It is great that the Aussie Rules Schools programme is taking an active and strategic approach towards promoting sport development and physical activity to benefit young people. All sports have their part to play in increasing participation and it is encouraging to see how Australian football is maximising the opportunities available.
Equipping young people with opportunities to play a variety of sport plays a key role in supporting the Government's priorities for increasing participation, reducing childhood obesity and promoting social inclusion.
The scheme will benefit many children across the UK, and I hope the games are thoroughly enjoyed by all participants.
I wish the Aussie Rules Schools programme every success.
RT HON RICHARD CABORN MP
Minister for Sport
Good luck to all the students who can play what we believe is the best and most exciting game in the world. Our great game consists of everything you can possible imagine. Skill, speed, endurance and strength. It can be played by people of any size and shape. Our game can cater for all. We hope you will enjoy it and who knows maybe we will see you in the future playing our great game professionally.
Jason Akermanis
Brisbane Lions
I very much support the Aussie Rules Schools programme. It is vitally important that children today take part in physical activity and Australian football will give children the opportunity to improve their fitness levels, meet new friends but more importantly have fun. As a Sports Ambassador for the government I fully support and endorse the Aussie Rules Schools programme.
Mickey Ambrose
Sports Ambassador
Sport England
The National Obesity Forum would support any initiative that involves encouraging the participation of sport among children. We know that not enough children are physically active enough to protect them from the onset of chronic disease - 4 year olds are showing early signs of heart disease and there are an increasing number of chidren with type II diabetes - both are preventable through healthy living.
Felicity Porritt
Chief Executive
National Obesity Forum
Carshalton Boys Sports College
Brian Clarke, General Manager of Aussie Rules UK, attended Carshalton Boys Sports College, to conduct an Australian Football clinic. The Physical Education Department and the students found this clinic to be a resounding success.
As a Sports College, Carshalton Boys’ understands and recognises the importance of providing students with excellent teaching and coaching in a variety of different sports. By introducing and teaching the students Australian Football, it gives them cultural understanding and respect whilst further improving their gross motor skills and physical development.
Australian Football utilises many of the major fitness components. Some of these include: cardiovascular fitness, strength, speed, agility, coordination and power. Teamwork, co-operation and sportspersonship are also vital skills for a student's physical and social development.
Australian Football is also seen in our school as being a novel approach to tackling childhood obesity issues by getting them to learn a different set of motor skills. The game can also be played outside the curriculum hence it helps students’ to see the dangers that a lack of meaningful physical activity can have in peoples’ lives.
It is the desire of the Carshalton Boys’ Sports College to continue to be a pilot school and to work with Aussie Rules UK, not only within the school community, to develop Australian Rules within the Borough, ultimately aiming for after school fixtures with local schools. We value this sport very highly and we totally endorse the fantastic work Brian does to promote this valuable game.
Mike George
Head of Australian Football
Carshalton Boys’ Sports College
