This week Auskick returns to the AFL Broken Hill calendar, with the launch into the 2024 season working to increase the numbers taking part and encouraging inclusiveness with additional sessions designed to cater to different groups of people.
“There’s been a lot of work that’s gone on in the off-season. Everyone’s pretty excited,” Auskick Coordinator and Schools Development Officer, David Bearman, told the Barrier Truth.
“A lot of organising has gone into getting Wednesday and Thursday ready this week and being out with all the schools. It’s all pretty good and exciting. Can’t wait for the season to start.”
Wednesday afternoon will see a Broken Hill All Girls Auskick Come and Try Night for girls aged 6-12 at Siebler Park from 4pm with games, skills activities, inflatables, and giveaways. The night will also feature an AFL Broken Hill All Stars Women’s match.
“Women’s football and youth football in Broken Hill has been quite strong the last couple of years,” Mr Bearman said.
“Now, there’s this push to try and get the lower age groups – the under 12s and the under 14s – and that’s why we’re trying to get more numbers and focus on the girls for participation. There was a little bit of a feedback that a lot of the girls would like to play, but maybe would be a bit intimidated joining in with the boys.
“This is the start of it and hopefully maybe this year, but probably next year, we’d certainly be looking to have an all-age, all-girls competition in the 12s and the 14s and the 16 youth girls. Wednesday is pretty exciting for that, to start that process.”
The week’s launch of the Auskick program will continue into Thursday at Picton Oval from 4pm with further games, skills activities, inflatables, giveaways, and a free BBQ for anyone to attend.
The afternoon will also see a Come and Try Day to support the introduction of a new Kickability program offered through AFL Broken Hill, AFL NSW/ACT, and Social Futures which will provide young people aged 5-16 who identify as living with a disability the opportunity to play the sport with their peers in a safe and inclusive environment.
“Kickability is an AFL initiative, trying to incorporate all aspects of the community, those that don’t possibly fit into the normal pathways that we have,” Mr Bearman explained.
“If they want to come along and try the sport, maybe not in a team environment but in a skill-building environment, come along and do the skills side of it and get a bit of confidence about it and then once they get to a point, hopefully they can join a team. If not, they’d be happy just to stay along and keep working in that group setting for them.”
For more information, contact Sam Daniel at [email protected] or on 0498 078 548.
