Play Gridiron

What are the age limits?

Gridiron Queensland has five divisions to cover both male and female players from 10 years old and up:

• Youth - girls and boys aged between 10-13
• Juniors - girls and boys aged between 14-16
• Colts - girls and boys aged between 17-19
• Women - women aged 20+
• Men - men aged 20+

When does the season start?

The first game of the Gridiron Queensland season is in August. The final game, the Sunbowl, is held at the end of November or the first week of December.

The Raptors will hold their sign-on day in April and begin training sessions either in May.

If you have other commitments, you may register and start playing all the way up to October.

What equipment will I need?

Mandatory equipment includes helmet, mouthguard, shoulder pads, jersey, socks, and football pants with seven pads covering thighs, knees, hips, and the tail bone.

The only restriction with football boots, or cleats, is that they must not have tags made out of metal.

A set of helmet and shoulder pads are available to hire, subject to availability, for $50 for the duration of the season.

How many games does a team play?

Each team will play at least 10 regular games during the season, subject to weather. The top four teams will then have one round of playoffs, with the winners playing in the Sunbowl.

Games are normally played on a Saturday, with kick-off ranging from 9am to 7pm. Junior, Colts, and Women's games are 8-minute quarters and usually take 1.5 to 2 hours.

Men's games are allocated three hours due to playing 12-minute quarters, but normally last 2 to 2.5 hours. There are typically 3 to 4 games held per venue, with three different venues each round.

The Raptors may also hold training events with other clubs before the season starts to provide some on-field experience against other teams.

What is the cost play?

Youth Registration $150.00 - Includes all equipment.

Juniors/Colts Registration: $300

Men/Women Registration: $360

New players will need to purchase a player pack for $150, which provides a gridiron jersey & pants, club polo shirt, socks, belt, mouthguard, and lowers (All seven pads). All items are for the player to keep and no requirement to purchase again in the following seasons.

Gear Rental: $50 covers rental for both helmet and shoulder pads for the season. Items are strictly subject to availability and players may be required to purchase their own if gear in their size is unavailable.

Optionally, players may purchase their own helmets, which generally cost between $250 to $600, and shoulder pads, which range between $150 to $400.

What type of players do the Raptors need?

Gridiron requires players of all shapes and sizes. For example, in a Men's team it is typical to see players ranging in height from 160cm to over 2M, and weight from 60Kg to 160Kg. Due to the varies different positions on the field, there is usually a spot for everyone.

The number of players on the field at a time differs between divisions. The Youth division (10-13) plays 7-a-side. Juniors, Colts, and Women play 9-a-side, and Men play 11-a-side.

Teams for Juniors, Colts, and Women's divisions generally have between 18 to 30 players per team, while Men's team have a minimum of 30 and up to 60 for some clubs.

When and where do you train?

The Raptors train at their clubhouse, 100 Maine Tce, Deception Bay, and training times are:

Youth: Fridays 5pm-6:30pm

Juniors/Colts: Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30pm-8:30pm

Women/Men: Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30pm-8:30pm

There may be some Saturday or Sunday sessions to help prepare for the season.

What are the rules?

There are many rules to the game of American Football (Gridiron) and not enough space to cover them all here.

The rules Gridiron Queensland uses are set by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), and a copy of the 2018 Rule Book can be downloaded from International American Football Officials Association site.

Do you need coaches?

The Raptors are always on the lookout for more coaches! If you would like to be involved in coaching, please contact us.

To be a coach requires a General Principles certification, and the completion of an online coaching course specific to gridiron. We can provide additional information on this course for those interested in coaching.

Do you need referees or officials?

The officials for Gridiron Queensland are provided by the Queensland Gridiron Officials of Australia (QGOA) and they are always welcoming new officials.

Having a background in gridiron helps, but is not mandatory to become an officials. Officials must perform an online course and be certified, but on-field training is also provided until you are confident and able to officiate independently.

If you are interested in officiating, please email info@qgoa.org.au, or visit qgoa.org.au.

How and where do I start?

To start with gridiron, or to obtain further information about playing, coaching, or volunteering, please contact us via our Facebook page.