IN good news for young footy players, the AFL Auskick season has kicked off for 2025, enticing new players to sign up with new and old programs.
The season started last week with a girls-only training day on Thursday, March 13, and the main Auskick launch day on Friday, March 14, with Auskick working with local teams to encourage kids to sign up for the 2025 season.
NSW Auskick and Superkick engagement lead Greg Talbot said the way the program is set up is so everybody is able to have a good time.
“The four clubs, Broken Hill Central, North, South and West, all participate and the children come along, develop their basic skills and understanding of the game; how to kick and catch a ball, how to run and play, and then play a modified game of Auskick, which is non-contact,” Mr Talbot said.
Joining Mr Talbot for his first visit to Broken Hill were visiting coaches, Caitlin Tottle, and Kade Brown, participation co-ordinators for Riverina and Albury respectively.
Alongside the weekly Auskick games for kids aged five to 12, Auskick is seeking potential interest, and educating volunteers on, a new program called Superkick, which aims to create a slightly more advanced and serious option than Auskick.
“We’ve identified that over that period, from five to 12 years, you might find a child in Auskick for quite a few years,” he said.
“As they age and their skills improve, and they become more proficient, they might just want to play footy, but because of where they live may not have the opportunity to join a junior team.
“Superkick is a slightly advanced version of Auskick built around more gameplay and less fun skills.
“They’ll learn as they play the game.
“That’s our Superkick program which is available for children eight to 12 years.”
Mr Talbot said the organisation hopes to fully roll out Superkick state-wide next year.
“Part of my role in the Broken Hill launch was to explain the concept of Superkick to our volunteers,” he said.
“We’re giving them the opportunity to learn more about it, to see how we operate it and then to work with the volunteers to determine whether that’s a product that they’re looking to run this season.
“It’s available to them if they’d like to take that up.”
This year there are also separate girls-only groups that parents can elect for their daughters to be in, and the classic mixed-gender groups.
“This gives parents the choice of choosing an all girls group or a mixed group for whatever is best for their daughter,” he said.
“They would complete the same level of activity, but without boisterous boys grabbing the ball and taking it away, etc, giving them the opportunity to develop at their own pace and with their friends.”
