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A NSW Government website – Education

School Sport Unit

Football

Version control: Original 1990/ Updated 1999/ Updated 2003/ Updated 2013/ 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.

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Modified FootballLow risk (Green)

Football can be modified by adjusting rules, equipment and playing conditions to reduce injury risk and support inclusion. Modifications may include, but are not limited to:

  • using a smaller ball, for example, size 3 or 4
  • playing without football boots, which removes the requirement to wear shin pads
  • playing without a goalkeeper
  • playing indirect free kicks only
  • adjusting participant numbers and other rules to match student ability, increase involvement and increase safety
  • delivering the activity as a non-competitive program that prioritises skill development, confidence, decision-making and full participation.

For students from the introduction age up to 10 years of age, modified football is the only form of football to be included in school programs.

Teacher qualifications

There is no additional professional learning/accreditation required for modified football.

Permission

Parent/carer permission is not required for students to participate in modified football activities that are delivered by teachers on school grounds or within walking distance.

See Permission page for more information. 

Equipment

Field of play

  • All equipment must be checked prior to use and not used if defective.
  • Lightweight pop-up style portable goals are encouraged.
  • Where goal posts and crossbars are used, they must be checked for stability before each game. Portable goal posts must be effectively anchored and comply with the Moveable soccer goals guide. Where possible, nets should also be used.
  • 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

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FootballModerate risk (Yellow)

Football has the following characteristics:

  • typically includes training for, or playing in, structured match conditions, for example, set field of play, team numbers and positions, officiating and competition rules
  • may be played competitively
    • as part of an interschool event
    • as part of the Representative School Sport Pathway.

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Teacher/instructor qualifications and experience

Teacher

There are no mandatory qualifications required for a teacher to deliver football. The following course(s) are recommended to strengthen teacher knowledge and confidence, depending on experience and competition level.

Instructor

If a non-teacher is engaged to coach a football team or deliver a football program, they must have a recognised and current football coaching qualification.  

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Permission

All students must have parent/carer permission to play football.

See Permission page for more information.

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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 to the level of play. Where possible, a suitably qualified or experienced referee should officiate competitive matches, particularly for higher level competition.

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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 all equipment before use. Do not use any item that is damaged or defective.
  • Goal posts and crossbars must be checked for stability before each game. Portable goal posts must be effectively anchored and comply with the Moveable soccer goals guide. Where possible, nets should also be used.

Personal safety

  • Shin pads are mandatory and must be worn during organised training sessions and matches.
  • Boots designed for football, or another football code such as Australian football, must be worn for all training sessions and matches. Metal studs must have rounded edges.
  • Additional personal safety equipment commonly used in football, such as correctly fitted mouthguards, ankle guards or strapping tape, may be worn during training and games, provided it does not pose a risk to other players.
  • Goalkeepers should wear gloves specifically designed for football.

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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.

Hydrated lime must not be used to mark fields. Further information is available at - Marking of fields.

Spectators must be positioned at an appropriate distance from the field of play during play.

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Safety

Students must be adequately prepared for the level of competition they are participating in and be familiar with event rules and relevant safety requirements.

Teams and individual students participating in competitions or programs not aligned to the NSWPSSA or NSWCHSSA handbooks should follow the corresponding age group format and laws specified by Football NSW and/or Northern NSW Football.

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.

If an injury involves 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.

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Resources 

Risk assessment support

Representative School Sport Pathway

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*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.