West Australian Football

The Auskick Centre at Ashdale Primary School is well under way with children from over 40 different multicultural backgrounds participating.

The program, run by the East Perth Football Club, primarily targets schools that have a low percentage of children playing football so they have the chance to join local clubs in the future.

“Ashdale Primary School is a very multicultural school and we are trying to give these kids an exposure to football,” East Perth Football Club Development Officer Daniel Macaulay said.

“Most of these kids haven’t grown up with football and don’t really know what it’s all about.”

Ashdale Primary School Phys Ed Teacher Brett Watson believes school is the perfect environment to learn a new sport.

“Through this program students can develop confidence in participating in after school sport within a familiar environment, surrounded by the known faces of their peers and teachers,” Mr Watson said.

The sessions not only focus on developing skills but also how to work well in a team.

“The Auskick skills centre provides students with the opportunity to develop the skills associated with Australian Rules football such as kicking, handballing and marking,” Mr Watson said.

“It also provides students with many opportunities to enhance their general ball handling confidence; develop their physical fitness; and provide an opportunity for them to work cooperatively with others to achieve common goals.”

The program has been very successful in the past with other schools continuing to run their Auskick Centre throughout the year.

“Not only do the children enjoy it but the parents are very supportive of the program and turn up each week for it,” Mr Macaulay said.

Mr Watson thinks this is a positive step for encouraging students to get involved with sport.

“The students have been having a great deal of fun participating in the centre, and the number of footballs being loaned out to students for recess and lunch has increased dramatically,” he said.

“Hopefully the success of this year’s program will encourage the school's community to take this on next year so that it can be run on an annual basis.”