Fill In Player & Forfeits | Wattle Park Website

FILL-IN PLAYERS

If for some reason, (injury, illness, school event) a team is unable to play a match with at least 6 players a team may top up to a maximum of 6 players by using fill-in(s).

Fill-in players are substitute players brought into the team for the specific purpose of lifting team numbers to 6 to provide for a short term (maximum of 3 games total) relief so a match can go ahead.

Fill-in players are not to be used to build the competitive ability of the team or to avoid registration. Many of the rules governing the use of fill-ins are an attempt to make sure any included player will not change the playing level the team has been graded at.

Fill-in players can be sourced from the following:

Within the Club (a currently registered Wattle Park Saints player), in accordance with the Fill-In Matrix (See Table). This generally provides that a fill-in player is to be drawn from an age group below (i.e., a player needed for an U15 team must be drawn from an U13 team). There are restrictions on upper grade players playing in lower grade teams even when coming from a lower age group. You can find the table here: https://www.nunawadingbasketball.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JDC-Fill-In-Matrix.pdf

A player from that age group or lower who does not hold a current Basketball Victoria License – that is a player not currently registered with any other club.

Where a team cannot find an eligible player as outlined above the team may use any age-appropriate player as a fill-in. The game will be deemed a forfeit with no premiership points given but the Walkover fee is avoided (currently $140).

Where the team elects not to play due to insufficient numbers the game will be a forfeit, and a Walkover fee will need to be paid by the team.

Any fill-in must enter their details in the electronic scoring system courtside prior to the commencement of the match.

FILL-IN PLAYERS & FINALS

For the use of fill-ins during finals a request must be e-mailed to the relevant Age Group Co-Ordinator, who may also be able to assist with locating eligible players. Fill-in players details, Name, DOB, team and the names of unavailable players must then be forwarded to Shayne La Combre, shayne@picac.edu.au, and cc the Club Secretary at info@wattleparksaints.org.au.

Authorization to play the fill-ins will then be sought from the Association.

Playing unauthorized players in finals may see the result awarded to the opposition

In finals only a maximum of 2 fill-ins can be used and only a maximum of 6 players.

When looking for fill-in players notify your AGC of the issue and place a request for fill-ins up on the TM Chat in WhatsApp.

Include Team name, game details, number of players needed and contact details.

Example:

Friday Boys U11-7 needs a fill-in player for this Friday 3 November.
Game Details: 5.00pm Nunawading Court 2.
Contact Liz on xxxx xxxx if available to play.

It is important for team mangers to notify the age group co-ordinator as soon as possible if a team is at risk of a walkover. This will assist in sourcing fill in players to avoid a walkover.

WALKOVERS AND LATE STARTS

A walkover happens when a team doesn’t have at least four players ready to start within 10 minutes of game time. The game can’t go ahead, the opposition wins 10–0, earns 3 points, and your team gets no points plus a $150 fine which is payable by the team - not the club. After three walkovers, the team is disqualified from the competition.

For each full minute beyond the scheduled starting time that the game is delayed by any team not being present (with a minimum of four players ready to play), the opposing team while in attendance shall be credited with one game point to a maximum of 10 points

For each walkover given a team shall be liable to pay a walkover fee of $150 (subject to annual review) for expenses incurred by the giving of the walkover. Please note that the club does not pay walkover fees, these are paid by the team.

If you’re short on numbers, use the fill-in rules to keep the game alive. You can bring in players (up to a total of six) by following the Fill-In Matrix or using an unregistered but eligible player. The game then goes ahead as normal.

If that’s not possible, you can still play using another age-appropriate player — this game is called a forfeit. The score and points are the same as a walkover (10–0 to the other team), but no fine applies, and everyone still gets a run on the court.

Bottom line: have enough players and, if not, do everything you can to avoid a walkover — even if it means a forfeit.

WALKOVER FEES

Walkovers should be entered into TeamPay by the Team manager. The process to do this is here

Please be aware it is not the clubs responsibility to fund any walkover fee.