Player Eligibility & Competition Rules

Tag League — Player Eligibility & Competition Rules

Purpose: Keep Tag League safe, fair, and consistent across all venues and divisions.
Applies to: All senior Tag League competitions, trainings, tournaments, and sanctioned events.

1) Player Eligibility & Registration

• Age: Senior comps are 16+ in the calendar year of competition. Junior players must be not turning the age in the year of the competition. EG: U10 a player can not turn 10 in the calendar year.
• Membership & rego: Players must hold a current Tag League membership and be registered to the team (visible on the digital roster) before kick-off. No rego = no play.
• Financial / disciplinary status: Unfinancial or suspended players cannot take the field.
• Team size: Teams require a minimum of 10 registered players to compete across the season.
• ID & sign-on: Photo ID must be presented and players must sign on at the desk before each game (late arrivals must sign on at half-time).
• Finals eligibility: Each player must have played 5+ games for their team in the season to qualify for finals.
• Fill-ins:
  • Must be from the same or lower division (e.g., Div 1 cannot fill in for Div 3).
  • Must be registered, sign in, and wear the official fill-in shirt.
  • Max 2 fill-ins per game; max 3 games as a fill-in per player per season.
  • No fill-ins in finals under any circumstances.
• Breaches: Using unregistered/ineligible players or breaching eligibility rules may result in match penalties, suspensions, or disqualification. Repeat breaches can lead to multi-game suspension or removal from the competition.

2) Medical Conditions & Safety

• Disclosure: Pre-existing medical conditions should be disclosed at registration (or when known). We may request a short fitness-to-play form.
• Pregnancy: Participation is a personal decision. Pregnant players should consult their clinician and consider risks.
• Inherent risk: Tag League is low-contact, non-tackling, but injuries can occur (e.g., heat illness, sprains/tears, fractures, concussion; rare but serious outcomes are possible). Protective gear can reduce risk.

3) Uniform & Equipment

• Shorts/tights: Official Tag League-branded shorts or tights only. Belts are not permitted.
• Footwear: No screw-in or metal studs. Plastic moulded studs/blades or runners are required. No barefoot.
• Team shirts: From Round 2, shirts must be:
  • Uniform colour, clearly numbered (min 25 cm height / 25 mm line thickness), unique (max two digits), and able to be tucked in.
  • No taped numbers. Hand-painted is acceptable if clearly visible from across the field.
  • Penalty: For each non-compliant player beyond Week 2, the opposition starts +2 match points.
• Sharing shirts: Not permitted during a game.
• Match kit: Match ball and tags are supplied for each game and remain league property. Fines apply for missing equipment.

4) Weather & Ground Closures

• Council decisions: Council determines ground status after wet weather; closures can extend to allow recovery.
• Notifications: Updates posted by 4:00 pm on the Wet Weather page and sent by email/app where possible.
• Washouts: One washout round only, then schedule push-back as needed.
• On-night decisions: The GDM may continue, suspend, or abandon play for heavy rain/standing water, high wind, or lightning.
  • Complete first half: result stands (half-time score recorded).
  • Before half-time: game is rescheduled where possible.

5) Game Start, Lateness & Forfeits

• Readiness: Collect tags and be ready before scheduled start. The referee’s whistle controls the game (central horn is a time guide).
• Minimum on-field: A team may start short if registered players are en route. Minimum 5 of your own on the field to start; Mixed requires at least 1 female.
• Late sign-on: Late players must sign on at half-time or a match point penalty applies per player (or forfeit if not rectified).
• Lateness penalties: 3-minute grace; at 4th minute −1 point, then −1 every 2 minutes to 10th minute (max −4).
• Forfeit: At 10 minutes, recorded 5–0, no competition points to the forfeiting team.
• Notice: If you’ll be late or short, contact Tag League.
  • Forfeits with 24 hours’ notice: no fine/no points loss.
  • No-notice forfeits: −3 competition points and $150 fine payable before the next game.
  • 3+ forfeits in a season may result in removal from competition.

6) Bonus Tag (Season Feature)

• Designation: Each team designates one Bonus Tag wearer before kick-off (recorded at check-in).
• Scoring: The wearer’s tries are double points.
• Fixed: No swaps during the game.
• Limits: A player may wear the Bonus Tag max 3 times per season, and only once in finals.

7) Conduct & Discipline

• Standards: Play with fun and fair play. Zero tolerance for violence, abuse, intimidation, discrimination, bullying, or harassment (on or off field, including online).
• Alcohol/drugs: Players under the influence will be directed to leave.
• Jewellery & clothing: No jewellery (except plain bands taped if necessary). No hoodies/jackets on field. Hats allowed backwards; hats with drawstrings removed. Fingernails trimmed to fingertip length.
• Respect officials: Follow Referee/GDM directions. Off-field participants and supporters must also behave appropriately; officials may stop play or sanction teams for supporter misconduct.
• Sin Bin / Send Off:
  • Sin Bin: temporary removal; no replacement during bin time.
  • Send Off: remainder of match; no replacement. Automatic 1-week suspension plus review.
• Indicative penalties (may increase for repeat/serious conduct):
  • Foul play (Send Off): 1 week + review; extra weeks for repeats.
  • Referee abuse (Send Off): 2 weeks + review; extra weeks for repeats.
  • Throwing a punch (instigator or retaliation): 4 weeks + review; repeat = disqualification.
  • Threats to officials: 4 weeks + review; repeat = disqualification.
  • Team discipline: 3 send-offs in a season = −2 competition points (and potential termination).
  • Game called off for incident: team at fault may forfeit/match penalty; in physical altercations, the league may stand down both teams for 1 week.
• Appeals: Local convenor is first arbiter. Reviews by Tag League Association are available with a $200 fee (refunded if upheld).
• Records: Conduct records are kept; repeat offenders receive higher penalties.

8) Injury Reporting

• Immediate: Inform the referee and GDM at the time of injury.
• Documentation: GDM completes an injury report on the night.

9) Player Additions / Replacements

• In-season injuries: No refunds for injured players. Teams may add a replacement player.
• Late-season special case: Within 3 games of finals, a player who has played ≥3 games for the team may be approved as a replacement for a seriously injured player (requires GM approval and medical certificate).
• Cut-off: After Round 5, no new players can be added.

10) Prizes

• All competitions offer season prizes (may vary by venue/season).

Questions? admin@TagLeague.com.au

Remember: No rego = no play. Play fair, have fun, and respect the game.