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Australian football (AFL)

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​Guideline review date: 24 September 2025

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner (DOCX, 232KB) must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template (DOCX, 98KB).

Activity scope

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for participation in Australian football (AFL) as an activity to support curriculum delivery.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

For activities conducted as part of representative school sport programs, schools should consult with Queensland School Sport.

Medium risk
AFL activities involving minimal risk of oppositional contact and/or mouth injury (e.g. Auskick, AFL 9's).
High risk
AFL activities involving risk of oppositional contact and/or mouth injury.

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline.

Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation and collaboration with local expertise (e.g. venue manager) is required for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional ​supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

Competition rules and procedures with additional or more stringent safety requirements must take precedence.

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Supervision

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Participants must adhere to all rules and advice communicated by the facility operator/owner and any safety signage at the facility/location.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

  • must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

  • must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
  • must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
  • must not rely on students to recover a person in difficulty at any time.

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. extreme temperatures, thunderstorms).

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

Supervisor qualifications

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—blue cards procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity. Emergency qualifications may include:

Additionally, for high risk activities, an adult with concussion management knowledge or training is required. Consult concussion management resources.

Medium risk activities

  • At least 1 adult supervisor is a registered teacher, or other adult supervisor working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching AFL.

High risk activities

  • At least 1 adult supervisor is a registered teacher, or other adult supervisor working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with bronze coach accreditation from the AFL for the current season (or equivalent demonstrated capability).
  • Qualified coaches and officials must be in control of competition games.
  • Field umpires must have umpire accreditation for the current season. Note: Duty of care is owed to game officials, including student umpires. Control measures that reduce risk to game officials, such as additional adult supervisors, are to be engaged for matches with elevated risk (e.g. students umpiring their own school, large crowds). Any registered umpire who is currently a student of a participating school should not be appointed to referee an unmodified game.
  • If boundary and/or goal umpires are not provided, each school should provide suitable officials (such as parents with knowledge and skills) to fulfil these roles.

See FAQs for further support.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

Confirm sport structures (e.g. goal posts) are regularly inspected to assess and maintain structural integrity. See safety alert—risks associated with metal sporting equipment.

Participants must wear personal protective equipment as relevant (e.g. enclosed footwear).

Fit-for-purpose goalpost padding made from impact absorbing foam is required (minimum 35mm thick, 2.5m high).

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards Control measures

Biological hazards
Body fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, sweat)

Manage bodily substances (e.g. blood) and open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult infection control guidelines and Queensland Health's exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster (PDF, 1.5MB) for hygienic practices and first aid

Environmental conditions
Weather, sun, humidity

Assess weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers.

Follow the school's sun safety policy, including appropriate clothing, sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside.

Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions
Facilities and equipment hazards Control measures
Activity location Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used venues to ascertain suitability

Boundary clearance

Establish a 5m safety zone around the playing area. If this cannot be achieved, consider ways of reducing risks (e.g. reducing the field size, padding the obstacle).

Ensure there are no sharp or rough edges (e.g. portable signage) facing the field of play

Chemicals

 Lines are marked on grass in accordance with the line marking of sports fields fact sheet

Faulty or dangerous equipment

Use markers made from non-injurious material (e.g. cardboard, foam).

Check equipment for damage before and during the activity.

Check footwear before each match to ensure they provide sufficient protection for the feet. Look for non-slip soles, no buckles or zips, no metal studs, no loose, sharp-edged or excessively worn studs and no sharp-edged soles

Playing surface

Conduct a field check to identify and manage surface hazards. Clear the playing surface from loose items or debris. Do not participate on a surface that is slippery, unduly rough or chopped up.

Cover/fill playing surface hazards (e.g. sprinkler heads, holes) to be level with the surrounds
Student considerations Control measures
Injury Students aware of the location of emergency and first-aid equipment

Physical contact
Breaks/sprains, cuts/abrasions/grazes, concussion, accidental bumping

Use headgear (recommended for activities involving collision).

Enforce rules to prevent rough play. Consult Play by the Rules (Conduct and Behaviour resources) and the AFL 's resources to safeguard children and young people.

Do not allow students to return to play after injury until the injury has been managed according to established procedures. If in doubt, the student should not play until medically cleared

Physical exertion
Exhaustion and fatigue

Conduct warm-up/cool-down activities.

Continually monitor participants for signs of fatigue and exhaustion.

Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks

Student issues
Student numbers, special needs, high risk behaviours, medical conditions, separation from the group

Monitor shared facilities (e.g. change rooms, public access areas).

Select students for on-field position(s) on the basis of ability, size and suitability.

Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating.

Ensure fingernails, hair and clothing (e.g. pockets) do not interfere with the activity

Additional links

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

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Last updated 24 September 2025