WHAT IS AFL KIDS FIRST?
Today’s parents have an important role in the delivery and support of sporting activities for their own and other children. With it comes a clear responsibility to act in a constructive and encouraging manner at all times.
Barracking and wanting your child to perform well is human nature, but it is critical that this should be done in a responsible manner avoiding the ugly parent syndrome at all times.
The AFL invests over $23 million annually in strategies that support the participation of 450,000 players throughout Australia. AFL Kids First is a program that has been designed for leagues and associations to guide parents so that both they and their children obtain the maximum benefi t and enjoyment from their participation in junior programs and matches.
AFL Kids First includes recommendations for leagues, associations and their clubs to manage situations where parents become over-enthusiastic and risk having a negative impact on their children’s activities.
The basic principles of AFL Kids First are to remind parents that:
- Sport for children is a vital part of their growing up.
- Children like to win, but more importantly, they want to have fun.
- Parents need to set the right example at the sports ground, not just at home.
- Parents should be proud of their child’s efforts irrespective of the result.
- Sport is important to children’s self esteem.
The AFL has produced an operational manual forleagues, associations and clubs to drive theseprincipals, and to remind parents of the vitalresponsibilities and to outline appropriateprocedures in the event problems arise.
The manual outlines the program’s objectives,presents the code of conduct appropriate to allparents, describes the education process for juniorleagues and associations, and the conduct of an information session, the appointment of acoordinator to manage process, and the role andduties of the coordinator, parents, and administrators.
We are proud of the work we have done to developthis program, and we are confi dent that workingtogether – leagues, clubs, communities, and parents– we can be sure that our common objective will bemet: to put our kids first.
This brochure has been distributed nationwide to parents of junior footballers. It has been distributed to introduce you to our policy, and to provide a fi rst view of our preferred code of conduct (opposite). I commend the program to you, and urge your support, and cooperation for the good of allour children.
Andrew Demetriou
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Football League
Club Contacts:
Ian Lee - 0438 202 492
Complaints Officer: Larry - 0407 210 030
Complaints Officer: Steven - 0408 347 301