Best and Fairest Voting
The following policy has been developed to provide consistency and direction in the application of voting and awards at the Park Orchards North Ringwood Parish Junior Football Club (PONRPJFC):
- Best and Fairest Awards are applicable for teams from Under 10 through to Colts/Youth Girls
- Tackers Teams have a separate award, the Tim MacLennan Memorial Trophy
- Best and Fairest votes are awarded for every game of both the home and away season and all finals matches that the team is involved in
- The Team Manager, under the direction of the Team Coach, is responsible for ensuring the Best and Fairest votes are awarded, collated and secured
- Best and Fairest votes are awarded on a descending scale with the best player being awarded five (5) votes scaling down to the 5th best player being awarded one (1) vote
- It is important that all people awarding votes are aware prior to the commencement of the game that they are to cast votes for that match and that it is not a Most Improved or Coaches Award vote – these awards are the responsibility of the Coach and Team Officials to decide at the end of the season
- The process to be followed in awarding Best and Fairest votes is:
i. The Coach votes each week.
ii. One of the following Assistant Coach, Trainer or Runner votes each week on rotation.
iii. All families, excluding those listed at paragraphs 6.i and 6.ii above will be required to vote once per season.
iv. Family names are to be drawn at random prior to the commencement of the season and a roster is to be circulated prior to round one (1) detailing the rounds that each family group is rostered to vote in. The drawing and allocation of family groups is to be overseen by both the Team Manager and Coach.
(It is acknowledged that there may be more family groups than rounds to be played and some family groups may miss out on the opportunity to vote – if a family group does miss the opportunity to vote, it will be by chance alone rather than a selective decision.)
v. If a family forgoes their opportunity to vote, it is to be recorded and another family who have not previously voted, be requested to do the voting for that game.
(ie: selected from a family group that missed an opportunity to vote during the course of the season due to the random selection process at 6.iv)
vi. Once every family has voted and there are more games than family groups, then any family that is to be offered the opportunity to vote for a second time is be selected at random (names drawn from a hat) and overseen by both the Team Manager and the Coach.
vii. Votes must be placed in a sealed envelope and not discussed publicly
The voting slips must include the date, round and name of the person who awarded the votes
Envelopes containing the votes are to be sealed, dated and relevant round/match to be noted on the envelope and then handed to the team manager who must ensure that all 3 sealed envelopes are collected for each round
Envelopes containing votes are to be placed in a secure location and not opened until the vote count is conducted in the presence of the Coach, Secondary Official and Team Manager.
Once the vote count has been conducted, the results must be kept confidential and the Team Manager must forward the results to Committee Member - Team Manager Liaison Officer for recording
Only the top 3 players will receive a trophy (unless there is a tie for 3rd Best and Fairest (BandF) where 4 or possibly more players will receive a trophy.) Possible outcomes are:
1st BandF, 2nd BandF, 3rd BandF
1st BandF, 2nd BandF, Equal 3rd BandF.
Equal 1st BandF, 3rd BandF (No 2nd BandF awarded)
1st BandF, Equal 2nd BandF (No 3rd BandF awarded)
Equal 1st BandF, Equal 3rd BandF (No 2nd BandF awarded)
If there is any confusion/questions in regards to the voting system to be used for the Best and Fairest votes, the questions/concerns must be directed to the Director of Football for clarification.
Should a dispute or error occur during the voting process or vote count then the Team Coach must immediately inform the Director of Football of the anomaly and seek a determination.
Ineligibility for Best and Fairest Awards
A player may be ineligible to be awarded a Best and Fairest Award if any of the following situations apply:
A player is suspended by the YJFL Tribunal for any reason during the season
A player is subject to any internal disciplinary action by the Committee of the PONRPJFC as a result of an on field incident that is contrary to the rules of football
If a player is subject to suspension by the YJFL or internal disciplinary action for an on field incident that is contrary to the rules of football, the Committee of the PONRPJFC will consider all the circumstances of the suspension or internal disciplinary action before determining if a player is ineligible for a PONRPJFC Best and Fairest Award.
Public Vote Count
If teams wish to have a public vote count at season end, then this is to be conducted after the votes have been counted and recorded in accordance with paragraph 6.vii.c. (as detailed above).
Some vetting at the bottom end of the team list is to be made (this must have no effect on the result of 1st, 2nd or 3rd place getters), prior to the public count – It is imperative that all children receive at least one (1) in a public vote count.
Team Awards
Coaches Award
The Coaches Award is the responsibility of the coach with the assistance of the team officials to decide at the end of the season. Only one player per team is to be awarded the trophy. No ties are allowed. Criteria to be considered for the Coaches Award include but are not limited to:
Application of coaches instructions
Application/dedication to training, team rules, team spirit, and self development/improvement
Positive sportsmanship shown to both team members and opposition players
Respect for umpires and other officials
Once the Coaches Award has been determined, the result must be kept confidential and the Team Manager must forward the result to Committee Member - Team Manager Liaison Officer for recording.
Most Improved
The Most Improved Award is the responsibility of the coach with the assistance of the team officials to decide at the end of the season. Only one player per team is to be awarded the trophy. No ties are allowed. Criteria to be considered for the Most Improved Award include but are not limited to:
Development/improvement of players skills from previous season
Development/improvement of players skills throughout the current season
Application/dedication to self development
Improved ability to listen to and take instructions from coaching staff and team officials
Improved ability to perform team oriented tasks/functions
Once the Most Improved Award has been determined, the result must be kept confidential and the Team Manager must forward the result to Committee Member - Team Manager Liaison Officer for recording.
Tim MacLennan Memorial Trophy (Tackers Teams)
Tim MacLennan was a Tacker’s coach in 2002 and had been re-appointed to continue as Under 10 coach in 2003. Tim tragically lost his life while holidaying with his family over the Christmas period of 2002. His two sons continued to play for the club. The award is named in his honor.
One player from each Tackers Team is awarded the Tim MacLennan Memorial Trophy – no ties are allowed. The Tim MacLennan Memorial Trophy is the responsibility of the Coach, with the assistance of the Team Officials, to decide at the end of the season. Criteria to be considered for the Tim MacLennan Memorial Trophy are:
Player attitude towards Tacker’s football, their team and their teammates, being unselfish, following the team plan, listening to the Coach and Team officials
Talent / participation - demonstrated during the season:
Team play such as shepherding team mates, commitment to the ball.
Ability to play the game and make a valuable contribution to the team.
Attendance record for training and game day
Once the Tim MacLennan Memorial Award has been determined, the result must be kept confidential and the Team manager must forward the result to Committee Member - Team Manager Liaison Officer for recording.