The MWFA and our 17 clubs are dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive and friendly environment for all players, from the age of 6 through to over 45s, to enjoy their football.
We are united in our desire to protect the true essence of grassroots sport.
Ahead of the start of the junior competitions this weekend, the MWFA and clubs would like to remind all players and their parents/spectators, to “Let the Kids Play” and support our commitment to provide an enjoyable football experience.
Over recent years the MWFA and the 17 clubs, your club, have been operating a Team Discipline Point system, which is designed to offer warnings for teams and clubs and punishment for teams (and parents/spectators) that misbehave.
Offences against match officials are the most serious offences – and punished as such.
Last year a number of teams (junior and senior teams) were withdrawn from the competition due to poor behaviour, which also included the behaviour of parents and spectators on the sidelines.
In May, the MWFA will also promote the NSW Government Office of Sport’s “Shoosh for Kids” campaign.
Below is the process for teams receiving points, warnings, losing competition points and in extreme circumstances – withdrawal from the competition and an explanation of what offences carry Team Discipline Points.
MWFA Team Disciplinary Points (process)
- a) For each team in the MWFA competitions, disciplinary points will be applied for offences by players, team officials and spectators and accumulated over the season.
- b) Nominated Offences carry a number of demerit points which are accumulated to the team. The MWFA will provide a list of all offences and penalties each season.
- c) As the team accumulates points over the season sanctions are applied against the team according to the number of disciplinary points accumulated.
- Stage 1 – First Warning
When a team accumulates a given number of disciplinary points the team is given a warning including what may constitute further action.
- Stage 2 – Loss of Match Points
When a team accumulates a further number of disciplinary points the team loses three competition points and, at the discretion of the MWFA , may also be required to forfeit their next Fixture.
- Stage 3 – Team Withdrawal
When a team accumulates the maximum allowed number of disciplinary points the team is withdrawn from the competition for the rest of the season. Team expulsion will only occur after the team and its Club have appeared before the MWFA Board and have failed to show reasonable cause why they should not be withdrawn. In the case the team is withdrawn all players from the team will not be permitted to play for another team for the rest of the season.
- d) The table below shows accumulated disciplinary point limits for reaching these three stages.
| Accumulated Team Points | First Warning | Loss of Three Match Points | Team Withdrawal |
| All Open Competitions run as squads | 18 | 26 | 36 |
| O35/45 teams | 9 | 13 | 18 |
| U/15-AL single teams | 9 | 13 | 18 |
| U10-U15 | 9 | 13 | 18 |
| U6-U9 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
MWFA TEAM DISCIPLINE POINTS SUMMARY
| Offence Code | Detailed Breakdown offences by participants | Team Disciplinary Points |
| R1 Serious Foul Play | General Range | 2 |
| Violent Tackle from behind that endangers the safety of an opponent | 2 | |
| Rugby Tackle | 2 | |
| Violent Charging | 2 | |
| Over the Ball Tackle | 2 | |
| General Range | 2-5 | |
| R2 Violent Conduct | Head Butting | 5 |
| Punching / Fighting | 2-5 | |
| Kicking | 2 | |
| Elbowing to the head | 2 | |
| Elbowing to the body | 2 | |
| R3 Spitting | Spitting at an opponent or any other person | 5 |
| R4 Deny Goal Scoring Opportunity | Handball | 1 |
| R5 Deny Goal Scoring Opportunity | Holding, tripping or impeding | 1 |
| R6 Using Offensive or Insulting or Abusive Language and/or Gestures | Using offensive, intimidating, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures | 2 |
| Making offensive, intimidating, insulting or abusive gestures | 2 | |
| Indecent Actions | 2 | |
| R7 Second Caution | Second Caution in the same match. | 1 |
| Offence Code | Detailed Breakdown Offences by Participants against Match Officials
| TD Points |
| R2 Violent Conduct | Threatening or intimidating a Match Official by word or action | 10 |
| Tripping a Match Official | 10 | |
| Pushing with an open hand, shoulder or hip | 10 | |
| Striking with the ball or other object | 10 | |
| Punching, Kicking or elbowing | 10 | |
| R3 Spitting | Spitting | 10 |
| R6
| Uses offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures against or about Match Officials | 5 |
| Non offence code incidents | Detailed Breakdown Other offences by Participants | TD Points |
| (k) Inciting the crowd | 10 | |
| (l) Attacking or fighting with spectators | 10 | |
| (m) Bringing the Game into disrepute | 10 | |
| (n) Deliberately misleading the Disciplinary Committee or any other tribunal | 10 | |
| (o) Spitting at or onto spectators | 10 | |
| (p) Failure to provide a safe environment for Participants or to maintain public order at a Match. | 10 | |
| (q) Other offences by players or Team Officials as specified in Match Official Report | 10 | |
| Excessive Cautions 5/Match/Team | 1 | |
| Breach of the Code of Conduct by an Official | 5 | |
| Breach of Code of Conduct by Team Spectators | 2-10 |
