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What is AFL Auskick?

AFL Auskick is a national coaching program designed to teach children of primary school age how to play Australian football. It’s fun, it’s safe, and it works. More than 85,000 boys and girls in all States and Territories will participate in AFL Auskick.

The benefits of Auskick

As well as having great fun with your mates while learning the skills of football and playing games, registering for Auskick also delivers great benefits.

For parents

Parents are the driving force behind AFL Auskick. Their role as Co-ordinators, Coaches, and volunteers is fundamental to the success of the program.

But it’s not all giving. Parents have the opportunity to learn football, parenting skill and make new friends through their involvement in AFL Auskick.

Orientation courses are available to all parents.The Co-ordinator should encourage all parents of registered AFL Auskick participants to take part in a free AFL Auskick orientation course.These courses are held at the beginning of the year and take approximately two hours.

Co-ordinators, Coaches and interested parents can also take Level 1 courses to gain a further understanding of AFL Auskick coaching principles.

Co-ordinators should ensure parental involvement in their child’s AFL Auskick program. AFL Auskick is hopefully the start of or continuation of a lifetime involvement in the AFL game for parents.

Ten reasons parents become involved

  • Play with their children.
  • Contribute to a child’s social development.
  • Learn new skills.
  • Share talent and knowledge.
  • Serve the community.
  • Have fun, relax and make friends.
  • Give something back to football.
  • Feel valued, useful and appreciated.
  • Love of the AFL game.
  • Help others.

IT’S FOR THE KIDS

AFL Auskick allows children to play sport in a relaxed, environment where making friends, having fun with their parents, and improving their skills are given equal weight. It also provides excellent social value.

  • Being physically active.
  • Developing new skills and improving existing ones.
  • Being with friends and making new ones.
  • Being part of a team.
  • Learning from coaches.

WHY IS AFL AUSKICK SO SUCCESSFUL?

The AFL and the States have invested heavily in creating the right introductory course to AFL football for primary school children throughout Australia.

The emphasis has always been on having fun while improving a child’s sporting skills, co-ordination, health and fitness, and social skills.

Its backbone remains the parents and volunteers who, supported by an AFL infrastructure that implements programs through State football bodies, create their own sense of community.

The community leads the way. The AFL provides support. The states oversee the delivery. The philosophy gives the direction.

The only commitment volunteers must make is to the AFL Auskick philosophy and to their child’s sporting development.

The easy answer to why AFL Auskick is so successful is because:

  • It’s fun and safe.
  • It’s for kids and parents.
  • It’s managed by the community.

AFL Auskick Features

  • Fun.
  • Safe.
  • Coaching and benefits for children
  • Resources to support parental and volunteer involvement.
  • Appropriate skill development.
  • Appropriate match rules.
  • Equal opportunities.
  • Codes of conduct.
  • Community environment.
  • Links to the AFL competition.

FOR COACHES

The AFL Auskick policy is targeted at children aged between 5-12 years. Participants split into four main groups according to age.

Youngsters (Preparatory year)

Normally five year olds. Junior members of the AFL Auskick group playing games using reduced numbers and being introduced to very basic warm-up and ball skills.

Early primary stage (Grade 1-2)

Normally six to seven year olds. Players build on the fundamentals with players beginning to learn how to bounce, kick, catch and pick up a football.

Middle primary stage (Grade 3-4)
Normally eight to nine year olds. Children develop their ball handling skills and co-ordination quickly at this age. Good attitudes to sport can also become ingrained.

Late primary stage (Grade 5-6)

Normally 10 to 12 year olds. Refine skills of the game and maintain the enthusiasm for further participation in Australian Football.

Volunteers run appropriate drills and warm-ups for each age-group.

The Head Coach will be responsible for organising drills appropriate using the AFL Auskick coaching manual.