Pictures: Devils delight as juniors soak up footy hype at Launceston clinic
Rule modifications for junior football aimed at improving safety and inclusivity continue to be backed as youngsters converged on UTAS Stadium for a Tasmania Devils school holiday clinic on Tuesday.
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AFL Tasmania participation manager Aaron Roberts is confident the introduction of safety modifications which prohibit the youngest age groups from tackling will help keep juniors in the game.
Tasmania Football Club ran a free clinic at Launceston on Tuesday, where children were put through a series of drills.
Last month the AFL introduced a series of new safety and inclusivity rules, including the banning of tackling by junior under the age of ten.
A new initiative after children graduate from the traditional Auskick program, Superkick, has been introduced for eight to 12 year olds, which is tackle-free.
The changes were backed by NTJFA boss Josh Nast as important to ensure participants enjoy themselves in a safe environment and remain in the game.
“Kids don’t need to know how to tackle until they’re 12 or 13, the maturation would suggest a kid that age is ready to receive contact,” Roberts said at the clinic.
“Prior to that, they need to know how to kick, handball, and where to go to get the ball. Superkick allows that, and our under nines and under tens in NTJFA have modifications.
“If I was a parent putting my kid in, I’d want to make sure they know how to kick and handball, and not worry about someone putting them on their backside.
“Clubs are the places to teach tackling at the appropriate time to understand tackling, and other sports like rugby have done the same.”
Clinic participants had the Devils logo painted on their face and balls handed out as the club continues to spread the word after its official launch last month.
“These kids are all rusted on Tassie football club members hopefully. It’s about encouraging the brand but also activating our major programs which are Auskick, and our new program Superkick,” Roberts said.
Clinic participant Georgia Miller said she was excited about Tasmania’s entry into the AFL.
“If we have a team from our own state we can barrack for them, and it’ll be nice to have a team we can actually watch in our state,” she said.
Launceston Tigers under-11 player Claire Bassett said it motivated her to aspire to be a AFLW payer.
“I’ve already watched the Tassie Devils girls team. I play footy Launceston Tigers under 11s. I’d love to be an AFLW player one day,” she said.
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