AFL equipment: a practical beginner guide
Choose the right ball and prepare for your first session, with a clear distinction between practice gear and competition requirements.
What do you need to start?
Begin with the session you are joining. A casual kick, an introductory non-contact activity and a club match have different needs. Ask the organiser what is supplied before buying a full kit.
- Confirm the ball size. Ask which size your age group and competition use; practise with the size you will handle in games.
- Check the footwear and surface. Ask whether the session is on grass, an indoor court or another surface and follow its footwear instructions.
- Wear clothing you can move in. For a club session, ask whether to bring a training top or a specific uniform.
- Pack water and a change of clothes. Add what you need for the weather and the journey home.
- Ask about contact and protective equipment. Confirm mouthguard requirements and discuss any brace or other protective item with the club before playing.
Before your first session, ask: “What size ball do you use, what footwear is suitable here, is the activity contact or non-contact, and what equipment must I bring?”
Which football size should you use?
| Format | Starting reference |
|---|---|
| Men’s AFL | Size 5. |
| AFLW | Size 4. |
| Junior or introductory football | Ask the organiser for the prescribed size. Do not assume the adult ball is appropriate for every age group. |
Source: the manufacturer’s football-size explanation. A size number tells you more than whether the ball carries your club’s colours. Check the size and intended use on the label before choosing a practice ball.
Practice ball or match ball?
For a first kick, establish what the organiser already provides. A shared ball may be enough for the session. If you want your own, identify the required size first, then decide where you will use it and how you will store it. A supporter souvenir and the competition’s approved match ball need not be the same product.
Official ball specifications
Law 4.1’s default is a symmetrical oval ball: 720–730mm circumference, 545–555mm transverse circumference, at 69kPa. The controlling body may determine otherwise. These are ball measurements, not field dimensions. 2026 laws, Law 4.1.
Check the instructions for the ball and format you actually use. Do not apply the default specifications to every junior, modified or women’s ball simply because it is used for Australian football.
What changes for a club match?
Uniform and boots
Confirm the club’s playing uniform, number and footwear requirements in advance. Inspect boots and tell the organiser about damaged or exposed parts before going onto the ground.
Jewellery and protective equipment
Law 9 prohibits jewellery and gives umpires powers to inspect boots and protective items. Equipment approval and whether an item is dangerous matter; a brace or helmet is not automatically permitted just because it is sold for sport. Read Law 9 before using protective equipment.
Ask the club how its mouthguard policy applies to your session and arrange any fitting or clinical advice separately. Do not treat this shopping checklist as clearance to play with an injury or as a claim that equipment prevents every injury.
Keep training gear separate from personal essentials
Cones, bibs, spare footballs and marking equipment are usually a question for the session organiser. A new player should ask what is supplied rather than arrive with equipment that the coach does not need. After your first session, you can decide what would actually make regular practice easier.
Sources and review
- Laws of Australian Football 2026: Law 4 (ball) and Law 9 (boots, jewellery and protective equipment).
- Sherrin’s football-size guide: size 5 AFL and size 4 AFLW reference.
Reviewed . The checklist is SportsPedia’s practical preparation guide; the competition organiser’s current rules determine match requirements.
Keep exploring
Positions and player movement · Practical rules explained · Read the scoreboard · Back to the AFL hub