Auskick

File:Auskick2007no2.png

2007 NAB Auskick logo

AusKick taking place during the half time break of an AFL game at Telstra Dome.

Auskick is a national program in Australia to develop and promote participation in Australian rules football by children. It has proven to be popular with both boys and girls.

The program was devised in 1998 and began in Victoria — the traditional home of the sport — under the name Vickick. It was supported by the Australian Football League, the national professional competition for the sport, which began to roll it out nationally.

Under current corporate sponsorship rights (as of 2005) the program is officially named NAB AFL Auskick and is sponsored by the National Australia Bank, while previous sponsors include Simpson, a whitegoods company and, even earlier, fast food giant McDonald's.

Auskick is a national football coaching network, with clinics held weekly (usually on Saturday mornings) run by volunteers. The program attracts over 100,000 primary school aged participants annually and, as such, is the largest grassroots sporting association of its kind in Australia. Auskick's effort to involve children in AFL could be a determinant in the fact that 65% of high school students consider it in their top 3 favorite sports. The AFL is a major supporter of Auskick and star players occasionally assist in training events. The AFL also invites various branches of the Auskick network to play short games during the half-time breaks of premiership season games at all grounds, with numerous matches played on modified fields simultaneously.

It has been proven that if children/youths are involved in sport they less likely to be involved in crime or in a gang.

The current program slogan is "Where Champions Begin", with Jo Silvagni (wife of former AFL player Stephen Silvagni) and Robert DiPierdomenico, the 1986 co-Brownlow Medallist.

In 2007 Auskick used the kick-to-kick tradition as part of their promotional television campaign, which shows kids from around the country kicking the football to each other to the tune of Gimme dat Thang (as "Gimme that thing").

External links

• AFL Auskick
• Templestowe Park Auskick
• Brothers Rockhampton Roos

Template:Afl-stub Afl rules