Parent / Carer Match Day Volunteer Roles

Our club wouldn’t exist without the amazing work that our volunteers do to run the club and to make sure Match Days run smoothly, whether our teams are playing at home or away.   

Many but not all Match Day roles require volunteers to have Working With Children Checks. 

Adults are responsible for child safety across all child-based environments and NJFC is one of many organisations that asks for active co-operation from parents and carers to make places and spaces safer for children. 

Working with Children Check and Volunteer Registration

A Working with Children Check (WWCC) is mandatory for any person over the age of 18 who is a:

  • Coach
  • Assistant Coach
  • Team Manager
  • Runner
  • Trainer
  • Club President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer or Committee Member

Additionally, the YJFL also recommends that volunteer Umpire Escorts have a valid WWCC, as many of the match umpires are children / young people. 

NJFC exists to support children, and to this end we ask that all volunteers and helpers ensure that their Working with Children Checks are up to date. Apply here if you don’t have one or need to update it: https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check

To record your volunteer status and your WWCC details, complete or update your Play HQ Volunteer registration (which needs to be done each year) by following this link: https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/1d8377

Choose to register yourself; choose your role, fill in all information on the ‘participant details’ page, including your WWCC number (card or lodgement number) and finish.

Important: Contact with Umpires

The YJFL advises that Under By-Law 5.10 Team managers may only approach the Umpires at breaks in play regarding administrative matters, such as ground condition, team sheet compliance or clarification of red/yellow cards. They are not permitted to approach the umpires to discuss umpiring decisions. No other team official is permitted to approach the umpires during the match.

Game Day Roles

  1. Coach * (Navy Blue bib)
  1. Assistant Coach * (Red bib)
  1. Team Manager * (Teal bib)
  1. Boundary Umpire (white shirt)
  1. Goal Umpire (white coat, supplied by own club)
  1. Ground Manager (home games only – pale blue bib)
  1. Team Runner (Yellow bib)
  1. Timekeeper and Scorer / scoreboard operator (no bib)


  2. Trainers (Green bib)
  1. Umpire Escort (Orange bib)

Boundary Umpire (white tshirt)

  • One umpire is provided by each team.
  • Boundary Umpire must carry a whistle.
  • Boundary Umpire has to follow the general course of play around.
  • When the ball goes out of play they signal to the Field Umpire by blowing their whistle and extending both arms at shoulder height.
  • When directed by the Field Umpire they must then throw the ball back into play.

Goal Umpire (white coat and white flags)

  • One umpire is provided by each team.
  • Goal Umpires stand between the large goal posts, behind the boundary line, and are to wear a white coat (supplied by the club) and use the club-supplied white flags.
  • If a goal is scored, two flags (supplied by the club) are waved.
  • If a point is scored, one flag is waved.
  • The goal umpire at the opposite end of the field to which a score is made mirrors the flag-waving of the scoring end.
  • Each goal umpire records on their scorecards (supplied by the club) all scores made at both ends of the field.
  • A goal scores six (6) points, a behind or point scores one (1) point.

Ground Manager (YJFL pale blue bib – Home Games Only)

  • The Home Team is responsible for providing a Ground Manager at each home ground hosting YJFL games.
  • The Ground Manager will be responsible for monitoring crowd behaviour and bringing any inappropriate conduct to the attention of club officials in accordance with the YJFL by-laws.
  • The Ground Match Manager will also be the point of contact for any queries or concerns about the venue.
  • Must wear the YJFL pale blue bib.
  • The Ground Manager must be a responsible adult and should not hold any other match day official role (eg. the Ground Manager should not be the Team Manager or the Canteen Manager

Time Keeper and Scoreboard Operator (Home Games Only for U’11 up)

  • The Home Team is responsible for providing a Time Keeper and a scoreboard and a volunteer to keep the score displayed accurate.
  • On the East Oval this involves the electronic scoreboard operation for East Oval and manual scoreboard operation for West Oval).
  • 1 volunteer from each team should sit at the time keeper / scorer’s table to keep score and time to verify the game’s progress and results. 
  • The match’s Time Keeper is responsible for keeping the scoreboard accurate over the course of a match.
  • The scorecard is handed to the Field Umpire at the end of the game.

Team Runner (YJFL yellow bib and WWCC is a YJFL mandatory requirement)

  • There is one runner supplied by a playing team (Under 10s up).
  • Sole duty is to deliver the coach’s message and then take the most direct route back to the coach immediately after delivering the message.
  • Only two messages can be delivered during any one trip onto the field (any more than this is construed as coaching, and is illegal).

Trainers (YJFL green bib and WWCC is a YJFL mandatory requirement)

  • A trainer is to be available for each playing team on Match Day.
  • The trainer is to be at least level 1 first aid certificate.
  • The Trainer’s duty is to attend to injured players and then immediately leave the ground.
  • Trainers may also act as Water Carrier and take drinks to players.
  • Trainers are not to carry messages from the coach and are not to speak to the Umpire(s) or opposition players.

Umpire Escort (YJFL orange bib and WWCC preferred by YJFL)

  • An adult Umpire Escort must be supplied by the Home Club and the Away Club.
  • Escort the umpires onto the ground prior to the commencement of the first and third quarters and must not discuss the game with the umpires.
  • Escort the umpires from the ground at the conclusion of the second and fourth quarters.
  • Remain with the umpires during the quarter time and three quarter time breaks.
  • Ensure that spectators, players or officials do not confront the umpires during these occasions.

Coach and Team Manager (WWCC is a YJFL mandatory requirement)

These roles are appointed to the team for the season and are a bit too lengthy to be posted here. If you are interested in a future coaching or team management role, please speak to Sam Pietsch, NJFC Coaching Coordinator, coachingcoord@njfc.com.au or Peter Simm, Team Manager Coordinator, vicepresident@njfc.com.au.

YJFL By-Laws

You can access the YJFL By Laws here https://www.yarrajfl.org.au/rules-by-laws/.