Junior rugby league runs through the winter in New South Wales and Queensland: trial matches in March, weekend rounds from April, a finals series in August and September, then presentation day or night at the club. Mini footy and mod league teams for the younger kids play shorter games on smaller fields; the older age groups play full tackle. Every club has its traditions, from the best and fairest to the clubperson award, and many now play a video of each team's season before the trophies.
League is tough on fairness. The halves and outside backs who run with the ball are in every photo; the props, the dummy half and the kid who made forty tackles are hidden in the play-the-ball. A video that only shows the try scorers misses the point of a team sport, and the parents of forwards will notice.
A league season, round by round
Trial matches in March
As soon as the team list settles, put the link in the team chat. Trials are low pressure, so parents can wander the sideline taking photos of everyone.
Round one
The run-out through the team banner, the line-up and the huddle after full time: ask families for those three moments, because every player is in them.
The mid-season bye
Check who is behind. In almost every league team it is the middle forwards and the hooker. Post the friendly reminder that lists them.
Finals series
Semi-finals and the grand final bring families out in force. Ask a parent at each end of the ground to take photos so tries at either end are covered.
Two weeks before presentation
Close the photo window a few days before the night and watch the first cut with the coach.
Steps for a league team
Add jersey numbers with the names
In league, numbers match positions, and they are printed large on the back. Paste each player's usual number with their first name so photos from the stand are easy to tag.
Agree on consent with the club registrar
Clubs record photo consent at registration. Mark any player without it before the link goes out; their photos stay hidden from other families and never appear in the video.
Photograph the play-the-ball
The play-the-ball is the one moment forwards stand up and face the camera. Ask a parent near the twenty-metre line to take a few each half.
Tag the whole defensive line
Photos of the line moving up in defence often show six or seven players. Parents can tag everyone they recognise, which builds the forwards' numbers quickly.
Rename finals and export
Rounds become chapters, and every player gets the same minimum appearances before extras. Name the finals chapters, check the spelling of every name in the roll call, and export.
League traditions worth photographing
Every league club has traditions: the jersey presentation before round one, the team song after a win, the pies at the canteen, and the end-of-season trip to a grand final or an NRL game. Ask families to photograph them. Mini footy and mod teams often play on half fields with the whole club watching on gala days; a wide shot of all the age groups at once makes a great opening for the club's presentation night. If your team ran a fundraising barbecue or raffle, include a photo from it so the volunteers get a moment of thanks too.
How long should a league presentation video be?
Junior league squads carry 15 to 20 players. Four minutes gives each player three appearances plus team photos and celebrations. Mini footy and mod teams with 10 or 12 kids need only three minutes. When the club runs a video for every age group, ask managers to stick to three minutes so the senior presentations do not start at ten o'clock.
Song length plannerFit your photos to the music, song by song.The Pitch style's stripes and bold titles suit league. Mark players moving up to the opens as leavers for a tribute at the end.
Presentation night, league edition
Before the night
- Leagues clubs often have screens on every wall; ask the function manager how to connect to them.
- Book the slot in the running order before the team's trophies, not after the raffle.
- Ask the captain to say thanks to the coach and trainers after the video.
- Have the team's jerseys or a signed ball ready for a photo.
- Share the private link with families afterwards.
Privacy and safeguarding
Faces are never scanned or recognised. Children are matched to photos by the tags their families add and the numbers on their jumper. Only first names are stored, location data is removed on the phone before upload, the season’s link is private and never appears in search engines, and anything inappropriate for a youth sports setting is hidden automatically. Any parent can report a photo, and the organiser has the final say on every photo in the video.
League questions
Can the under-6 mini footy team have a video?
Yes. Mini footy teams make short, joyful videos. Paste the first names and share the link with families.
Can the club's gala day be included?
If gala day falls before the photo cut-off, yes. It becomes its own chapter.
Our trainer took heaps of photos on her phone. Can she upload them?
Yes. Trainers and coaches can upload as supporters and tag players in each photo or in a whole batch.
Can families get a video of just their kid?
Yes, a Family Reel made only from photos tagged with that child. On Team Plus every family gets one included.