youth.aflnz.co.nz
AFL NEW ZEALAND YOUTH COMPETITION AFL New Zealand has created its Youth Competition to compliment the pathway for participants to excel in AFL. Within the Youth Competition there is a focus on improving athletes’ skills and fitness along with a training, game and development programme that highlights the necessary requirements throughout the pathway. The competition has two major centres in Auckland and Wellington. Members of the competition are selected from:
------
Secondary School Programmes Intermediate School Programmes School and Regional Combines Talent Identification Personnel Current Players There are two age groups for Youth Boys, U14 and U17. The Youth Girls is U18. Each age group includes a combination of skill development – kicking, catching, passing and bouncing – game play and personal development that takes place throughout New Zealand.
OVERVIEW 2
This combination will lead to a number of opportunities for participants including AFL New Zealand Academy selection, New Zealand representation, National Combine selection, access to talent scouts and International Scholarships.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE DRAFTED INTO TEAMS YOUTH COMPETITION TEAM SELECTION Each participant will be drafted into teams that compete within the Youth competition in your region; Teams will be selected and announced at the first weeks Orientation round.
Under 14 Youth Boys Under 17 Youth Boys Under 18 Youth Girls
those who turn 14 or younger in the year the Youth competition commences those who turn 17 or younger in the year the Youth competition commences those who turn 18 or younger in the year the Youth competition commences
TEAMS
AGE GROUPS DEFINED
3
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS The Youth competition will involve a total cost of $249 requiring a one off payment due by 11th October 2016. Payment can be made in conjunction with registration to secure involvement. Early payment benefit: Payment received by 23rd September 2016 will be only $199 Note: Early player registration does not secure early bird payment only payments made prior to the stated date will receive early bird benefit.
BENEFITS INCLUDE
------
AFL New Zealand Youth top Hardcopy and online development programme and resources Eight week competition National Combine selection opportunity AFL New Zealand Academy selection opportunity
FINANCIAL 4
---
New Zealand representative selection opportunity International Scholarship selection opportunity
PAYMENT Payment can be made as follows: Direct Credit to AFL New Zealand. Please use your initial and last name as a reference if direct crediting or your mobile phone number if depositing at a branch. Full account details are: Westpac Newmarket New Zealand AFL Inc. 03 0283 0094878 000 Cash or Cheque made out to AFL New Zealand and deposited. If handing to AFL New Zealand Staff – placed in an envelope with name and amount on the front.
IMPORTANT NOTES MEDICAL CONSENT
PLAYER CHECK LIST
Medical consent is required for you to be involved in the Youth competition and a signed hard copy is required prior to the first game.
A player check list is provided to all players to ensure you have all resources required for each week of the competition. Hard copy will be provided but will also be available online.
All information will be confidential and only provided to medical staff as required. A form will be available online for printing, completion and return to: Auckland: PO Box 300 633, Albany, Auckland 0752 Alternatively present in person at Information days or first round. Hard copies will also be available at all contact days.
DRESS CODES All competition events will incorporate a dress code that participants will be required to meet
DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES The aim is to minimise time commitments and maximise the value of the programme. Participants will be provided with information via hard copy, email and online to utilise and follow in their own time to ensure flexibility. This information will focus on two core components of skills/game development and physical preparation.
IMPORTANT NOTES
PARTICIPANTS PLAY IN A EIGHT WEEK COMPETITION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
5
PARENT AND VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT The sport of AFL is new to participants, parents and volunteers. AFL New Zealand is committed to providing opportunities for each of these groups.
COACHING
GAME MANAGEMENT
Head and Assistant Coaching positions for all age groups in all regions.
Timings, results, goal scorers and best players are the additional elements that if done well, make the competition a great experience for participants, spectators and family. All resources, equipment and requirements are provided by AFL New Zealand.
The coaching roles for each age group vary weekly to ensure a learning environment is achieved for those without a background in the sport. Guidance and resource is provided by AFL New Zealand to minimise the time commitment and maximise learning.
GOAL UMPIRING Equipment and instruction provided by AFL New Zealand staff/Umpires to ensure a full understanding of the umpiring role.
TEAM MANAGEMENT Direction is provided to assist organisation and delegation skills. Game day itinerary and run sheets will provide managers with the direction required to ensure teams are adequately resourced, maximising development.
RUNNERS AND WATER RUNNERS There is no better way to learn and understand the game than from on the field. Runners provide messaging and communication from the coaches to the players. Water Runners provide the players sufficient hydration. Guidelines, rules and equipment will be provided by AFL New Zealand. Please contact AFL New Zealand at playafl@aflnz.co.nz for more information.
ATHLETES IN REGIONAL AREAS OUTSIDE OF MAIN CENTRES Players based outside of the main competition centres will be required to arrange transport for the Youth competition.
VOLUNTEERS 6
AFL New Zealand will assist in this area by allocating meeting times, meeting places, contact database, carpool roster and in some cases bus travel. With limitations on programmes delivered in the South Island, talented players identified in the regions of Christchurch and Otago will be provided with development staff and a programme in place of the Youth competition. The opportunity then exists for a fast track entry into the AFL New Zealand Academy as a wild card entrant.
ACADEMY FOCUSES ON DEVELOPMENT AND PREPARATION FOR NATIONAL REPRESENTATION
Each athlete, through participation in the Youth Competition, has the opportunity to be selected into the AFL New Zealand Academy. The Academy will have two levels – Hawks level 1, Hawks Level 2, and also include Kahu (Youth girls) with each age group containing up to 45 athletes from around the nation. Selection will be partly based on performance during the Youth Competition. The opportunity for Wild Card entry from outside the programme will be available ensuring specific selection criteria is achieved. Selection of the Academy is made at the end of November each year. Participation in the Academy will involve a further financial commitment.
AFLNZ ACADEMY
AFL NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY SELECTION
7
AFL NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL COMBINE SELECTION The Combine Programme is underpinned by an exciting testing format that provides participants with the opportunity to compete in a number of skills and athletic testing. Each of the events within the programme has a focus on fun and looks to provide those involved with motivation to improve themselves in varying facets of skill and fitness. Vertical leap, Agility, 20 metre Sprint and Beep tests are all measured at the National Combine. The Combine Programme can also provide opportunities for National Representative selection, AFL International Scholarships and potentially the commencement of an AFL career. The best 35 athletes are selected from the AFL New Zealand Academy and brought together to complete testing in front of AFL talent scouts. All results are listed on the aflnz.co.nz website for you to compare your progress against other members of the Academy.
IMPRESS AFL TALENT SCOUTS
NATIONAL COMBINE 8
The New Zealand Hawks represent AFL New Zealand as its premier team. There are also a number of Academy and age group teams, Academy Level 1, Academy Level 2, Under 18 New Zealand Kahu Youth Girls. These teams are selected from the respective Academy levels and either tour in Australia or play a touring Australian based team every April. Involvement and selection in these teams will involve further financial commitment.
NATIONAL REPRESENTATION
NATIONAL REPRESENTATION
A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY 9
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS AFL International Scholarship opportunities allow for up to eight players outside of Australia to be listed with each AFL club every year. The Youth Boys Competition, National Combine, Academy and tournaments that involve New Zealand teams are monitored by AFL talent scouts looking to provide opportunities for talented athletes from New Zealand. New Zealand born Kurt Heatherley (St Pauls Hamilton, original sport basketball) has successfully transitioned through the process to obtain an AFL contract with 2013, 2014 and 2015 AFL Premiers Hawthorn FC.
Joseph Baker Thomas (Porirua College, rugby) and Barclay Miller (Middleton Grange School, basketball) currently have International Scholarships with AFL club St Kilda FC.
INT. SCHOLARSHIPS 10
NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY AND NATIONAL TEAMS ARE MONITORED BY AFL TALENT SCOUTS
AFL YOUTH GIRLS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS The opportunity exists for the right athletes to be selected and invited to play in the AFL Youth Girls Championships in Australia. These championships are played at a different location of Australia each year in the first week of May where the best Youth Girls footballers from each Australian State and New Zealand come together to play AFL.
Female Footballer Tayla Harris recently signed with Brisbane Lions for the Inaugural AFL Womens National League commencing 2017.
SKILL: NATIONAL HANDBALL REPRESENTATION
Involvement and selection in the AFL Youth Girls Championships will involve a further financial commitment.
11
YOUTH BOYS AFL PATHWAY SECONDARY SCHOOL & INTERMEDIATE PROGRAMME/COMPETITIONS
Selections made by AFL New Zealand staff through observing athletes participation
YOUTH BOYS COMPETITION A competition & development based programme in Auckland and Wellington Under 14
Under 17
Selections made by AFL New Zealand talent identification staff through observation of athletes performance
AFL NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY
WILD CARD ENTRY
The programme focusses on improving selected athletes skills, fitness and game understanding preparing for possible national representation
Athletes meeting specific AFL New Zealand criteria, identified after the commencement of the Youth Boys competition
Level 1
Level 2
Under 18
NEW ZEALAND HAWKS Acad Level 1
Acad Level 2
Under 18
vs Australian based team Either touring Australia or played in New Zealand
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP
PATHWAYS
Athletes from New Zealand can be provided with an International Scholarship opportunities by AFL Clubs at anytime.
AFL CAREER 12
YOUTH GIRLS AFL PATHWAY SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMMES
Selections made by AFL New Zealand staff through observing athletes participation
YOUTH GIRLS PROGRAMME A competition & development based programme in Auckland and Wellington
Selections made by AFL New Zealand talent identification staff through observation of athletes performance
NEW ZEALAND KAHU Play touring Australian representative teams
AFL YOUTH GIRLS U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS Played in a different location within Australia the first week of May each year
PATHWAYS
AFL CAREER
13
YOUTH COMPETITION: SCHEDULE 2016 Parent Information & Player registration session Wellington and Northland
September 17th
Auckland
September 18th
Week 1
October 16th
Week 2
October 30th
Week 3
November 6th
Week 4
November 13th
Week 5
November 20th
Week 6
November 27th
Week 7
December 4th
Week 8
December 11th
NATIONAL REPRESENTATION: SCHEDULE (IF SELECTED) SCHEDULES 14
All age group New Zealand teams play annually in April with the end date of 26th April. AFL New Zealand Academy will commence in 2017 after the Youth competition with National Representation completing the AFL New Zealand season April 26th.
AFLNZ ACADEMY: SCHEDULE (IF SELECTED) November 29th 2016
Academy Selection
December 8th 2016
Academy information evening
February 12th 2017
Development session 1
Week 2
Mid-week training 1 – actual dates vary per region
February 19th 2017
Development session 2
Week 3
Mid-week training 2 – actual dates vary per region
February 26th 2017
Development session 3
February 28th 2017
Wider national representative squads announced
Week 4
Mid-week training 3 – actual dates vary per region
March 5th 2017
Development session 4
Week 5
Mid-week training 4 – actual dates vary per region
March 12th 2017
Development session 5
Week 6
Mid-week training 5 – actual dates vary per region
March 19th 2017
Development session 6
Week 7
Mid-week training 6 – actual dates vary per region
March 26th 2017
Development session 7
March 28th 2017
Final teams announced
Week 8
Mid-week training 7 – actual dates vary per region
April 2nd
2017 Development session 8
SCHEDULES
Week 1
15
Stream watchduke.co.nz freeview channel 13 sky channel 23
PH +64 9 213 3251 AFL New Zealand, PO Box 300 633, Albany, New Zealand
aflnz.co.nz @aflnz
aflnz
aflnz
IMAGES: © JUNTANLAYCOSPORTS.COM
AFL NEW ZEALAND IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: