Ontario Australian Junior Football Programs
Sponsored by The Trillium Foundation
Aussie Rules Football, it’s not Rugby, Soccer or American Football. Australian Rules Football or “Footy” as we call it, is Australia’s national game. It is unlike any other version of football and is played with a unique set of rules. Footy is a ball sport that combines skills from many sports along with unique elements & rules of its own, resulting in an action packed & seriously fun sporting experience. In a game of Footy the ball can only be moved by kicking the ball or by hand passing the ball (punching the ball with a closed fist of one hand). The ball may move in any direction with the main objective being to score goals.
Footy is a fast, exciting, and skilled game that promotes health and well being as well as team work, inclusiveness & ‘mateship’. It is played by both boys and girls and all ages always in a controlled, supervised and safe environment. All the rules of the sport have been modified for children/youth participation. The contact rules in particular have been altered to allow all students to participate in a safe and respectful manner. Footy is a non-stop game that will have players running and active from start to finish!!
This Junior Program is targeted at youth in grades 6, 7, 8, and 9 in areas of Toronto that are experiencing a high level of youth gangs and youth in trouble at home, in school and with the police. These targeted areas are areas where both police and school contacts want the program and the leadership from the OAFL. Mentoring opportunities exist with players from local senior Aussie Footy Clubs. Initially the mentoring opportunity will be informal, but formal mentoring matching is envisioned over time.
This program has little to no cost to the teens, their families, or the schools. If schools have funds available we will accept the funds to help build, extend the season and expand the program. The only equipment youth need to bring/wear is running shoes. There are no barriers to participation.
This program will broaden the learning experiences for children and youth; help children and youth remain and achieve in school; prepare young children to learn; provide opportunities for children and youth to experience positive personal growth through activity.
The Junior League provides:
- More effective volunteers and more people engaged in their communities
- Opportunities to actively participate in activities or programs offered within their community
- Conditions to increase community engagement of people of all ages, abilities and cultures
- Community connections and awareness, particularly among young people
The news everyday talks about teen gangs and violence. From testimonials of the 30+ programs that ran in Ontario over the summer of 2010, we know that Aussie Footy might just be the magic solution that gets young teenagers turned on to sport as an alternative.
