AFL program deserves praise

EACH weekend The Chronicle sport team jumps on its Saturday Soapbox and voices its opinion on some pressing sporting issues.

This week the team discusses the positive impact the AFL is having on our young students.

Jason Gibbs: In 2018 the AFL in partnership will the Department of Education and Training will introduce Everyone Matters to our Year 4 students.

The program is designed to encourage and promote diversity and inclusion and I, for one, think it is fantastic.

Like it or not our kids are heavily influenced by their peers and idols particularly their sporting idols - a fact the governing bodies of our sports need to be aware.

Take a look at any local Aussie Rules football game and you see all manner of body types, skill levels and ethnicities competing in the game and watching from the sidelines.

Any program that can help shape and influence our young minds, especially through the popular medium of sport, is something that deserves our support.

The AFL’s steps to create and introduce such a positive program should therefore be applauded.

Madolyn Peters: I believe sport in general is such an important part of growing up.

Growing up playing AFL myself is where I made a lot of the friends and networks I still have today.

Playing sport at a young age teaches children how to share, how to include and encourage others and also how to be a good sport when the results don’t go your way.

I do think sport is one of the places where it doesn’t matter what background you’re from and everyone is on an equal playing field.

Introducing Everyone Matters to Year 4 students only encourages this, which I think is a great thing.

Glen McCullough: It’s interesting to hear of Maddy’s experiences growing up playing Australian Rules and the influence it had on her.

I’m from the other side of the fence.

I haven’t played a game of Aussies Rules in my life.

Kids of my era didn’t have the opportunity.

Little was known of Aussies Rules north of the Murray during that era.

Cricket, rugby league, and to a lesser extent soccer were our go in the school yard, back yard and at weekends

However I did play junior soccer before having a crack at rugby league when I was about 12 years of age and I still reckon soccer proved a great sport to kick off in with what it taught before maybe taking on other sports like rugby.

I would think the same applies to Australian Rules.

The game looks to offer a heap of different and worthwhile skills, away from soccer and the rugby codes.

I can only see good coming from kids having the chance to give it a go.

The Everyone Matters initiative adds another dimension to the involvement of youngsters regardless of their skills and abilities.

I often comment to people involved in sport that we lose sight of why we started playing it in the first place.

Grass-roots sport offers fitness, fun and friendship.

If you are fortunate enough to go on and play the game professionally or represent Australia, that is a bonus for the gifted few.

I can’t imagine anyone coming out of playing any sport not being a better person for the experience.

Top marks to AFLQ Darling Downs.