Footy for Boys and Girls aged 5-12 Years
Register your child for Auskick here
The Northcote Auskick program includes clinics for children ranging from 5-12 years old with around 150 Auskickers participating in the Northcote Program each year.
The program is centred around providing the participating children with a fun and safe experience in which to learn the basics of Australian Rules football.
We hope that every child who participates in the program develops a love for the game, can kick and handpass a football, and has a basic appreciation of ‘game play’.
Most skills learning is via drills and fun activities but, as the season progresses, we also encourage the children to play some ‘modified rules’ games.
We believe strongly in participation for all regardless of skills, gender or backgrounds (and that goes for the parents as well!!).
Our volunteer coaches are generally mums and dads, who have all gone through the basic coaching program, and we support them to ensure that they can deliver quality, age-appropriate coaching to every child who comes along to have a go. If you are interested in becoming an Auskick coach, and we encourage all parents and carers to ‘give it a go’, you can find all the information here at https://play.afl/coach.
As with all child-based community activities, adults who want to become coaches or volunteer at the weekly sessions are required to hold a valid Working with Children check which can be done at https://service.vic.gov.au/services/working-with-children.
Pathway to Junior Football
While it’s not every child’s dream to go on and play footy, for those who are interested in playing club football or making it all the way to the AFLW/AFL, the Northcote Auskick Centre is affiliated with the Northcote Junior Football Club program which provides a great playing pathway through the Yarra Junior Football League.
The Cougars not only assists with our fantastic facilities and provides support for our volunteers’ coaching development, the club also gives the Auskickers and their families an opportunity to see what junior footy is all about. It is a key objective of the club that it provides all Auskick children with a visible pathway through to junior football, playing games and making new friends along the way. We firmly believe that to ‘be it’ you need to ‘see it’ and we also encourage some of our older players to participate as assistants in the Auskick groups to learn how to coach and lead, and to build connections and friendships with participants.
Junior Football with the Cougars starts with Under 8s Mixed (girls and boys) and Girls’ teams, which is generally after children have spent 2-3 years in the Auskick program.
Girls’ Participation
We aim to increase the number of girls participating so that there are plenty coming through to the ever-growing junior girls football teams, including heading into the VFLW and AFLW.
To support greater girls’ participation, as well as the mixed-class groups, Northcote Auskick runs a GIRLS ONLY clinic each week (for those girls who prefer this). Girls are of course still welcome to train in the mixed-class groups to learn and play.
During the year as players’ skills develop, some choose to join the other more advanced groups such as the Cougars Junior Girls’ teams who play on a Sunday. We encourage any girls who want to start their footy career to join up and have a go in a supportive and safe environment. All girls will be supported to transition to club football when they’re ready.
How you can help
The Northcote Auskick program is run by parent / carer volunteers and generally the participation of these adults is fantastic. Every year however, as the children move on, so do the parents that make the program such a great experience for the kids.
Each year we are in need of new parents and carers to get involved and keep the centre thriving. It’s easy to learn, you’ll have a great time and will be rewarded by watching the kids develop their skills.
Whether you are a first time participant or returning from last year, we always need more help with coordinating events, setting up, coaching assistants and packing up.
As well as registering your children for the program be sure to also let us know (by emailing northcote.auskick@gmail.com) how you think you can help so we can get you involved before Session 1. Leaving it to the first day is hard to coordinate, so please drop us a short email ahead of time and we will be in touch.
Registration
All participants must register and pay online at https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/7fef4e
or
http://aflauskick.com.au/ and search for Northcote
The registration cost of $100 gives access the 10 clinics plus a pack full of goodies (including a football).
Note: All bags and goodies are posted directly to the Registered Address.
2024 Clinic Details
Start
Saturday 4 May
End
Saturday 27 July (Presentation day)
Clinic times
9.00am to 10.30am
Clinic Dates
Week 1 Saturday 4 May
Week 2 Saturday 11 May
Week 3 Saturday 18 May
Week 4 Saturday 25 May
Week 5 Saturday 1 June
No Clinic 8 June: King’s Birthday
Week 6 Saturday 15 June
Week 7 Saturday 22 June
Week 8 Saturday 29 June
No Clinic 6 & 13 July: School Holidays
Week 9 Saturday 20 July
Week 10 Saturday 27 July (Final clinic & presentation day)
Further Information
Contact Lachlan Spencer by emailing northcote.auskick@gmail.com.