Stages of Sport Development in the Australian Football League - Case Study Example

Name Class Unit Table of Contents Stages of sport development in AFL 4 Fundamental stage 4 Sampling stage 4 Specialising stage 4 Investment stage 5 Maintenance 5 Retiring 5 Sport development programmes 6 AFL sporting school programme 6 Program offerings 6 AFL club management program 7 Support to the community football 8 Participants 8 AFL Auskick 9 Recruitment and retention 10 Youth football 11 Motivators for youth 11 Female football 12 Children with disabilities programme 13 Junior football match program 13 High performance AFL program 14 Conclusion 15 References 16 Introduction Australian football league (AFL) is the body responsible for governing the Australian football rules, managing national competition and ensuring sport development at the grassroots level. Australian football is one of the oldest codes of football worldwide. The games have evolved over the years. Victorian Football Association (VFA) was formed in 1877 and the first season of competition occurred in 1897. The number of VFL clubs continued growing which necessitated the change of the official name. From 1990, VFL was changed to Australian Football league (AFL) (AFL, 2015). AFL is recognised under the Australian Sport Commission and National Sports Organization Register (Australian Government Sporting Commission, 2015). There have been several sport development programs under AFL. This research paper will look at the sport development programs under AFL and provide an explanation and analysis for each program. This will involve noting the target audience, participants and expected outcomes. The research also utilise key sport concepts that are inherent in sport development and sport development research literature. Stages of sport development in AFL Fundamental stage This stage involves learning the fundamentals of the game and skills. The program is structured in such a way that it entails fun. The stage helps the participants to develop the vital motor skills and physical capabilities. This is a very vital stage in the children motor development. At this stage, running and jumping is taught while participating in different sports is encouraged. The children are introduced to simple rules and ethics (AFL, 2015). Sampling stage At this stage, there is learning of fundamental skills of the game. Children are taught basic physical capacities and all round development in sports. Players are taught on ways in which they can consolidate the skills of game. Children are taught on technical and tactical skills which include hydration and goal setting. The main focus of training at this stage is learning rather than competing. The stage involves balancing between training and playing. At this stage, talent development program which includes AIS-AFL are introduced (AFL, 2015). Specialising stage The stage involves enabling the players to have higher level skills and capabilities. The fitness capacities and individual position in the team are optimised (Australian Football League, 2004). At this stage, the talented players are integrated into the state and national talent development programs. The players are provided with an optimum competition program that enhances their development (AFL, 2015). Investment stage At this stage, the objective is to have complete development of skill and capacities needed for optimum performance (Australian Football League, 2004). The focus of this stage is to ensure that there is complete player development and their performance is optimised. The talented players are refined and their mental and ancillary capabilities enhanced (AFL, 2015). Maintenance The main aim of this stage is to maintain and optimise performance. The players are fully developed mentally, tactically and physically. The stage main focus is competition and optimising performance. There is need for high intensity training to equip the players (AFL, 2015). Retiring This is the last stage. This stage involves transition from one stage of professional athlete to another life. It also involves an opportunity to remain in the sport. At this stage, it acts as the end of high performance competition stage. There is also encouragement for physical activity (AFL, 2015). Sport development programmes AFL sporting school programme The AFL sporting school programme is an initiative developed with an aim of promoting Australian Football and enhance awareness. To enhance awareness, there are various pathways used which includes; NAB AFL Auskick, School Football and the Junior Club Football. The AFL training programs are aimed at introducing children to Australian Football in a fun and engaging and challenging games and activities. The games and activities are suited for children from varying age groups and skills (Australian Government Sporting Commission, 2015). Program offerings The AFL engages into two sporting schools offering which are Learn AFL and Experience AFL. Learn AFL This is a program whose main target is students who have limited or no knowledge on the game. The students are taught on the core game skills and are given knowledge on AFL and its associated clubs. Experience AFL This is an AFL program whose main target are the students who already have an understanding of the game. The programme has a curriculum which is linked to the students’ previous exposure to the game. There are specific lessons and the student experiences the Australian football in a modified match play (Australian Government Sporting Commission, 2015). The sporting schools have been established through partnership with over 30 key national players. The main aim had been to bring high quality sporting schools. The sporting schools have been designed to offer nationally endorsed products to school curriculum through experienced coaches. For the teachers to participate in the Learn AFL and Experience AFL, they are supposed to be registered a coaches. They are also supposed to have endorsement from the AFL development manager. This enables them to start the sessions. This is also required for the coaches to participate in the programme. The sporting schools are a major source of training for the children during and off the school. This programme has helped to make the children more active in their local communities (AFL, 2015). AFL club management program This is a program is based on noting the contributions of community football clubs and volunteers. The main aim is to help in gaining knowledge on AFL game development structure and philosophy. The program provides and avenue of understanding of principles of each level of participation pathway. This is with a focus on the AFL Auskick, Youth Football, disabled children football and women football. The programme also indicates the ways in which children and parents can be recruited into the junior development programmes. It also highlights the importance of coming up with a high quality club environment (Australian Government Sporting Commission, 2015). AFL game development department mission is based on administering coordinating and developing AFL game nationally and internationally. This is through high quality programs that promote fun and enjoyment. AFL game development has an aim of enhancing maximum support and participation of community through the clubs and schools. Those who are talented are given opportunity to attain their maximum potential (AFL, 2015). Support to the community football Community clubs have been benefiting a lot through activities funded through AFL expenditure. One of the activities funded is AFL Auskick. This activity has the capability to benefit more than 123,750 participants, their friends and families. There are also resources for volunteers in over 200 centres. Schools benefit through visits and clinics. These are set for both community and schools and have the capability to reach more than 700,000 children. There are also competitions for over 4650 schools teams. The national field force have over 165 development officers who have a responsibility to manage the AFL Auskick, school clinics, talent programs and accreditation of coaches. There has also been development of Kick-start program for the indigenous Australians. Talent programs are carried out in both states and regions in the country. The AFL game is built on the community clubs as the foundation. The clubs engages a lot of stakeholders in the grassroots level. The club ability to grow and maintain this relationship is vital (Australian Government Sporting Commission, 2015). Participants Anyone willing to participate in the Australian football must do it in a way that is appropriate to their skills, needs and aspirations. This is also based on the available facilities. There is a well-established participation pathway for AFL (Australian Football League, 2004). AFL Auskick This is developed for the school going children and their parents. To participate in the AFL Auskick, the children are expected to have attained five years of age. The sequential package developed caters for the primary school aged children (five to 12 years). Through the delivery of quality programs, it becomes possible to recruit both children and parents. The AFL Auskick policy is based on two components. The components are; AFL Auskick program-this is the key introductory program aimed at both children and parents. It involves warm up games, activities and skill games which are all based on the appropriate AFL Auskick rules (Australian Football League, 2004). AFL Auskick rules- these are the rules and procedures that are required for carrying out modified matches based on different levels of development. For the primary school aged children, the rules are designed to ensure that there is maximum participation, skill development and learning. The rules are a feature of the AFL Auskick program. They are also highly recommended for the adoption in primary schools, community clubs and leagues based on this age group (Australian Football League, 2004). AFL Auskick policy is a great drive towards building strength on the AFL Auskick brand. This is through use of the core philosophy which makes it possible to communicate the desired consumer perceptions. Through the philosophy, it has been possible to make AFL Auskick programme to be one of the most successful in Australia (Australian Football League, 2004). AFL Auskick program has become successful due to three core elements. One of the elements is making the football fun for all. This is especially to the school going children. Auskick program have been able to improve skill development for the children through use of accredited coaches. The program have emphasized on skill development as a priority for the children (Australian Football League, 2004). Secondly, parents and children play a major role in AFL Auskick program. Parents are instrumental in ensuring smooth progression of the programme from one step to next. This is based on rules and procedures for the children involved. There are simple rules to follow which are adequately supported by available resources and accredited coaches. Lastly, community management have helped a lot in attaining success. The role of community ownership for clubs, schools and centres cannot be underestimated. This ensures that the costs for the participants are kept at the minimum. Children are treated different in sports as compared to adults. This is due to fact that their motivation to participate in sports differs from that of the adults. Children are allowed to participate in sports in an environment which is relaxed while at the same time making friends, having fun and enhancing their skills (Australian Government Sporting Commission, 2015). Recruitment and retention For majority of parents and children, AFL Auskick is their introduction to AFL experience (AFL, 2015). This requires making the first experience to be of high quality to maximise chances of proceeding to the next step in the game pathway. The new participants are introduced through sound volunteer based management by the coordinators. The ratio of adults to the new participants is one to five (Australian Football League, 2004). Parents form a backbone for the football clubs. This implies that they must be encouraged to get engaged with their children sport. Parents and children moves together in the sport. The program ensures that the parents are informed on regular basis on what is going on in the club. They are also acknowledged for their efforts and involvement in the club. The involvement of the parents in the club involves setting aside morning picnics and barbecues (Australian Football League, 2004). Youth football This is a program designed to maintain youth players in the football. The football is designed based on their needs. Young people have varying needs and attitudes and meeting some of them is essential for their participation. The program changes the traditional view of the game, modifies rules and changes the nature of coaching. The community leagues are used to deliver youth football competitions. Motivating factors and elements are made to suit the youth participants (Australian Football League, 2004). Motivators for youth Social-youth participants are drawn to the game with an aim to socialise with others. The main aim is to create friendship and operate as a single team. Football offers the participants a sense of belonging as they feel accepted. Fast- the game is played in a fast pace to ensure that the players are engaged and excited. Skills- players are taught how to utilise and develop their skills in the field. This makes them to have a sense of mastery. Competition- the quality of competition matters to the youth. This makes the game to be made in such a way that there is high quality competition. Fun- the game provides the players with a chance of social interaction. The game culminates in fun for all players involved. Body contact- football is a great avenue for the adolescent to express themselves physically in a controlled environment. The competition structures are made in such a way that they cater for the youthful participants. This is through ensuring that the competition is well graded, innovative and has high quality coaching. There is alternative competition which is a non-contact game. This is developed to ensure that all enthusiasts have an opportunity to participate in Australian football. Recreational football is designed in such a way that it is not physically demanding and can be played by all genders and ages. The main emphasis is fun and safety. The game is played in a friendly and social environment which enables peoples of different ages, genders and abilities to participate (Australian Football League, 2004). Female football Females have played a major role in AFL for a long time. This is through being volunteers, teachers and administrator among others. Despite playing a role in the game, they are rarely encouraged to play. AFL Auskick has come up with a program which allows girls to participate. Registration is aimed for 11% of the girls. The number of female competitors in the game has been rising steadily over the years. The female participation has been a major contributor to participation base. States and territories in AFL have been required to increase women participation in AFL (Australian Football League, 2004). Children with disabilities programme Every child is required to be involved in the sport regardless of their disability. It’s vital to know that children with disabilities want to take part in sports. Including children with disabilities is a major step towards inclusion. This is a project that requires enthusiasm and understanding. The project involves parents who assist in activities and also address the need for the children. To include participants with disabilities, they are encouraged to participate in the activities. There are also simple adaptations and modifications made to meet the needs of the children and allow participation (Australian Government Sporting Commission, 2015). At Australian football, the coach has a great influence on the players. This has led to the need for having accredited coaches. Coaches are the main cause for the players to remain or leave the club. For the young children, the coaches act as the gatekeepers and enhance participation. The training programs ensure that the coaches are able to meet the needs for the players (AFL, 2015). Junior football match program The main aim of the program is to ensure children have fun in a safe and positive experience. This is through a well-structured match which engages the children to develop their skills. The main aim at this stage is to help them in specific game based skills such as kicking and marking. Children are also able to learn on technical and tactical concepts. This age group is able to develop game specific skills through the program (AFL, 2015). High performance AFL program This is a program endorsed by the WA Football Commission and Australian football League. The main aim is to fast-track player development in the AFL pathway through the WAF and AFL programs. The program utilises the curriculum which has been developed by the AFL. Participants are the school going children. The program involves developing fitness and teamwork based on 4 hours weekly schedule. There is focus on diet, nutrition, recovery, coaching, refereeing and psychology. The participants are given a chance to participate in competition with leading private schools. Sport development is very vital in a country to ensure health and wellness (Heasman et al., 2008). It also acts as a pathway for professional sport participation. AFL has been able to understand the importance of developing sports and the philosophy behind the programmes for junior players. The high quality of coaching has been a major source of professional sporting in AFL. There are a lot of efforts to ensure that there is healthy environment for game development. The community football clubs, administrators and volunteers have been the cornerstone in which AFL game is built. For the AFL game to prosper, the junior development programs have been a major area of management and appreciation (Darling Range Sports College, 2015). Sport matters in the society hence the need for a good framework for development. AFL sport development programmes are well designed to ensure growth and development of the sport. The programmes are also well managed to ensure that the participants are directed towards the set goals. Without the development programs, it would be hard for AFL to progress and have new generation of players (Young et al., 2005). This is especially through the junior training programs. The programmes are tailored to meet the different ages and skills of participants making it one of the most practical sport developments (Australian Government Sporting Commission, 2015). Conclusion AFL is responsible for governing the Australian football rules, managing national competition and ensuring sport development at the grassroots level. The research paper has looked at various sport development programs at AFL. The programs ranges from AFL sporting school programme, AFL club management program, Support to the community football, AFL Auskick, Youth football, women football and children with disabilities among others. The programs have varying target participants and anticipated outcomes. AFL has been able to realise the importance of sport development and hence have invested heavily on it. Each of the programmes under AFL has been able to attain their objectives. Accredited coaches are used in all programs to ensure quality. Coaches have to undergo proper training before being accredited and allowed to participate. It is also importance to consider the Importance of sport development for health and wellbeing of the participants. This is especially for the children as they grow up. To sum up, AFL has one of the most advanced sporting development program in the Australian sport industry. References AFL, 2015, Home, retrieved 30th Sept 2015 from http://www.afl.com.au/ Australian Government Sporting Commission, 2015, Sporting schools, retrieved 1st March 2015 from, https://www.sportingschools.gov.au/sports/afl Australian Football League, 2004, Club management program: Junior Development For Football Clubs, Ausport, retrieved 1st Sept 2015 from http://www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Manage_Your_Club/3._Cl ub_Management_Program/Junior_Development.pdf Darling Range Sports College, 2015, High Performance AFL Program Endorsed by the WA Football Commission; Australian Football League and the Department of Education, retrieved 1st Sept 2015 from http://darlingrangesc.wa.edu.au/specialist-programs/sports- academy/afl/ Heasman, J., Dawson, B., Berry, J., & Stewart, G. 2008. “Development and validation of a player impact ranking system in Australian football.” International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, Vol.8, no.3, p.156-171. Young, W. B., Newton, R. U., Doyle, T. L. A., Chapman, D., Cormack, S., Stewart, C., & Dawson, B.2005. “Physiological and anthropometric characteristics of starters and non- starters and playing positions in elite Australian Rules football: a case study.” Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.8, no.3, p.333-345. Read More