Game Day at the Saints

One page. Everything you need for Sunday footy.

Whether this is your family's first game or you've been doing Sundays at the Saints for years, game day should be simple.

Find your game, know when to arrive, know what to bring and - if you've been given a game day job - find out what you need to do.

Download the AFL Play App

to find weekly games with links for maps so you can find the ground.

FOR EVERY SAINTS FAMILY

1 Before the Siren

Check your game

Game times, grounds and opponents can change during the season.

Check 'AFL Play' and your team communication in Stack App before leaving home - particularly if there has been wet weather, a venue change or a fixture update.

Your Team Manager will let your team know what time players are expected to arrive.

2 Arrive ready to play

Players should arrive in their complete game-day uniform with everything they need for the match.

Bring:

Saints game-day guernsey
Saints game-day shorts
Football socks
Football boots
Mouthguard
Labelled water bottle
Any medication or personal medical items normally required

Long hair should be secured and jewellery removed before the game.

Player nails should be trimmed.

3 Find your Team Manager

Your Team Manager is your first point of contact on game day.

They coordinate the team, players and match-day requirements and will let families know about any rostered jobs.

If you have been allocated a role and you are unsure what to do, just ask!

Nobody expects a first-time volunteer to already know everything.

HOME OF THE SAINTS - STRATHAIRD PAVILLION

Playing at Strathaird Reserve

Narre South Saints JFNC
Strathaird Reserve
34 Community Parade
Narre Warren South VIC 3805

When the Saints are the home team, our volunteers help turn Strathaird into a junior football venue for the day.

Depending on the fixture, families may be asked to assist with:

Ground set-up · Canteen · Match-day jobs · Scoreboard · Ground pack-up

Please check your team roster before game day.

Game Day Jobs

I've been rostered. What do I do?

Junior football doesn't happen without parents and volunteers.

Most jobs only take the length of your child's match, and you do not need to be a football expert to help.

Your Team Manager will organise the roster and provide any equipment you need.

Choose your job below to find out more:

GOAL UMPIRE You're watching the score. Before the game, see your Team Manager and collect the goal umpire jacket, flags, scorecard and pen. Your job: Introduce yourself to the field umpire before the game. Make scoring decisions from behind the goals. Record every score on your scorecard. Check scores with the other goal umpire at the end of each quarter. Follow the field umpire's instructions. Remain neutral - goal umpires cannot coach, barrack or give players advice. Never done it before? Tell your Team Manager. Someone can run you through it before the first siren.

BOUNDARY UMPIRE You're looking after the boundary. Your Team Manager will tell you whether a boundary umpire is required for your match and provide the correct match-day equipment. Your job: Introduce yourself to the field umpire. Follow the field umpire's instructions. Watch where the football crosses the boundary. Apply the boundary procedure relevant to that competition and age group. Stay neutral — no coaching or barracking while officiating. Boundary rules can vary between competitions and age groups, so check with your Team Manager before the match.

GOAL UMPIRE You're watching the score. Before the game, see your Team Manager and collect the goal umpire jacket, flags, scorecard and pen. Your job: Introduce yourself to the field umpire before the game. Make scoring decisions from behind the goals. Record every score on your scorecard. Check scores with the other goal umpire at the end of each quarter. Follow the field umpire's instructions. Remain neutral - goal umpires cannot coach, barrack or give players advice. Never done it before? Tell your Team Manager. Someone can run you through it before the first siren.

TIMEKEEPER You're running the clock. Both teams provide a timekeeper. At home games you'll normally be positioned at the timekeeper/scoreboard area. Your job: Keep the official match time. Sound the siren when required. Keep track of quarter and break times. Record and monitor any player send-offs when required. Work with the opposition timekeeper throughout the match. You don't need to memorise every match interval. Your Team Manager will provide the current instructions for your age group.

GROUND MARSHALL You're helping keep game day safe and respectful. The Ground Marshall is an important match-day role representing the club. Your job: Help monitor Saints officials, parents and spectators. Support a safe and respectful environment around the ground. Assist with umpire movement at the required breaks and after the game. Remain behind the boundary fence while play is underway. Help the Team Manager if an issue occurs. You are there to help — not to argue with spectators or umpires. If a situation is becoming unsafe or escalating, seek help from the Venue Manager or another club official.

SCOREBOARD Keep everyone following the game. For competitive matches where the scoreboard is being used: Your job: Make sure the scoreboard is ready before the game. Keep the displayed score current. Operate the scoreboard timer where required. Check the score at quarter breaks. Work with the timekeepers and Team Manager if anything doesn't match. For our younger non-competitive age groups, scoring and scoreboard requirements are different. Your Team Manager will advise you.

FIRST GAME GROUND SET-UP First game? We open the ground. The first Saints teams playing at home help prepare Strathaird for the day. This may include: Saints flags and club signage Goal post padding Match-day and change-room signage Checking the playing area for rubbish, glass or hazards Making sure emergency and first-aid equipment is accessible Preparing the scoreboard and match-day areas where required Your Team Manager or Venue Manager will tell your team exactly what needs to be completed. Many hands make this a very quick job.

LAST GAME GROUND PACK-UP Last game? We close the ground. The final Saints teams of the day help leave Strathaird ready for the week ahead. This may include: Bringing in Saints flags and signage Returning match-day equipment Bringing in goal post padding where required Picking up rubbish around the oval and team areas Leaving change rooms clean Securing the scoreboard and equipment areas Please don't leave it to the same two people every Sunday. If your team has the last game, everyone can help for five minutes.

CANTEEN & BBQ The other Saints team. Some home fixtures include canteen or BBQ roster requirements. No experience is required. Your Team Manager or Canteen Coordinator will tell you: Your roster time Where to report What job you'll be doing Any food-handling or safety instructions you need If every family does a small part, nobody spends their entire Sunday volunteering.

TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER Capture the moments we'll want later. If your team has a volunteer photographer: Take a mixture of action, team and game-day photographs. Try to include different players across the match. Follow the club's photography and child-safety requirements. Upload approved images through the club's nominated team platform. You don't need professional equipment — a good phone is fine. Remember: the game comes first. Never enter restricted match areas just to get a photograph.

LAST GAME GROUND PACK-UP Last game? We close the ground. The final Saints teams of the day help leave Strathaird ready for the week ahead. This may include: Bringing in Saints flags and signage Returning match-day equipment Bringing in goal post padding where required Picking up rubbish around the oval and team areas Leaving change rooms clean Securing the scoreboard and equipment areas Please don't leave it to the same two people every Sunday. If your team has the last game, everyone can help for five minutes.

On the sideline... Support hard. Respect everyone.

We want Saints families to be passionate.

We also expect our sidelines to be a place where children can play, learn and make mistakes without adults making the game unpleasant.

Cheer the players.

Encourage effort, teamwork and good football.

Leave coaching to the coaches.

Players don't need instructions coming from six different directions.

Respect the opposition.

They are junior footballers too.

Respect the umpires.

Junior football cannot happen without them — and many are young people learning their craft.

Parents and spectators should not approach an umpire to question a decision.

If you have a concern, speak with your Team Manager or Ground Marshall.

Remember what they see.

The way adults behave around junior sport teaches children what we believe sport should look like.

Be the sideline you'd want your child playing in front of.