Touch Football Australia (TFA) has released two governance documents that set out how registration and affiliation work across the sport: the National Registration Policy and updated Affiliate Membership Regulations (Version 6).
Together, the two documents clarify who needs to register, how, and through which system, and what it means to be an affiliated association of TFA, from first joining the game through to the obligations that come with staying affiliated. Both are now current and apply to every Affiliate, state and territory body, and participant in Touch Football.
National Registration Policy: one platform, one register
The National Registration Policy confirms MySideline, the NRL's registration and data management platform, as the single, mandatory system of record for everyone involved in Touch Football, whether as a player, coach, referee, volunteer, official, or health and safety personnel.
Key points for Affiliates and participants:
- Registration is mandatory before participation: No participant may train, play, or officiate without an active MySideline registration, and Affiliates must not allow anyone to take part until that registration is confirmed.
- It covers every role, not just players: Coaches and team staff, referees and referee coaches, health and safety personnel, and volunteers (including all Affiliate office bearers) each have their own registration requirements set out in the policy.
- Working with Children Checks and integrity training: Anyone 18 or over working directly with, or in an environment that includes, people under 18 must provide current WWCC details and complete the Sport Integrity Australia eLearning modules as part of registration.
- Registration can be revoked: Grounds include breaches of the Code of Conduct, criminal misconduct, conduct that brings the game into disrepute, child safety breaches, or an active Member Protection Policy investigation. Affected individuals have a defined right of appeal, including a five-business-day window to lodge a written response and a Committee decision within 30 days.
- Why it matters: Beyond compliance, consistent registration data underpins accurate reporting to the Australian Sports Commission and the NRL, ensures every Participant is covered by the TFA National Insurance Scheme, and gives Affiliates a reliable record of their playing and volunteer base.
Affiliate Membership Regulations: a clearer affiliation pathway
Version 6 of the Affiliate Membership Regulations restructures and updates the previous (2023) version. It doesn't introduce new constitutional obligations, but it does reorganise the document to make the conditions of affiliation easier to follow, particularly for new Associations joining the game for the first time.
What's changed and what it covers:
- A five-step affiliation pathway: From submitting an Expression of Interest, through becoming an incorporated legal entity and adopting a compliant Constitution, to beginning the development journey with support from your state or territory body.
- An expanded Affiliation Framework: The Regulations now clearly define where affiliated associations and clubs sit alongside event members, licensed competition providers, and managed competitions, and which rules apply to each.
- Obligations grouped by area: Governance, registration, financial, reporting, integrity and safeguarding, and conduct requirements are set out in a single reference table, covering everything from lodging financial statements and AGM minutes to maintaining a current Risk Assessment and completing integrity training.
- A fairer, staged compliance process: Where an Affiliate falls short of an obligation, a Show Cause Notice with at least 20 business days to remedy the issue will generally be issued before cancellation is considered. Suspected integrity breaches, criminal conduct, or conduct that could bring the game into disrepute can still result in immediate suspension pending investigation.
- What's coming next. Development program content, including an updated Affiliate Health Check, Affiliate Stages, and the full annual renewal mechanism, is being prepared separately, to be released ahead of 2027 at touchfootball.com.au/affiliate-hub. Until then, Affiliates continue to complete annual renewal through their state or territory body.
What Affiliates need to do
- Confirm all players, coaches, referees, volunteers, and health and safety personnel are actively registered in MySideline.
- Check that WWCC and Sport Integrity Australia eLearning requirements are up to date for anyone working with under-18s.
- Review the Affiliate Obligations table in the new Regulations against your Association's current governance, financial, and reporting practices.
- Keep an eye out for the release of the Thriving Affiliates Program for updated guidance on annual renewal and the Affiliate Health Check.
Both documents are available in full at touchfootball.com.au/policies. Affiliates with questions should contact their relevant state or territory body in the first instance.
