New look player registration for 2008

Among the many areas of focus that the Board has been working on in the off-season is Player Registrations. As agreed to by USAFL Club Delegates at the 2007 Annual Administrators’ Conference at the national championships, there will be a new look registration process for the 2008 USAFL season.

Firstly, we have deleted the $50 per player Nationals Registration fee that was introduced in 2006. We have also reduced the Club Registration dues by half! In its place we are moving to a "user pays" per-player registration, similar in concept to leagues such as USA Rugby and many other amateur leagues across the country.

At the past several AGMs, the USAFL has highlighted the financial realities of running a league and national championship, and emphasized the concept that the USAFL needs to charge its member teams and players what it costs to run the league (even though some of the
cost is effectively underwritten by the AFL's grant). For the sake of comparison, the USAFL has compared the per-team or per-player costs to those found in beer league softball, flag football leagues, and other recreational leagues. 
 
In 1999 a per-team fee was implemented for Nationals. In 2005 the USAFL significantly raised its membership dues for the teams. In 2006 the USAFL replaced the Nationals team fee with a per-player fee for Nationals. Now, the USAFL is moving to a per-player registration for the entire season, similar in concept to leagues such as USA Rugby.
 
Any player wishing to participate in any game for any USAFL affiliate club will be required to register online and pay a registration fee of $50 BEFORE they play any game. This $50 fee
includes participation at Nationals. If a player is not registered the player is deemed ineligible to play ANY game for that club. If a club plays an ineligible player, that game will not count towards Nationals qualification points for any player on the field, eligible or not. Players who show up on the day of a match can register with the club representative, sign a hard copy of player waiver and have until match results are entered in club web (2 week cutoff) to pay online. Club representatives will have the capacity to do this on behalf of a player who pays them direct/as part of overall club dues. In addition, depending on which local league that team plays in, league match points may be forfeited, as deemed by that regional league for playing ineligible players.

The financial realities are that as the USAFL grows, so do the costs of running the League. Compared to other recreational leagues, such as beer league softball, flag football leagues, kick-ball and other co-ed leagues, playing Aussie Rules is absolutely hands down the best value for money you are going to find.

This process will be live online by 02/01/08 through the existing player registration link on www.usfooty.com

As the USAFL looks to continue its successful growth into it its second decade of existence we are looking at more strategic ways to increase our funding so each registered player has access to the best umpiring, coaching, playing facilities, national championships, marketing, player recruitment, scholarships and club development available.

A step-by-step guide on how players can register will be posted on the soon to be improved US Footy website by 02/01/08.

The USAFL is truly excited at the possibilities for our next decade and we hope everyone in the usfooty family has a safe, happy and successful 2008 season, on and off the field.

Richard Mann
USAFL President
Jan. 30, 2008

Summary of 2008 Player Registration
 
•     The per-player fee will cover the entire season, including the national championships. Thus, there will be no separate charge for Nationals.
•     All players playing in USAFL sanctioned matches must be registered in order to be
covered by our public liability and indemnity insurance.
•     The points qualification system for national championships will remain the same(3 points
total needed, one point for regular game, ½ a point for metro/co-ed games).
•      As per previous years full time students will be at a reduced rate of $30.
•      First year players for the USAFL (regardless of age) will also enjoy this discounted rate
of $30.
•      The process will be the same as for online registration in the past, with the addition of the
payment process.
•      As part of this per-player system, club dues will be halved from their current levels.
•       This process will be live online by 02/01/08 through the existing player registration link on www.usfooty.com

- Richard Mann
(1062)