USAFL Club Responsibilities & Benefits

Clubs are classified as level A, B, C or Developmental based upon organizational and participatory criteria as defined by the Executive Board with level A being the highest category from an organizational and participatory perspective.  The USAFL provides club support in the form of administrative policy application, new club start-up assistance, financial guidance, coaching and umpire training, youth programs, a web-based password protected administration console and a defined objective for the development of Australian Football in the United States.

Responsibilities – A & B Level Clubs

  1. Recognize USAFL as the governing body of Australian Rules Football in the USA as per the USAFL / AFL agreement in which the AFL states that USAFL is the only recognized body in the USA.
  2. Recognize AFL as the worldwide governing body of Australian Rules Football. All correspondence directed to the AFL and/or AFL clubs MUST go through the USAFL Board, or be given prior approval for communication with the exception of existing sister club relationship correspondence.
  3. Dues paid by March 31st each year (after the first year the club is operational). Should dues not be paid, USAFL cannot guarantee inclusion in Handbook, USAFL.com, and attendance at Club Administrator’s Conference, Coaching/umpire clinics and National Tournament Championships. Said club will also be ineligible for benefits from USAFL sponsorship agreements, junior and club grant programs and their players are not eligible for National Team selection.
  4. Agree to sign and abide by the USAFL Constitution.
  5. The club maintains its club page on www.USAFL.com. Updated in the first quarter of each year.
  6. Club Contact details (minimum of three contact people per club) are given to USAFL Communications Manager (office@usafl.com), and updated as requested.
  7. Must submit two reports (Kick Off Report in May and End of Season Report in November) to USAFL Communications Manager – office@USAFL.com for publishing on the web, to the AFL, AFL clubs and USAFL sponsors.
  8. All players must be registered through www.USAFL.com. This is a legal and mandatory requirement and must be done before the first game played.
  9. Must wear the official USAFL logo on club jumpers/Guernsey’s (when supplied by and as directed by USAFL).
  10. Support and honor USAFL sponsors as per USAFL/Sponsor Agreements.

Responsibilities – Level C and Forming Clubs:

  1. Forming clubs must abide by the USAFL process for forming sister club relationships (see below).
  2. For the first year of Level C/forming club dues are not mandatory. After the first year, dues need to be paid as appropriate to clubs Level as at January 1st that year. Should dues not be paid by Developmental clubs in the second year, USAFL will not guarantee club information on USAFL.com or recognition as an official USAFL member club.
  3. The USAFL Board approves all new team names, team logo(s) and jumper designs before any public announcements are made.
  4. In addition, club must abide by the responsibilities for Level A and B Clubs.
  5. All new clubs must sign the USAFL constitution.

Benefits of Being a Recognized USAFL Club:

  1. Membership within the USAFL, a globally recognized, national organization. The USAFL is the only governing body in the USA recognized by the AFL, the worldwide governing body of Australian Rules.
  2. General Liability insurance for all games and practices.
  3. All clubs can be incorporated under the USAFL’s umbrella and gain access to the USAFL’s non- profit status under rule 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
  4. Representation to the AFL International Development Department.
  5. Level ‘A’ clubs are eligible to one full vote at the USAFL AGM and Administrator’s conference (which sets the direction of the USAFL) Level ‘B’ clubs have ½ vote, and level ‘C’ clubs have ¼ vote.
  6. All USAFL registered players are automatically members.
  7. Registered players eligible for national team selection (providing their club has paid their dues on time and have been abiding by the by-laws of the USAFL).
  8. Access to all USAFL information, documents and programs.
  9. Links from USAFL.com to the club’s home page
  10. Assistance with Junior Development, with access to USAFLKids program.
  11. Assistance with Umpire Development, with access to certification programs/clinics and ongoing assistance from USAFL.
  12. Regular contact from Regional VP to assist with issues, questions, etc.
  13. Assistance from Club Development mentors from other clubs.
  14. Clubs receive direct benefits, discounts and sponsorship through programs such as:
    - Burley Sekem - footballs with club logo imprinted on them at a special USAFL discount rate, team uniforms, apparel etc.  Note: footballs imprinted with club logo can take 6 – 8 turnaround time.
    - A number of sponsorship agreements, including Primus, USAFL Travel & ReMax, where a percentage of all club members’ phone bills are paid back to club.
    - All new sponsorship agreements benefit the clubs.
  15. Invitation and eligibility to participate at National Tournament Championships.
  16. Benefit directly from USAFL communication with AFL (TV telecasts, coaching/umpire/juniors support resources etc.)
  17. Sister Club relationships with Australian clubs are initiated, developed and facilitated by the USAFL.
  18. Involvement with overall development of the sport. AFL grants funding is only available to a national body. Without the USAFL the funding would not be available.
  19. Players are eligible for selection to USAFL National Team, the Revolution. Upcoming Tournaments include the International Cup in Melbourne, 2011. Similar eligibility to women’s national team, the Freedom, also planning on attending 2011 International Cup.
  20. Players are eligible to be involved with a player exchange program through programs such as Australearn Study Abroad, Notre Dame University in Fremantle, Western Australia (WA) and the WA Country Football League. The USAFL will assist with visas, advice regarding locations, finding a team, coaching assistance and exposure through Australian Media. The player is expected to communicate regularly back to the Communications Manager, providing information for posting on website, distribution through newsletters etc.
  21. Provision of all official AFL training materials as received from the AFL:
    All AFL training videos, coaching ,umpiring and club management resources can be found at: www.aflcommunityclub.com.au
  22. Ability to send member umpires and coaches to official training clinics, attaining AFL recognized Level One certification upon completion of all requirements.
  23. Opportunity for the best umpire (in USA), to travel with USA National Teams, the American Revolution and Freedom.  Umpire must be affiliated with a USAFL club or directly with the USAFL.

Process for Approaching Australian Football Clubs for Sister Club Relationships

  1. The forming US club must first pay dues and become an Official USAFL Club. They can then apply to USAFL for use of temporary jumpers if needed.
  2. Once the forming club has been established for a season/year and have proven they will survive and not fold, they can then apply to USAFL for a sister club relationship, naming a specific team in Australia they would like to approach, if applicable.
  3. If there are existing USAFL Clubs that already have the name/nickname, they must be approached and give their approval for the forming club to also use that name/nickname.

This process is in place for several reasons:

  • As the Governing Body of Australian Football in the US, we are recognized in Australia by Clubs and Leagues and have more collective bargaining power to obtain sister club relationships for clubs forming here in the US.
  • Some US clubs have formed relationships, received jumpers etc. from the Australian club, and then folded, only to sour the relationship and possible future relationships with that Australian club.
  • Several Australian Clubs already have multiple sister clubs and do not appreciate being approached directly from the US Club without prior approval and introduction by the governing body (USAFL). This is an arrangement we have directly with the AFL and the USAFL is currently working with most of the Australian Regional Leagues to put the same process in place.
  • The existing USAFL club/s that is already using that club name/nickname may stand to lose if too many clubs have the same name. It dilutes their name recognition and causes problems when they play each other. This is particularly important at this early stage of our league, as there a hundred different names to use, and we are already using the same name 3-4 times in some cases.
  • Use of AFL team logos, names, jumpers and jumper designs can only be used under the existing USAFL/AFL contractual arrangement. Should a club use this intellectual property without the express permission of the USAFL and the AFL, they may be faced with legal action.

See Appendix for detailed sample Club Development Profile Scoring System.
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