The Bega Bombers are celebrating the one hundredth player registration for season 2014 and it’s the babies, the under 10’s, who have provided the big boost. Four senior players have volunteered to give boys and girls from the age of seven all the way through to ten lessons in the skills of the game and then encourage them to put those skills to use in a friendly intra-club match.
"They’re like ants on the show ground every Wednesday," says President Justin Welsford. ‘We break them up into groups each with a senior player and they learn a few simple skills then it’s on with a coloured vest and game on. I have to say that there’s more fun than skill in those games at present but they’re learning and they’re having a great time."
And the concept has proved very popular with parents. ‘The first thing they ask us is,’ Do we have to travel to a game at the weekend?’ When they learn that the total commitment is for an hour on Wednesday afternoon they’re happy. We’re getting increasing numbers of parents and grandparents who just sit around and have a chat while the kids play. It’s becoming a family outing."
Welsford admits that it will be years before the Bombers will see the benefits of the program in their on field performances. "Hopefully some of the kids will go on and play with the Bombers; others will drift away to one of the other sports but we think we’re laying the foundations of a strong club.
"We’ve just been told that Bega High School will offer AFL football as a sporting alternative next term," said Welsford, "and we’re looking forward to cooperating fully with the school to give students a great experience."
Last Modified on 09/05/2014 13:29