Auskick an intro to junior footy

WHETHER you’re part of a footy-mad family, or brand new to the sport, a gentle pathway to junior Aussie rules is back this Autumn.

Teesdale Auskick will be held weekly at Don Wallace Reserve from Wednesday, 26 April for children aged five to 12.

Coordinator Michelle Hondow said the hour-long sessions include warm-ups, age-grouped activities, and games to teach kids basic footy skills.

“This is about providing a space for our younger kids, who aren’t yet in the Teesdale Football Club, to come and have fun,” she said.

“They’re not necessarily playing games of football but will learn small skills that could help them progress into junior football, and skills for life in future.

“A lot of kids can he hesitant, but if they are nervous, we can work with that. It’s all about nurturing them to build confidence and skills so that they can grow, improve, and do things for themselves.

“Come and have a go.”

The Auskick program is volunteer run and Ms Hondow said the group needs more help from community members.

“In previous years we’ve had six of us running it each week with some parents assisting, but we really need to recruit more volunteers,” she said.

“The parents are coming to see their kids play and participate, so we would love them to put their hand up, help and get involved.

“They could be doing anything from hanging onto a specky bag or showing kids how to handball into a bucket. It’s little things, they don’t have to be fit.”

The Teesdale Auskick program continues to grow with the town, having had about 20 enrolments in 2018 compared to 48 in 2021, and 66 in 2022.

Ms Hondow said the local Auskick can be a pathway to Teesdale Junior Football Club, and that it’s an exciting time to become a member with the recent approval of Don Wallace Reserve upgrades.

“It’s set to be a place that everyone wants to go to and support their local club,” she said.

Register at bit.ly/3XUSLuV.