Cheersquad Guidelines

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

At all times, Hawthorn Cheersquad members are representing the club and must abide by AFL, club and stadium management regulations.

The Hawthorn Football Club has the right to suspend or expel Cheersquad members that do not abide by the rules and regulations outlined in this booklet, or who are believed to provide a poor representation of the club.

AFL GUIDELINES

The following guidelines are set by the AFL to ensure everyone is aware of acceptable behaviour.

• Abusive, insulting and threatening language will not be tolerated, and offenders will be evicted
• No anti-social behaviour
• No alcohol in the designated Cheersquad Area
• No offensive or derogatory banners or signs
• No standing on the seat
• The minimum age of Cheersquad members who have stadium ground access is 16 years of age

HAWTHORN CHEERSQUAD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• All Hawthorn Cheersquad members must be financial members of the Hawthorn Football Club.
• All members who wish to access a ticket to an interstate match or finals match must have a Hawthorn Football Club home game membership at a minimum.
• Members who wish to attend an away game in Melbourne and do not hold a Home and Away game membership will be required to upgrade their membership or purchase a general admission ticket through the ticket agent.
• As a cheersquad member it is your responsibility to encourage our team to great heights by cheering the team on until the final siren, win, lose or draw.
• Hawthorn Football Club will not be liable for any personal belongings lost, damaged or stolen.
• All Cheersquad members must abide by the Hawthorn Football Club Member code of conduct list on the next page.
• Discriminatory, abusive, insulting, threatening and hurtful remarks posted on any social media platform, whether it is your own personal social media, Hawthorn supporter pages or the Cheersquad Social media page is not permitted.
• All Hawthorn Cheersquad members must abide by the AFL guidelines listed above.
• The above rules and regulations will be enforced on a ‘no tolerance’ basis. Any breach will be followed up by the club and could lead to suspension or termination of your Cheersquad and Hawthorn Football Club membership.
•  For Hawthorn Football Club terms and conditions please visit: membership.hawthornfc.com.au

MEMBER CODE OF CONDUCT

The Hawthorn Football Club has a strong set of values, led by the ‘Family Club’ mantra. When signing up as a member of the Hawthorn Football Club, the Hawthorn Football Club expects its members to respect and adopt these values. The Hawthorn Football Club is committed to fostering and maintaining an environment which promotes understanding, accepts the unique differences of all persons affiliated with or interested in the Hawthorn Football Club and recognises the need to prohibit certain discriminatory or vilifying conduct.

All members, supporters, patrons, officials, venue staff, club personnel and players attending a Hawthorn Football Club match day or event should expect a safe, inclusive, enjoyable and family-friendly environment and be treated fairly by all. The Hawthorn Football Club Member Code of Conduct is in place to benefit its members, supporters and the wider AFL community. Members are bound by the following Member Code of Conduct.

As a member of the Hawthorn Football Club:

• I will refrain from engaging in harassing, intimidating, disruptive and/or violent behaviour inclusive of foul and abusive language or offensive gestures.
• I will not engage in or endorse any form of vilification based on
• Race;
• Gender;
• Religion;
• Sexual preference, orientation or identity
• Ethnicity;
• Personal circumstance;
• Disability; or
• Age;
• I will comply with the terms and conditions of entry at all AFL venues, club matches and club events and conduct myself in a manner that does not damage (or have the potential to damage) the reputation of the Hawthorn Football Club.
• I will not engage in conduct that could bring the Hawthorn Football Club or the game of Australian Rules Football into disrepute.
• Across all forms of media including social media or general media, I will not engage in conduct that could result in bringing Hawthorn Football Club or the game of Australian Rules Football into disrepute.

The Hawthorn Football Club works closely with the AFL and its venues to identify and act upon anti-social behaviour in accordance with the AFL’s National Vilification and Discrimination Policy and Member Protection Policy. The Hawthorn Football Club appreciates your support of the Member Code of Conduct and encourages everyone to call-out anti-social behaviour by reporting offences via the most appropriate channel.

BANNER MAKING

As a member of the Cheersquad, you are encouraged to participate in the production of the banner. The banner is an important part of each match day and banner making is held in a fun, family friendly environment.

Please note, any Cheersquad member wishing to attend a banner-making session must hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC). This requirement aligns with child safety regulations and ensures that we are providing a secure environment for all individuals involved.

Volunteer WWCCs are free, and you can apply for one via this link: https://service.vic.gov.au/services/working-with-children

Please note, members under the age of 18 are exempt from this policy and are not required to hold a WWCC. Once your application is approved, please email a copy of your WWCC to katelyng@hawthornfc.com.au.

You will receive an email to confirm the time and location of the banner making session. For any banner making session queries, feel free to contact the Cheersquad Account Manager at katelyng@hawthornfc.com.au.

MATCH DAYS

For MCG Home games the Cheersquad will be allocated in M3 in the Shane Warne Stand. This bay will be a general admission area and members will not be allocated a specific seat. To access this area, you will need to show your Hawthorn Cheersquad Member Card.

All Cheersquad members are encouraged to use the equipment laid out by our committee prior to the match. If any equipment is damaged during the game, please report this to the Cheersquad committee so that it can be fixed.

If you are interested in helping assist with match-day activities, such as driving the Cheersquad van or arriving early to pole the banner, please register your interest with our Cheersquad committee on a match-day, via the Hawthorn Cheersquad Facebook page or by emailing the Cheersquad Account Manager Katelyn Gorman at katelyng@hawthornfc.com.au. Please note that all members must be over the age of 12 and fit and able to help with activities on a match-day.

TICKETING PROCEDURES

For all interstate Hawthorn matches (excluding Gather Round), Cheersquad members will have access to redeeming a $0 ticket. Instructions on how to redeem your $0 ticket for each interstate match will be send by the club via email prior to the member on-sale date for each interstate match.

For all Tasmanian home matches, the club will allocate your ticket in the Cheersquad bay. A registration form will be emailed by the club at the beginning of the season which will allow to you register your interest in redeeming a ticket for each Tasmanian home match. You will receive a PDF copy of your ticket from Ticketmaster prior to each match. Please use this PDF copy to scan into UTAS Stadium. Please note, this is also the same process for Gather Round.

UPDATE YOUR DETAILS

During the season, you will receive a weekly reminder via email to confirm banner making session, ticket deadlines, ticket confirmations and match-day information. Please ensure you update your email address with the club and check these regularly so that you don’t miss out on any important information.