Kicking goals teaching Aussie Rules skills

A three-week trial program to encourage primary school children play or umpire Australian Rules football got a good reception at Warragul North Primary School.

Run by AFL Gippsland staff, football development managers George Morgan and Paul Vaughan, the program reached almost 400 students in grades four to six.

Mr Morgan said written feedback from teachers at the school and those that took part was positive and suggested it be repeated next year.

Both boys and girls were spoken to about how playing football and umpiring were ways to create respect, friendships and relationships and took part in drills that dealt with fundamental skills, game awareness, rules of the game and the important roles of umpires.

Attrition rate of players at junior levels, from the youngest age groups of under 10 years, is an issue AFL Gippsland is keen to address.

Mr Morgan said a key concern for a majority of youngsters (and parents) was the possibility of being hurt and the program aimed to help address that by emphasising the roles of umpires in how the game was played.

A bonus for the Warragul North school, that Mr Morgan said had little football equipment for use by students, was that through courtesy of AFL Gippsland it now has a stock of about 40 footballs.

Schools interested in learning more about the program should contact AFL Gippsland.

Georgia Hickmott shows a text book kicking style under the watchful eye of Paul Vaughan, an AFL Gippsland football development manager, during a three-week program at Warragul North primary school focussed on the skills of the game and what it can offer players.

AFL Gippsland’s Paul Vaughan give some guidance to Warragul North primary school’s Emma Henshall on how to prepare to kick a football.