Match Day Checklist for Touch Football
The completion of the Match Day Checklist should be carried out before the commencement of a match day. In conjunction with the property owner, clubs may bear responsibility for ensuring that the playing field and surrounding areas are safe for player engagement. This checklist serves as a means of identifying and potentially mitigating some risks. This checklist is a guide only. Please ensure you undertake your own risk management assessments.
1. Responsibility for checklist completion
- Depending on the competition format, a league, club or venue representative should complete the checklist for centrally managed venues, while club representatives are responsible for matches played on a home and away basis.
- An affiliated club, association or match official (18 years of age or older) should sign the declaration at the end of this checklist.
2. Timing of checklist completion
- Checklists should be completed before the commencement of play.
- Any changes in weather, field conditions or venue circumstances should prompt ongoing monitoring and reassessment throughout the day.
3. Purpose of the Match Day Checklist
The checklist is designed to assist officials in identifying foreseeable risks associated with touch football activities, including:
• Safety and suitability of the playing field.
• Condition of the playing surface.
• Absence of hazards on and around the field of play.
• Safety of posts, padding, technical zones and surrounding facilities.
• Suitability of amenities used by players, officials, volunteers and spectators.
- This checklist is a guide only. Please ensure you undertake your own risk management assessments.
4. Managing identified risks
- Risks identified during the inspection should be documented together with actions taken to control or mitigate them.
Strategies that may address identified risks include:
Mitigate the risk
• Repair or mark hazards where practicable.
• Remove debris from the field.
• Restrict access to unsafe areas.
• Modify match activities for younger participants where appropriate.
• Implement any additional controls identified through your own risk assessment.Minimise the risk
• Remove hazardous objects from the playing and spectator areas.
• Delay, postpone or relocate matches where field or weather conditions present an unacceptable risk.
• Reduce exposure to heat, storms or poor field conditions through scheduling adjustments and additional breaks.
• Implement any additional controls identified through your own risk assessment.Transfer the risk
• Display warning signage where required.
• Report venue defects to the venue owner, council or responsible authority.
• Notify teams, officials and participants of identified risks and management measures.
• Implement any additional controls identified through your own risk assessment.
5. Conditions changing during the day
- Continuous monitoring of field and weather conditions is essential throughout the day.
- Match officials and venue managers should reassess risk where conditions deteriorate due to rain, lightning, excessive heat, poor visibility or other environmental factors.
6. Responsibility and accountability
- Signing the declaration confirms that the designated areas have been inspected.
- The completion of this checklist does not remove the ongoing responsibility to monitor and manage risks throughout the match day.
7. Handling completed checklists
- All completed and signed checklists should be retained on file for a minimum of seven (7) years, or longer if required by legislation or organisational policy.
- Completed checklists should be made available for review if required as part of an incident investigation, insurance claim or compliance process.
The completion of the Match Day Checklist should be carried out before the commencement of a match day. All conditions or risks marked as ‘no’, should be identified, and rectified. If it is not safe, no play should occur. This checklist is a guide only. Please ensure you undertake your own risk management assessments.