Conduct

Alcohol is not permitted on any playing field or official assembly area (i.e. for march past or similar event) at any time on carnival game days. It is the State association’s responsibility to ensure their people are aware of this rule. Penalties will apply to anyone who offends. Please note the forgoing is the MAF rule only, this may vary depending on the ruling of the carnival facilities controlling body or state licensing agreement at individual carnivals. MAF will not have control over such rulings

1.  Age, Qualifications and Registrations

1.1

All players nominated for National Carnival matches must play three (3) matches in the regular fixtures of the domestic competition to qualify for National Championship fixtures, and any player that competes with more than one affiliated body must compete with the affiliated body for whom he has played most games during the season

1.2

All players to be 35 years or over within the Calendar year for Superules matches

1.3

All players to be 40 years or over within the Calendar year for Masterules matches

1.4

All players to be 45 years or over within the Calendar year for Seniorules matches

1.5

All players to be 50 years or over within the Calendar year for Super Seniors matches

1.6

All players to be 55 years or over within the Calendar year for Veterans matches

1.7

The National Board retains the right to make its own decisions re player eligibility for the overall betterment and success of the carnival

1.8

All competing players are to complete a player registration form and pay a registration fee set by Masters Australian Football Inc.  Team and player registration forms and fees must be submitted to the General Manager prior to the commencement of the first game. (note registration is to be done directly on line by each state association)

1.9

If any competing player is found to be competing without the Boards approval and is under age the State he is representing shall be fined up to $500 and the offending player may be suspended from further participation during that carnival.  The offending State may lose any points gained whilst playing under aged players

1.10

Where there is an alleged breach of any Carnival Rules or act of misconduct or indiscretion of a player (s) including officials (see point 9) /team against other player (s) / team a written report must be submitted to the General Manager within 24 hours of the incident for consideration by the Board or its’ appointed Tribunal

2.  Make Up of Divisional Format

2.1

It is a requirement of each participating State to attempt to field a team at the National Carnival in the following order:

1.            Superules

2.            Masterules

3.            Seniorules

4.            Super Seniors

5.            Veterans

2.2

The winning team in Division 2 of both Superules and Masterules will be considered for promotion to Division 1, with the bottom side in Division 1 being considered for relegation to Division 2 for the next carnival

2.3

When the numbers of competing States in each of the categories is an odd number, the host state will be given the option of nominating a second team to balance the numbers

2.4

The Board retains the right to make its own decision about the carnival make up of participating teams for the betterment and overall success of the carnival

3.  Squad Sizes

3.1

All squads for National Carnivals are to be limited to 30 players.  Any player not nominated in the team of up to 22 ( or more as directed by the MAF board )for a specific fixture may play for the President’s XVIII or any other composite team formed to assist the carnival fixture scheme

3.2

Players aged 40 and over may be nominated in more than one squad

4.  Team Size and Participation

4.1

The team for each official fixture to consist of 18 players with a maximum of 4 interchange players or more as directed by the MAF board

4.2

No team can play a match with less than 15 players

4.3

It is recommended to coaches and team managers that for their safety and overall enjoyment players are requested to play not more than six quarters but are also given the opportunity to participate in at least two quarters on any one match day

4.4

Team coaches must ensure that competing teams have an equal number of participating players on the field at all times except in the case of send-offs. If one team has 17 players, the opposing team must either take one player off or provide the opposing team with one of their spare players before play commences

5.  Duration of Matches

5.1

All qualifying matches to be played over four quarters of 15 minutes each with no time on

5.2

Any matches deemed to be a grand final, both participating teams will be notified prior to the game commencing

5.3

If at the conclusion of normal time the scores in the grand final are level the teams are to play two extra halves of three minutes each. Teams to have a three minute break before the commencement of extra time, but no break at the end of the first extra three minute period when teams change ends

5.4

If at the end of extra time the scores are still level the teams do not change ends, the game is restarted immediately in the normal fashion and the first team to score will be declared the winner. No team coaches or officials are to enter the playing field at the end of extra time if the scores are level

5.5

Umpires and teams to assemble in centre of oval prior to start of each game for tossing of coin

6.  Selection of ALL Australian Sides

Award Criteria:  All Divisional competitions will be subject to the same criteria.

1. A age group must have a minimum of 4 teams to receive the divisional winners trophy

2. All divisions to receive Best and Fairest all to receive AA selection.

3. If 3 teams or less AA selection to be preoperational, the MAF board will decide the number of AA to be selected

6.1

Selection of players for All Australian Sides, to be based on the following:

6.1.1            Umpires best and fairest votes to be completed at the conclusion of each game. Team Managers are welcome to provide to umpires for information purposes, copies of their five best ranked players immediately after the game.  Umpires to award votes for best players - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 in order of preference on official form which is to be signed by both officiating umpires

6.1.2            Based on the total number of umpire’s votes accumulated over the three games, players who have received at 8 or more votes will automatically be Selected for All Australian

6.1.3            At the conclusion of their last match, each team manager is to nominate their five (5) best players in order of preference from first best to fifth best on the match report and submit this to the General Manager for consideration for All Australian selection

6.1.4            The break-up of State representation for all Australian teams shall be a minimum of two (2) players from each participating team for Superules, Masterules, Seniorules,  SuperSeniors and Veterans(22 players or more if required)

6.1.5            Coach of the All Australian sides is to be the coach from the successful team winning Division 1 Championship for Superules, Masterules, Seniorules,  SuperSeniors and Veterans

6.2

Players who receive the following penalties will be ineligible for All Australian selection:

One Red Card

One Yellow Card

Two Green Cards in two matches

7.  umpiring

7.1

Umpires Co-ordinator shall be appointed by the Board for each National Carnival.  Such appointed Co-ordinator shall be empowered to select umpires and be responsible for match day officiating during the Carnival. There shall be no “Umpire of the Carnival Award” however Carnival service by umpires at five or more Carnivals will be acknowledged with the presentation of Five Year Certificates during the Carnival

7.2

Each State must provide one field umpire for each participating team at the carnival.  Failure to do so will result in up to a  $500 fine being imposed by the Board

7.3

All nominated umpires must attend the Umpire’s meeting prior to the commencement of the Carnival. Failure to attend this meeting without good reason will incur up to a $100 fine for their Stat

8.  Match Reports

8.1

Match reports are to be completed in triplicate

1. Top Sheet WHITE - Carnival Office Copy

            White copy to be completed by team manager at the conclusion of the match and handed to  the General Manager.  The report is to be fully completed and includes the following information:

            *          List of players

            *          Final Score

            *          Match Remarks

            All Australian Selection nominees (in order of preference after last game only)

1.  Second Sheet BLUE - Team Manager's Copy

            Blue copy to be retained by Team Manager for his records

1.  Third Sheet YELLOW - Umpires Copy

            Yellow copy, which must list the full names of all competing players is to be handed to officiating umpires prior to the commencement of the match. This sheet must be signed off in  the allocated space by the Manager of each team

9.  Tribunal Procedures

Where there is any alleged breach of carnival rules or act of misconduct or indiscretion of a player (s) / team against other player (s) /, Team Officials, IE, Coaches, Team Managers, Runners, Trainers, Water Carriers, including registered players not playing in the said game Etc, can also be reported for breach of carnival rules. This can apply to during or after the game has been completed or at any Subsequent social function etc. team a written report must be submitted to the Executive Director immediately after the game has been completed but no later then 24 hours of the incident for consideration by National Board or its, appointed tribunal. The Tribunal shall consist of at least three members including the Chairperson. State Delegates, who are not directly or indirectly involved in the consequences of tribunal decisions may be chosen to sit on this appointed Tribunal

For the convenience of all parties concerned, if the report involves an umpires report from an on field incident, every effort will be made to convene the tribunal on the day of the reported incident. Delegates must notify reported players they are to remain at the Carnival location until an appointed tribunal time is agreed upon

The following procedures will generally be adopted by the tribunal when dealing with a charge or charges against a player for a breach of the laws of Australian Football or Masters Australian Football “Code of Conduct”

(I)

Upon assembly and after the Tribunal has selected a Chairman, the Umpire, the reported person or persons and their advocates (if any) shall be summoned before the Tribunal.

(II)

The Tribunal Chairman will ask the charged player if he was number...... of the ........ Football, in the case of official the chairman will ask their name and nominated state the day stated and also ask the same question of any other player or players also mentioned in the Umpires Report if those players are in attendance. All except the Umpire, charged players and all advocates shall retire until recalled

(III)

The Umpires brief written report is read by the chairman, who shall be in possession of team sheets and any other relevant correspondence

(IV)

The charges player/ person is then asked to plead “guilty” or “not guilty”. A player/ person may also plead “guilty under provocation” if he desires

(V)

After the player/ person  pleads, any available video material may be displayed

(VI)

The Umpire is then asked to amplify his report and may be questioned by the player /person  and the player’s advocate. The Chairman and members of the Tribunal may also ask questions as they desire. The umpire may then call any witnesses

(VII)

The other player/person mentioned in the report who must attend the hearing, is then asked to give his version and may be questioned by the Tribunal and the charged player (s) advocate

(VIII)

The charged player / person is then asked to give his version any may be questioned by the Tribunal

(IX)

The player /person (s) may then call witnesses. The charged player / person or his advocate calls his first. Once a witness is called to give evidence, he must remain in the room until the case is finished. Each witness is asked to give his version of the incident and may be questioned by the advocate, and the Tribunal as desired

(X)

After all evidence is given the advocate is given the opportunity of summing up his case and when the Tribunal is satisfied that it has all the evidence it needs to enable it to come to a decision, the Tribunal will privately consider the case and make a finding based on what it believes to be the facts. The Reported Person and his Advocate are then brought back into the room and informed of the verdict. At that time the Tribunal shall hear any further submission from the Advocate in relation to penalty. The Tribunal will then privately consider any penalty and take into account the players past playing record. After reaching a decision on the penalty to be imposed, if any, the reported person and his Advocate are bought back into the room and informed of the decision