The Minister for Sport, Kate Lundy, today announced the Australian Government will partner with the Australian Football League (AFL) to provide more opportunities for kids to get active and play sport after school.
Senator Lundy joined Brisbane Lions players, Jed Adcock and Josh Drummond, at the Gabba to launch the new junior participation program ‘AFL 9s’ which will be rolled out in primary schools across the nation starting next term.
The game will become part of the Australian Sports Commission’s Active After-school Communities (AASC) program which is a national initiative that provides primary school children access to structured sport after school.
“The Gillard Government is committed to building junior participation in sport and encouraging more kids to get active,” Senator Lundy said.
“The AASC program is the perfect platform for this new initiative, because it will ensure kids can participate, have fun and learn the fundamentals of one of our national games.
“Already more than 400 schools have requested the AFL 9s program this year which means there will be some 12,000 new AFL 9s participants introduced to sport.
“The AASC program has been instrumental in building greater participation rates among primary school aged children and it is great to have the AFL on board.
“Structured after-school sport programs are aimed at encouraging our kids to be healthy and develop a love of sport that sets the foundation for lifelong participation.”
AFL 9s is the AFL’s official alternative version of the game and has been developed so everyone can have a go at playing Australian Football.
