Record numbers in North West school programs

THE number of Primary School aged children involved in AFL after school clinics across the North West region this term and next is extraordinary.

Led by the AFL’s Participation Coordinator for the North West Lachie Bennetts-Inkster and new AFL SportsReady Trainee Ruby Spark, more than 220 students are currently  participating in After School Cluster Programs at Inverell, Tamworth and Armidale.

This leap in school numbers is on top of other AFL programs such as in-school and after school clinics at various locations across the region.

There are even a pair of Paul Kelly Cup events in Tamworth and Inverell for students in Years 5 and 6 to play for their school and battle it out for the prestigious trophy.

Bennetts-Inkster said the support of students, schools, parents and clubs has created a tremendous opportunity to transition students from school programs to playing with a club when the season starts.

“We are really thrilled with the numbers at our cluster programs across the whole region,” Bennetts-Inkster said.

“We are confident that this will be ‘the moment’ that steers junior footy in the North West region in the right direction.”

NUMBER OF AFTER SCHOOL CLUSTER PARTICIPANTS

TOWN	AUSKICK (K-Yr2)	SUPERKICK (Yr3-Yr6)	TOTAL
Inverell	31	52	83
Tamworth	29	52	81
Armidale	28	32	60
TOTAL	88	136	224

 

AFL NSW/ACT has invested $8,000 across the entire Northern NSW region to support kids transitioning from the AFL’s Term 1 AFL programs into club Auskick Centres, helping them stay engaged in footy.

As part of the investment, a number of $50 vouchers will be available for Auskick-aged participants to assist with their registration at a club’s Auskick Centre.

While this investment currently focuses on Auskick, the Superkick program which is for kids in Years 3 to 6 is also experiencing significant interest.

“We believe clubs can play a key role in ensuring these players take the next step into community football,” the Participation Coordinator said.