FAQs
How old must I be before I can join Auskick?
How much does Auskick Cost?
When do I need to Register for Malvern District Auskick?
What if I miss registration day?
Where do I go on the first day?
Will I be with my friends?
What happens if it rains?
When do I get to play a half time game in an AFL game?
What do I do if I get lost?
What if I need to go to the toilet during Auskick?
Who runs the Auskick Program?
I'd love to be an Auskick Coach. How do I join?
Can parents help out?
What is Commando Day?
What is Pie Night?
How old must I be before I can join Auskick?
The AFL Auskick program is designed for primary school-aged boys and girls, which means you must have turned 5 years of age before the 1st of April.
How much does Auskick Cost?
The cost of Auskick for season 2011 is $70.00.
When do I need to Register for Malvern District Auskick?
We run a major Registration day once a year. This year it is on the 19th March. If you can not make this date, we do take new registrations through out the course of the year. Come down any Saturday morning before the clinics begins and look for a Coach who will assist you.
What if I miss registration day?
No worries! You can register and pay and collect your Auskick pack any Saturday morning up until late June.
Where do I go on the first day?
Start time on each week is 9am. You can start your day by having a kick with Mum or Dad or your friends. The siren will sound and you can line up in the area in front of the club house in behind the red "P" sign. Leave your football with Mum or Dad (they all look the same) and we use the Auskick balls for the clinics.
Will I be with my friends?
Yes you can. Auskick is about having fun with your friends. For preppies, we will break the large group up into smaller groups, so stay with your friends at the start. Parents - if your child finds they are separated from their friends, please check with the coach before switching them across to another group. The drills work best with small groups so it will not be ideal if large groups form. It's best to help the coaches when the groups are being allocated for the day after the warm-up activity.
What happens if it rains?
We have a saying that “it never rains at Auskick!” But if it ever did rain, Auskick participation is up to the parents - you need to make a judgement on how cold your child will get . Our volunteer coaches usually show up and if there’s enough interested people, the coaches may run a session for those keen enough. Again, ongoing participation is up to the parents, so if your child gets the shivers, it’s probably time to go home, even if it’s halfway through the session. As we move into the cold weather season, long sleeves and even tracksuit pants may be sensible.
When do I get to play a half time game in an AFL game?
The AFL allocate games to all Auskick centres around Australia. Malvern District Auskick has no control over when and where we are allocated games. The AFL's policy is for the older children (grades 5 and 6) to play the central game, with grades 3 and 4 playing the outer 'grid' games. If there are insufficient numbers from those grades we may on occassions offer places to grade 2 players.
What do I do if I get lost?
Lots of children and parents on the oval means it might be hard to find mum or dad sometimes. As a big Auskick centre, spread over 3 ovals, we need to ensure that all children know that the central meeting spot is the Pavilion on the main oval. If they can’t find the person who brought them to Auskick then they are to go to our equipment shed at the pavilion and see a coach in a red shirt. Discussing what to do if you can't find mum or dad before the event is very important. We wear the red shirts so we can be identified by the children and the parents. So if you are a coach we encourage you to wear the red shirt each time you are at Auskick.
What if I need to go to the toilet during Auskick?
Children will be asked to have a parent accompany them to the toilets. Children should not be sent to the toilets by themselves and the coaches can’t leave their post.
Who runs the Auskick Program?
The Auskick program is run totally by volunteer Mums and Dads from the local community.
I'd love to be an Auskick Coach. How do I join?
Being an Auskick Coach is open to all Parents, and we are continually looking to increase our coaching numbers. If you are interesting in joining this most rewarding experience, please contact the centre coordinator so we can get you started!
Coaching info 2011 PDF
Can parents help out?
As you will have noticed, lots of children playing football takes lots of organisation. The coaches are ALL volunteers and, like our Auskickers, some are learning too. Parents, please help out where you can – it really makes a difference. We aim to keep the adult to child ratios as low as possible for the enjoyment of the children. We know the shorter the lines for a drill means more practice and fun for everyone. We try for the younger grades to keep the drills as simple as possible and if we have parents helping out (gathering balls etc) the drills flow well. Don’t be shy, just join in.
What is Commando Day?
Commando Day is our season-ending finale. We set up 35+ stations featuring crazy activities like rope swings, water slides, jelly pits, tyre runs, tunnel crawls. In small groups we take turns at the stations and try a new activity every 2 minutes. Wear old clothes or Fremantle jumpers.
What is Pie Night?
It's a night of activities and competitions. In past years AFL players have come along to the night to sign autographs and answer your questions on stage. This year it will be held on Thursday 19 May (venue TBC) from 6.30pm until 8pm-ish. . There will be pies, pizzas, drinks - all with an entry fee per family. There will also be music, handball games and competitions.
