CLUB INFORMATION
NZAFF Affiliated Clubs can find information and links to information on this page.
Player Safety Game Day Reporting
Clubs can use the link opposite to record their game day player safety reports.
Concussion information and protocols
For more detailed information on concussion symptoms follow this link
Concussion Refresher
To take the Concussion refresher test follow this link
Immediate visual indicators of concussion include:
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Loss of consciousness or responsiveness
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Lying motionless on the ground/slow to get up
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A dazed, blank or vacant expression
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Appearing unsteady on feet, balance problems or falling over
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Grabbing or clutching of the head or
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Impact seizure or convulsion
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Visible injury to face or head (especially in combination with any other signs)
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Loss of balance/co-ordination
Red Flags - What requires hospitalisation:
If no qualified medical professional is available, consider transporting by ambulance for urgent medical assessment.
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Player complains of neck pain
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Increasing confusion or irritability
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Repeated vomiting
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Seizure or convulsion
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Double vision
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Weakness or tingling/burning in arms or legs
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Deteriorating conscious state
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Severe or increasing headache
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Unusual behavior change
Concussion protocols for return to play
The following steps can be found in the Protocols Summary document. The steps
that must be followed with the help of a medical professional are:
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Recognise the signs of a suspected or potential concussion.
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Remove from play if a concussion is suspected and if in doubt ensure you sit them out.
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Refer all suspected / potential concussion to a medical doctor for diagnosis and return to play guidelines.
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Rest & Recover - All players must have; full, physical & cognitive rest to ensure best recovery can take place if a concussion is diagnosed.
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Return to Play - Players should undertake a graduated return to training and play.
For more detailed information on the concussion protocols regarding the return to play
stages follow this link. The return to play should be supervised by a medical professional
- ideally with specialised concussion training.
Player Safety Responsibilities
Health & Safety Document Library
The library has reference documents including Health and Safety guidelines and policies, event organisation check lists and risk identification and mitigation templates.
Equipment Subsidies
The 2023/2024 NZAFF Equipment Subsidy is available to all active NZAFF Clubs & Members.
The subsidy offers a 40% discount off the $NZ landed price for purchases of American Football Helmets, Shoulder Pads & Padded Pants up until the 31st July 2024.
To take advantage of the subsidy, there are 2 ways you can get access to it.
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From NZAFF through your club.
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NZAFF’s preferred supplier is currently Sports Unlimited.
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Visit Sports Unlimited Website: https://www.sportsunlimitedinc.com/
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Provide your order details to your Club eg. Product Number, Item, Size, Color.
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Your Club will make the order on your behalf via email to gm@nzaff.co.nz
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When the equipment arrives, NZAFF invoices the club and delivery is on payment.
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Order direct from any supplier
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You order, and pay, directly from any supplier, presumably in the USA but could be elsewhere, and get the item(s) shipped directly to you.
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When it arrives, you provide proof of the order, delivery and payment to NZAFF and NZAFF will rebate 40% of the $NZ landed price of the item(s) directly into your bank account.
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The club President or Chairperson must confirm that they have sighted the equipment.
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Notes:
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The NZAFF Equipment Subsidy is subject to annual review. NZAFF reserves the right to adjust/remove this offer at any time.
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The NZAFF Equipment Subsidy discount applies to purchases of American Football Helmets, Shoulder Pads & Padded Pants only. Please note the subsidy only applies to standard equipment, not special editions or customized items.
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The NZAFF Equipment Subsidy is designed to support clubs & players to access quality safety equipment at an affordable price. Any equipment purchased through the subsidy, should not be done with intent to resell for a profit.
If you have questions or want more information, contact Russell McConnochie, NZAFF GM, at gm@nzaff.co.nz, of Shernice Henry, NZAFF Program Coordinator,, admin@nzaff.co.nz.
Equipment Fitting Guide
These fitting guides can be found on equipment manufacturers we sites and are referenced here for ease of use.
The prerequisite for being eligible for Club Grants is the use of the Sporty registrations system.
For the 2023/24 season the Club Grant program will be similar to past seasons with separate parts. Some of these items can, and should be, done prior to the season.
The NZAFF Club Grants Program is subject to annual review. NZAFF reserves the right to adjust/remove this offer at any time.
Tasks must be completed/applied for by 30th April 2024 to allow time for the payments to be distributed.
Information has already been sent out regarding Sporty and the links for each club are on the NZAFF web site under “Membership Registrations” above. The program focus is primarily player safety followed by participation with some extra opportunities at tournaments.
If you have a question please contact Russell - gm@nzaff.co.nz.
1. Player Safety Reporting
This portion of the grant is made up of two parts. Both parts must be completed to be
eligible for this portion of the grant.
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Appointment of a Player Safety Liaison person within the club.This person will be responsible for reporting and organizing player safety requirements and will be the contact person for NZAFF and the Regional body.Please provide Player Safety Liaison details to GM as soon as possible.
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Player Safety Liaison is to - complete weekly, on-time, player safety reporting for both training and games. Player safety reporting requires completed online form, follow up reporting and resolution of player safety issues.
Flag Teams in local competition will earn $200 per team for the season.
All forms of Tackle Football will earn $400 per team in competition.
Competitions must have a draw and published results.
2. Concussion Refresher
20% of players are required to complete the concussion refresher course to be eligible for this portion of the grant.
This must include all new players to the club.
All club coaches must have gone through the refresher.
Players who have completed the concussion refresher course in the past are not eligible. Clubs will receive $75 per player who successfully completes the course.
3. Coach Qualification
The Coach Qualification portion of the Club Grant program has been re-included for the 2023/2024 season. For each Coach that successfully completes the USA Football Courses, and submits all relevant certificates - their club will receive $250.
Coaches eligible to earn under this portion of the grant are:
1. Any new coaches
2. Any coaches whose qualification has expired. (Coaches must re-qualify every 3 years.)
Coaches must be registered as Coaches on the Sporty registration system
4. Youth and Women's Initiatives
This is a new portion of the Club Grant program targeted at increasing participation by Youth & Women, and is available only upon application. Terms and conditions apply. Please contact the GM for further information.
● Club run weekly Youth or Women Scrimmages - clubs will earn $500 per School Term.
● Club run Youth or Women Tournament (min.5 teams) - clubs will earn $600 per Tournament.
● Club run Youth or Women Competition/Module (min.6 teams) - clubs will earn $1000 per 10-week competition/Module.
5. Tournaments Player Safety reporting
Clubs who run tournaments are eligible for the player safety reporting grant based on $50 per team entered. The host club will do the reporting for all games and should
contact the GM to get the details and access to the reporting form for tournaments which is different from the competition reporting.
Tournaments need to have a published draw and results being updated constantly.
Club Flag nationals will require player safety reporting for each game that is played. Clubs will receive $100 per team for successfully completing player safety reporting, within a timely manner.
6. Officials Development
AFOA will schedule and host both a Flag and Tackle Officiating workshop during the new season. Clubs will receive $50 per member (capped at 10% members) who attends & completes each workshop. Auckland Workshops will be in a face-to-face setting, Outside-of-Auckland Workshops will be hosted online.
Examples:
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If a club’s membership is 104 then the number of members to attend will be 11 (based on last year's registrations & numbers will all be rounded up). 5 could attend the Tackle workshop and 6 could attend the Flag workshop.
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If, as above, 11 players are needed to attend the sessions. 5 attend the Tackle workshop then the same 5 attend the Flag workshop, plus one more, that would equal 11 people attending the sessions and so satisfy the requirement.
7. Officials Incentive
In response to the growth of the game we need to encourage more people to become
officials so we have an incentive for individuals to do that.
All referees, new referees and existing referees, will receive a bonus payment at the end
of the season of $150.
This is in addition to any fees earned by officiating in local competitions.
In order to qualify each official must be registered as an official with AFOA, must be on
the Officials pathway (active in the on-line training), and must have officiated at least
80% of games that are available in local competitions.
Notes
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The NZAFF Club Grants Program is subject to annual review. NZAFF reserves the right to adjust/remove this offer at any time.
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Tasks must be completed/applied for by 30th April 2024 to allow time for the payments to be distributed..
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Club Grant Program funding may not be claimed in conjunction with any other NZAFF funding initiatives. Please check with NZAFF.
The New Zealand American Football Federation (NZAFF) is here to support the growth of our sport and the following documents (follow the links) covers aspects of setting up and running a successful club. But please check out our website for a range of other resources, and also get in touch if we can be of any help.
American Football is an incredible sport that has been played by a small group in New Zealander’s for over 40 years, and for those of us involved we know that the sport will appeal to many more Kiwis both young and old if they give it a try.
1. Start a new club
How to start a club in 3 easy steps:
2. Being an effective Committee
Once you are a Club you will want to do the best you can as a committee. Everyone is busy so following some simple guidelines will help the processes go smoother.
3. Being an effective Club
Running an effective club consists of juggling various parts to make sure the day to day things get done while keeping an eye on the things that need to be done for the future of the club.
Below you will find links to all the codes of conduct for all NZAFF members, players, coaches, administrators (managers), officials and parents.
When Members register they agree to abide by the appropriate code of conduct for their role or roles. It is important to have these so that we are all protected from the kind of behavior that could bring the sport into disrepute.
If we are going to encourage more officials to help then their treatment needs to be better than it has been.
The neutral referees are registered as members of NZAFF and so have recourse to use the disciplinary processes in the NZAFF Rules & Regulations.
If they, or anyone else, feels that the treatment of the referees has gone too far and is abusive then the person and the team responsible for the abuse can be cited. A hearing would then be held under the NZAFF Rules & Regulations and if upheld the minimum fine on the club will be $300 per instance with the option to increase depending on the severity of the offense. If the citing is on an individual then other sanctions may apply however the club will still be liable for a fine.
The citing can proceed irrespective of any on-field penalty awarded for such behaviour during the game.
We understand that Clubs may not want to pay a fine for a member’s actions however the club will be held responsible for members behaviour. The fine can be deducted from Club Grants.
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For each citing for bad sideline behaviour the club will be fined a minimum of $300.
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The fine may be more depending on the severity and may added sanctions as per the NZAFF Rules & Regulations.
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Citing can happen irrelevant of any on field penalty.
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Citing can be initiated by NZAFF, an Official or from another person/club.
The process is in the NZAFF Rules & Regulations