Auskick at the Booragoon Bulldogs, as always, was very family focused in 2011. We started the season on Mother’s Day, finished on Father’s Day, and had a lot of fun and enjoyment in between. We had almost 120 enthusiastic Auskick players improve their football skills and teamwork immensely during the season. There were big player numbers in the Super 8s and Year 2s, the Year 1s grew throughout the season with new players arriving, and there were a good bunch of new recruits in the Pre-Primary team.
We were able to have a number of different events over the year to mix things up a bit. We played matches under lights against Mount Pleasant (huge!!) and Attadale (very wet!!). The Super 8s played away games at Mount Pleasant and East Fremantle, and the Year 2s took on Rossmoyne at home. Some of our Auskick players played under lights at half time in the inagural BBJFC Dads V BBFC Vetrans match. For the second year, the entire Booragoon Under 17s team visited Auskick in July to help run skills sessions and matches – this was a fantastic experience for our young players to work with a great group of young men and see what’s possible in their football future. We finished off the season by sending six Booragoon teams to the annual Rossmoyne Auskick Carnival. This was a very enjoyable event and we proudly had the second biggest group at the carnival, competing well in football, sprint races and tug-of-war.
I’d like to thank all the parents who pitched in this year, helped the coaches, worked in the canteen, washed jumpers, brought the oranges, and did everything else to make Auskick a great experience for our players. In particular Paul Lippiatt, who looked after First Aid for the year – great job.
Thanks to sponsors Jones Ballard Property Group for the brand-new set of football jumpers – they looked fantastic! We also continued to receive the support of Solar Kings and Brentwood News, who provided AFL Football Cards for weekly player awards.
A big thank you to all our coaches, who make Auskick happen on the day. These guys do a huge amount of preparation and planning so that our players develop their skills and teamwork, and enjoy their football. We had four new coaches in Pre-Primary this year in Brad, Andrew, Mike and John, Michael White ran the Year 1s in a solo effort, Olly and Gary tuned up the Year 2s with teamwork and tackling, and Fitzy, Chris and Mike helped the Super 8s graduate from Auskick. Outstanding work from the entire coaching team, Auskick wouldn’t happen without them.
Finally and most of all, well done to all the players who were part of Booragoon Bulldogs Auskick this season. Seeing you all running around with your friends, playing good football with an excellent attitude and having fun is what it’s all about, and makes my job very rewarding. See you all in 2012 – bring your friends!!
Anthony Doig (Auskick Coordinator)
Pre-Primary
In 2011, we had 25 5 year olds and 4 coaches take on Auskick for the first time. As expected, it was a big learning curve for everyone. Thankfully, due to some insightful guidance and program help from Olly Standing in the Year 2’s, we were able to able to at least look as though we knew what we were doing!
The four coaches all have older children in Auskick and were active supporters of the other coaches during previous years so had a bit of an idea of what to expect, however being the coach and ‘cat herder’ was an eye opener.
We once again were fortunate to have great weather for most of the season, with numbers down on only a few days due to inclement weather. We were also fortunate to have the great support of the parents, who stepped in to help with drills, oranges, goal umpiring, dodge ball and packing up at the end of the sessions.
We have all thoroughly enjoyed our roles as coaches this year and seeing the progression from kids who couldn’t hold or kick a ball through to kids kicking goals during the game from the centre zone. We hope that all of the players had a great first year of Auskick and return to develop their skills and have lots of fun in 2012.
Andrew Rowell, Mike North, Brad Bates, John Morey (Pre-Primary Coaches)
Year 1s
This year saw the Year 1s back at Auskick after a successful first year. The majority of kids from Pre-Primary had stayed on with a few new names added to the list.
This year was about improving the skills they had picked up from last year and it was soon evident that most of the kids had come a long way. I think the improvement through the year in the kicking skills especially was really obvious, with a few being able to kick long goals and over the top of zones.
We had our first match against another club, Mount Pleasant and this was a real eye opener with our kids showing some really good skills, keeping their feet and showing great team play. Not sure if we got the win but it was a good contest . We also had a night fixture which was played in some of the wettest and windiest conditions I have seen for a long time. Somehow we managed to get a game done and to those 8 players and their brave parents who showed up, I take my hat off to you.
By the end of the year most of our intra club games were hard fought contests and while every game seemed to end in a draw, I’m pretty sure that the kids were able to work out who won.
I would like to thank the parents for all their help as well, from setting and packing up, to helping out with drills which has made it a lot easier. We struck it pretty good with the weather as well and I don’t recall losing a session to rain.
As a coach, it’s been a good year and I have enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing all the kids and parents back again next year and seeing if we can all go a step further with our skills.
Michael White (Year 1 Coach)
Year 2s
With the 2011 footy season having drawn to a close we’d like to thank all the grade two kids and their mums, dads and grandparents for their continued participation throughout this year’s Auskick program.
Well done to all involved. Many thanks to those parents always willing to help out with running drills & zones, umpiring goals and especially those who tidy up the field at the end of each session. Everyone’s help is greatly appreciated.
As coaches it gives us a great feeling to look back over the season and see how much each child has developed their footy skills to a point where they can gather, mark, pass and bounce the ball with confidence. In the closing part of the season we’ve successfully introduced tackling and focused on developing better team skills such as spreading out, manning up and encouraged the kids to make themselves seen and heard when leading for the ball. The Rossmoyne Carnival is a great chance for us all to see how our kids play using Super 8 rules and a handy preview to Auskick 2012.
Many thanks to Anthony Doig for all his effort this year as Auskick Coordinator. In his first year at the helm his commitment to the successful running of Auskick should be applauded by everyone involved.
We think this year we’ve had a very successful Auskick season and each of our kids have been a delight to coach and are a credit to their parents. Although Sunday morning sleep-ins may be welcomed I think we’ll all look forward to a bigger and better Auskick 2012. We hope to see you all again next year!
Olly Standing and Gary Peel (Year 2 Coaches)
Super 8s
As coaches we are extremely proud of the fantastic progress that the 38 young men have all made during the very successful 2011 Auskick season.
This year the team experienced new challenges with games at home and away, Friday night games under lights, mini-carnivals at home and at Shark Park, the full range of weather conditions and all whilst competing against opponents with diverse styles of play. These factors tested our players (and their supporters) and it was particularly pleasing that each challenge was met with a terrific attitude, lots of enthusiasm and football ability that signals well for the future.
On the skills side the boys continued their development of a running style of game that has a heavy emphasis on sharing the ball for the advancement of the team. We introduced tackling (strictly within the Auskick guidelines) and encouraged the use of both sides of the body for kicking and handball – a skill that we see as a necessity in these formative years. These skills were employed with much success in competitive games, to the extent we have received some very pleasing feedback in respect to our team’s ability to play as an accomplished unit.
A large part of the success of the year is owed to the many parents that we could always rely on for packing up the gear, washing the jumpers and actively getting involved with any exercises when requested. This assistance allowed us to commit more time to coaching activities and will be even more crucial in the following years as the competition develops.
Our Auskick co-ordinator, Anthony Doig, also deserves special recognition for his significant administrative efforts behind the scenes that ensured the season ran smoothly.
Looking back over the past four years we believe that we have achieved the goals that we set for the team in providing a safe environment, teaching our boys the basic football skills correctly and most importantly, ensuring that the experience has been an enjoyable one with fond memories. We thank you all for the great honour and privilege over the years of entrusting us with coaching such wonderful boys, an experience that has been extremely satisfying and rewarding. We are of the view that our players are more than well equipped for the transition into the Junior Football Year 4s and look forward to seeing you all back next season.
Graeme Fitzgerald, Chris Ryan and Mike Webb (Super 8s Coaches)
