Junior AFL starts

The Junior AFL season has started its season but the Peninsula Swans under 10, 12, 14 and 16 competitions are still seeking players.

"If parents are looking for something which will develop their boys' and girls' coordination skills, teamwork skills and provide exercise then I don't know of anything better," said Peninsula Swans Auskick co-ordinator, Mr Peter Rea.

"Our aim is to improve a child's self-confidence not so much by beating, or being beaten by, another team of kids but by skills development.

"We acknowledge the child's continued improvement in ball skills, catching, control while running, handballing, bouncing and pinpoint accurate kicking.

"Auskick conducts regular informal mini games based on the rules of Australian Football (AFL), the emphasis of these games is on skills development and not having one team of kids rejoicing while another are in tears.

"The games are usually high scoring and are played in zones, which means in almost every game every child will personally score points.

"The zones develop teamwork and prevent the more skilful child dominating the ground, which is not good for the confidence of the smaller children or for the development of the more skilful child.

"In the Under 10, 12, 14 and 16 in Junior AFL the level of competition increases.

The cost for the whole season of Auskick is $50.

Each child receives an Auskick Pack of quality items including a back pack, football, drink bottle, cap, CD ROM, free pass to the Sydney Cricket Ground and Stadium Australia and poster and activity books.

Auskick sessions are conducted at Rogers Park every Thursday at 4 pm.

Games are organised for most weekends and participation is optional

Press release, April 15