be used to mark fields. Further information is available at Marking of fields.
Non-turf cricket pitches must be adequately covered prior to the use of the ground.
Enclosed grounds are preferred for interschool fixtures.
Safety
Schools must ensure students are adequately prepared for the level of competition they are participating in. Students must understand the rules, including those relating to dangerous play, with instruction aligned to the relevant game format and age-appropriate laws.
Teams and individual students participating in competitions or programs not aligned to the NSWPSSA or NSWCHSSA handbooks must follow the corresponding age group format and laws specified by the AFL.
Where possible, especially in representative matches, designated sports medicine personnel should be present and ice should be available for the treatment of injuries.
Students must remove jewellery and other ornaments likely to cause injury.
Sun exposure must be managed in line with the department’s Sun safety guidance. Strategies should be appropriate to the event, venue, weather conditions and duration of exposure, including adjustments to activity timing, where required.
Students must not participate or continue to participate if injured. If a teacher or coach suspects an injury, the student must be removed and must not return until fully healed or medically cleared.
For injuries involving bleeding, follow the department’s Infection control procedures.
- Appendix B: Procedures for spills of blood and other body substances
- Appendix C: Procedures for contact with blood or body fluids
Where possible, ice should be available for the treatment of injuries.
Resources
Risk assessment support
Representative School Sport Pathway
*Disclaimer: In line with the NSW Government’s full disclaimer regarding links to external sites, links are provided with the intention of increasing the information available to you and do not imply that the department endorses those websites or the people or companies who own them. The NSW Department of Education has no control over linked websites, and is not responsible for the views, opinions, standards or information expressed on them.