Be sure to notify the team of training arrangements and details of the first game.

Copy and distribute the "Duty Parents" sheet as well as the other material on scoring, umpires signals, team lists etc.

Use email to contact your team if you can this cuts down on time spent on the phone. However, be aware that not everyone has access to email and some of those that do, don’t check it often. If in doubt use the phone.

For the duty roster, the date refers to the date of the MATCH. If required to oversee an underage coach training, the duty parent needs to understand that they must attend the practice held in the week BEFORE the match.

It is generally a good idea for the team manager to take the FIRST week of duty and attend the training session. This is the opportunity to distribute the fixtures, emphasise the participation of parents (with scoring and the overseeing of training and for the PARENTS to organise their own "duty" swaps).

The roster should follow a logical pattern, after the first week, use singlet number or alphabetical order.

If the coach comes from the family of one of the players, that family should not be put on the roster.

Emphasise to parents and players that it is VITALLY IMPORTANT to notify the manager at least, and preferably the coach too, that a player will be unavailable for a training session or match.

DURING THE SEASON

There will be several fixture pickups. This will happen about 3 times early in the season, while and just after the grading rounds are being completed.

(During grading, teams may play in games a level above or below their NOMINAL level. This allows the league some scope to get it right. Points awarded during the grading games continue into the season).

As a general rule, the next bundle of fixtures will be available at the usual address from 5pm on the Monday after the last game on the current fixture is played. Newsletters may also need to be collected and distributed.

We will try to get fixtures electronically and make them available on the club website, however I’m not sure that we can get that.

END OF THE SEASON

At the end of the season, there will be notification of your teams participation in finals. Typically you will have a good idea of the likelihood of finals participation. For boys teams a committee member will contact you Wednesday or Thursday before the game is played. For girls teams ring the Girls Registrar on Wednesday night. Confer with your coach about the continuation of training. You will need to notify your team about the time and venue for finals games.

Note that you will not be contacted if your team doesn’t make the finals.

Be wary of tentative listing of finals times and venues that are sometimes posted at venues, these are subject to change and can cause much confusion.

Younger age groups very often have "supplementary finals", played over two rounds, on the days of the preliminary and grand finals. Supplementary Finals are played amongst teams finishing fifth to eighth and are "knockout" games held on the second and third week of the finals.

Some grades (typically "A level" for the age groups) split into top four and next four and play two sets of finals, often called "A" and "AR". Note that other levels may occasionally do the same, and the league notifies us very late in the season!

For finals games each player must pay to enter the venue and the teamsheet fee is paid at the start of the game and is a ‘per team’ fee rather than a ‘per player’ fee.

The club awards trophies for all premiers and runners-up, so there is ongoing interest in the season right till the end.

During the finals, keep in contact with the Assistant Registrar. Let us know if your team has won or lost. This information is critical for the preparation of trophies. Less than 24 hours elapses between the grand finals being played and the trophies being presented. It is a big job and we need as much notice as possible. Let us know as your team proceeds through or is eliminated from the finals.

At the end of the season, collect a small donation from each family for a gift for the coach. Decide on a time and venue for an end of season celebration. This is the traditional opportunity to make a presentation to the coach.

THE CLUB HOLDS A PRESENTATION NIGHT AT THE END OF EVERY SEASON (Winter and Summer). This night is held the day after the grand finals are played and represents the completion of the season, with trophies for premiers and runners-up being presented. Sunday, 6pm is typical.

If you have any queries or problems, please don't hesitate to contact the Team Manager Liaison