MASTERS SUMMER LEAGUE

COMPETITION T&Cs

and

REFUND POLICY

Terms and Conditions

Masters Summer League (MSL) Season 7 is recreational football (soccer) competition with a format befitting older players and that brings great mental and physical health benefits to men aged 35 and over. MSL promotes positive minds, healthy bodies, and good hearts in an inclusive, respectful environment that values fun, community, and involvement. View our Mission Statement published on the MSL website and available on our Facebook site.

The MSL Committee promotes participation in "The Masters Spirit" that includes a friendly competition, good mental health, mateship, unity, inclusivity, safety, and respect.

The safety, wellbeing, and enjoyment of all participants (players, officials, volunteers, and supporters) is the competitions primary priority. MSL games have adapted rules to promote and encourage participating in a fun and safe way. As such, there are no sliding tackles, dissent, or dickheads, all of which can be punished with a ‘sin-bin’ blue card. Other than where defined by the MSL normal FFA rules apply, including the card system. Two blue cards (like two yellow cards) result in a red card. View our MSL Rules published on the MSL website and available on our Facebook site.

Participation in the MSL involves physical activity and carries inherent risks, including but not limited to injury, illness, or property damage. By registering for and participating in this season you will need to acknowledge and accept these risks. By registering for the MSL season you authorise the MSL and associates to obtain medical assistance, which is deemed necessary including calling an ambulance in an emergecy, and agree to pay all medical expenses incurred.

Masters Summer League players agree to play in The Masters Spirit, prioritising fun, sportsmanship, and mental wellbeing. Teams and players are responsible for their behaviour and behaviour of their team. Players and teams agree to the ‘three strike’ system where players, in the eyes of the committee, consistently or on a single occasion, breach the spirit of the competition, through actions on the pitch or conduct off it. Punishment for each strike is as follows: Strike 1 – written warning to the player and team/club, Strike 2 – points deduction for the team and suspension for the player, Strike 3 – the team will be removed from the competition and cannot reapply next season, the player will be removed from the league and can never reapply (dickheads won’t be tolerated). The decision of the committee is final and there is no right of appeal. View our MSL Rules on our website and our Facebook site.

MSL games are played under modified MSL governing rules including No-Slide-Tackles, MSL-Discipline, and 60 (or 70) minute games. By registering for and participating in this season you will need to acknowledge and accept these rules.

MSL is a social competition promoted through social media including Facebook, Instagram, and other channels. Games will be video recorded, and the content used for promotion and discipline investigations. Photography and short-form video (i.e. Reels, Shorts, TikTok) will be captured on game days, both game and surrounding activity. All players provide photo consent when registering with the MSL and agree to their image potentially being used for social media promotion. If a player has specific reason for not being included in social media promotion, please advise the MSL committee via your team organiser or email at mslgeelong@gmail.com or via Facebook and Messenger.

MSL games and the league will be promoted though various social media channels. By registering for and participating in this season you will need to acknowledge and accept this photo/video consent.

 

Drugs and Alcohol

The MSL encourages the playing group to socialise with the broader competition. A part of our competition is the social inclusion which includes the consumption of alcohol. Drug and alcohol impairment can increase your risk of injury. The MSL promotes the safe and legal consumption. No player is to consume alcohol whilst participating in a MSL fixture. No Player is to play under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. (This is an insurance stipulation; gotta love insurance). (We are all getting old, if you take performance enhancing drugs, we are not concerned).

By registering for and participating in this season you will need to acknowledge and accept you will not consume alcohol during MSL games and will not play under the influence of any drug or alcohol.

 

Sportsmanship

Some traditional football behaviours impact negatively on the mental health of others and are not welcome in the MSL competition. These include:

1. Negative conduct towards referees, volunteers, and employees staff, including: dissent, yelling at the referee for a decision, arguing with the referee after a decision, criticising performance of the referee or others, attempting to influence referee through unnecessary dialogue, intimidating referee or others involved on the MSL organization.

Mental health of referees is paramount. We must respect the referees.

2. Verbal and/or physical altercations with opponents, teammates, or others involved in the MSL.

3. Poor sportsmanship. Niggling opponents to inflame them and put them off their game; unnecessary force; and bending or breaking rules deliberately are examples of this.

Human frustration is natural, especially in a competitive environment. Such frustration should not result in the above behaviours towards others. If a player accidentally shows the above behaviours, it is expected they will remediate the situation, calm themself, and apologise. Players are encouraged to help each other remain calm and to maintain a respectful, friendly environment. Failure to do so will result in a blue card for the offending player(s).

By registering for and participating in this season you will need to acknowledge and accept to play in The Masters Spirit and to value sportsmanship, inclusion and respect.

 

Privacy Statement

During the registration process you will create a TeamLinkt account. The TeamLinkt account and registration processing will capture personal identifiable information for all players. MSL recognise the importance of protecting the privacy under the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act), , the Sport Integrity Australia Act and the Sports Integrity Australia Regulations, and the rights of individuals in relation to their personal information. MSL have a privacy policy that outlines how we collect, hold, use, and disclose your personal information. See the MSL Privacy Statement on our MSL website.

By registering for and participating in this season you will need to acknowledge and accept how personal data is captured and used by the MSL.

 

Risk Warning & Liability Disclaimer

Please note that MSL does not provide personal accident or injury insurance for participants. It is the responsibility of participants to arrange their own personal accident insurance coverage if desired (covering non-Medicare medical expenses and income protection options). If a player is injured by the undisciplined actions of another player that are outside the rules of the game and that show a failure to exercise reasonable care, players are encouraged to seek compensation and damages through a personal injury claim against the offending player. The MSL and its organisers will take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of players and others involved in the Season, this includes regular pitch inspections, using certified referees, the modified MSL rules, a MSL discipline process, provision of qualified first aid staff at all games, access to first aid equipment and a defibrillator, and ensuring all registering player agree to play in the spirit of the MSL and abide by the governing rules.

The MSL offers no coaching or training. Teams can undertake their own training and coaching but will need to ensure the required and appropriate precautions are in place, including insurance coverage. MSL will not provide any insurance coverage for training or coaching events. Any training or coaching must be done by a qualified trainer or coach.

The MSL maintain a risk management plan to identify, assess, monitor, and respond to potential risks for the MSL.

To the extent permitted by law, MSL and its organisers disclaim all liability for any personal injury, loss, or damage sustained during the event, except where such liability cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or applicable state legislation. This disclaimer does not affect any rights you may have under statutory guarantees that cannot be excluded, but participation is at your own risk. MSL provide both professional and public liability insurance for season 7. 

The MSL does not provide personal accident or injury insurance for participants. By registering for and participating in this season you will need to acknowledge and accept there is no personal accident insurance coverage and you will not approach or sue the MSL for a personal accident claim and damages for injury sustained during the game.

 

 

Venues

All games are played at local football clubs that include a club facility serving food, refreshments, and drink. The MSL does not insure, is not liable for, nor cover any food, refreshments, and drink provided by the third party club. MSL do not have responsible service of alcohol and safe food handling compliance. The licensed clubs and third parties carry their own insurances under different entities to the MSL. Any issue with the third party’s food, refreshments, and drinks service should be raised with the third party and not the MSL.

 

MSL Employees

The MSL will used qualified referees for all games. Referees are all paid a game day fee by the MSL. The MSL hires a game day assistant(s) to ensure the smooth running of the game. This is a paid position(s). All other MSL positions and committee members are volunteers who receive no compensation for their involvement and the time they invest in the MSL. All volunteers and committee members who work with our game day staff, and who are under 18, hold an appropriate Working with Children’s Certificate.

 

Season format

MSL season will include a 16-team limit (if you want to nominate a new team, please contact the committee at mslgeelong@gmail.com or via Facebook and Messenger for access to the team registration process). Each team will ranked/seeded based on their standing at the end of previous season. Teams are placed into a playing-group based on their seeding and via a snake draft. Teams in each group play each other once. After 7 rounds the groups will split into 2 divisions for 4 rounds of “finals”. There is finals day like previous seasons. There is a finals group of rounds where the top and bottom teams play similar ability teams with overall points winner of Division 1 crowned the MSL Champions and the overall point looser claiming the MSL spoon. There will be 11 rounds during the season, 7 group rounds games and then 4 finals rounds. View our MSL Season 7 Structure published on the MSL web site for more details.

 

Costs

MSL is a non-for-profit organisation that donates any surplus funds to local Geelong charities. To date we have donated around $25,000 to local organisations including the Geelong Foundation and others. The MSL committee promotes mental health, inclusiveness, and support for local charitable causes. The MSL committee are all volunteers and do not personally benefit from the league. We aim to keep costs as low as possible. If you have extenuating circumstances that will affect fee payment, please contact the MSL Treasurer or committee (mslgeelong@gmail.com or via Facebook and Messenger).

 

Masters Spirit Statement

MSL is a volunteer run organisation. We do our best to make the league the best it can be. Please engage in the MSL with respect, courtesy, and appreciation for the MSL Committee efforts. The MSL Season and competition is about enjoyment, camaraderie, and supporting each other. We encourage all players to play in the Masters spirit. Thanks for getting involved.

For further details, to view the mission statement, rules or other details, please contact the MSL committee.

 

Acceptance of Terms and Conditions

By registering for the MSL Season you will agree to the Terms and Conditions outlined, including:

• Participation in the Masters Summer League (MSL) involves physical activity and carries inherent risks, including but not limited to injury, illness, or property damage. By registering for and participating in this season I acknowledge and accept these risks.
• By registering for the MSL season you authorise the MSL and associates to obtain medical assistance, which is deemed necessary including calling an ambulance in an emergecy, and agree to pay all medical expenses incurred.
• Season games will be played under modified MSL governing rules including No-Slide-Tackles, MSL-Discipline, and 60 (or 70) minute games. By registering for and participating in this season I acknowledge and accept these rules.
• Season games will be promoted though various social media channels. By registering for and participating in this season I acknowledge and accept this and provide photo/video consent to the MSL.
• Alcohol is not to be consumed during games. Players are not to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. By registering for and participating in this season I acknowledge and accept I will not consume alcohol during MSL games and will not play under the influence of any drug or alcohol.
• During the registration process personal identifiable information is captured for all players. By registering for and participating in this season I acknowledge and accept how personal data is captured and used by the MSL.
• The MSL does not provide personal accident or injury insurance for participants. By registering for and participating in this season I acknowledge and accept there is no personal accident insurance coverage and will not approach or sue the MSL for a personal accident claim and damages for injuries sustained during games.
• Negative conduct towards participants, verbal and/or physical altercations with others, and poor sportsmanship are not in-line with the MSL values and won’t be tolerated. I acknowledge and accept there is a no dickheads policy and will participate positively in the MSL experience.
• I acknowledge that the third part clubs where games are played are responsible for any issue or compliance obligation relating to the services they provide, and I will not approach or claim against the MSL for those services.
• I acknowledge that any training or coaching football (soccer) that I participate in in-relation to the MSL season is done by qualified instructors and is not part of the MSL season and organisation.
• I acknowledge that I have understood the rules of the Masters Summer League and agree to play in the Masters spirit, prioritising fun, sportsmanship, and the mental wellbeing of all participants. I have also understood the season structure and agree to participate with this format.
• I acknowledge that the MSL is a non-for-profit volunteer organisation and will treat the organising committee with respect and appreciation. I acknowledge that I have understood the Masters Summer League spirit and will participate accordingly, I won’t be a dickhead.
• MSL Terms and Conditions are not based on legal advice. The MSL committee take reasonable steps to run an inclusive and safe league. I acknowledge and accept the MSL is a volunteer organisation, run to promote men’s mental health, and as such I will not make claim against or sue the MSL for any issues, liabilities, or damages.
• I understand the risks and conditions involved with joining the MSL and consent to participate.

 

I understand that this competition is for fun, friendship, and wellbeing. I agree to respect all players, referees, and organisers, and to play with good humour, inclusivity, and sportsmanship.

 

 

Refund Policy

 

MSL is a non-for-profit organisation that donates any surplus funds to local Geelong charities. To date we have donated around $25,000 to local organisations including the Geelong Foundation and others. The MSL committee promotes mental health, inclusiveness, and support for local charitable causes. The MSL raise funds to cover MSL operating costs and for charitable donations. We request players consider the need for a refund.

Registration Refund: The MSL will offer refunds if a registered player is unable to participate in the league. Any refund needs to be made before participating in any MSL Season game. If you have participated in a game a reduced refund may be possible. Refund requests need to be raised with the MSL committee and treasurer. All refund need to be made before 30 January 2026.

Merchandise Refunds: The MSL will offer refunds where there are quality and workmanship issues with the garment or item. The MSL refund policy is subject to relevant Australian Consumer Law. MSL will offer exchange where a suitable replacement is available, and the initial garment/item is unused. Refund requests need to be raised with the MSL committee or to game day staff on game days. All refund needs to be made before 30 December 2025.

 

 

Thanks for registering and getting involved. Thanks for promoting the MSL spirit. Thank for respecting all involved. Have fun, enjoy, and keep smiling. Game on!!

 

Master Summer League Inc

ABN: 27 679 941 325