2017
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:
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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 Parent information and Player orientation.
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
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FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS The Youth competition will involve a total cost of $255 requiring a one off payment due by 11th October 2017. Payment made in conjunction with registration. Early payment benefit: Registrations and payment received by 22nd September 2017 will be only $205. 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
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AFL New Zealand Youth T-shirt Eight week development programme Eight week competition Opportunity for selection: • AFL New Zealand National Combine • AFL New Zealand Academy • National Representation • International Scholarship
PAYMENT Payment is made by Credit Card directions provided on registration. For alternative payment options please contact Mick Coultard AFLNZ Youth and Female Development Manager directly on 09 213 3251 or mick.coultard@aflnz.co.nz
PARTICIPANTS PLAY IN A EIGHT WEEK COMPETITION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
FINANCIAL 4
IMPORTANT NOTES MEDICAL CONSENT
PLAYER GEAR REQUIREMENTS
It is a requirement prior to playing that all participants in the AFL New Zealand Youth Competition have completed AFLNZ Medical declaration.
Players are required to have:
The medical declaration must be signed by parent/caregiver and hard copy returned to AFLNZ at contact days or scan and email to playafl@aflnz.co.nz
Playing uniform is provided on a weekly basis by AFLNZ and includes:
All information will be confidential and only provided to medical staff as required.
Football boots Mouth guard AFLNZ Youth T-shirt
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Football Guernsey Football Shorts Football Socks
DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES The aim is to minimise time commitments and maximise the value of the programme. Participants will be provided with information to utilise and follow in their own time to ensure flexibility. This information will focus on core components of skills, game development and physical preparation.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Hard copies will also be available at contact days, for completion.
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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 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
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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 skill 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 male and female 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 Senior Team 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, New Zealand U18 and 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 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, with his debut in 2016.
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
AFLW U18 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 a pioneer and marquee player in the AFL Womens National League recently signing with Carlton FC for the 2018 season.
NATIONAL SKILL: HANDBALL REPRESENTATION
Involvement and selection in the AFL Youth Girls Championships will involve a further financial commitment.
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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
NATIONAL REPRESENTATION 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
AFLW U18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Played in a different location within Australia the first week of May each year
PATHWAYS
AFL CAREER
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YOUTH COMPETITION: SCHEDULE 2017 Parent Information & Player Orientation session
October 15th
Week 1
October 29th
Week 2
November 5th
Week 3
November 12th
Week 4
November 19th
Week 5
November 26th
Week 6
December 3rd
Week 7
December 10th
Week 8
December 17th
NATIONAL REPRESENTATION: SCHEDULE (IF SELECTED) AFL New Zealand Academy will commence in 2018 after the Youth competition with National Representation completing the AFL New Zealand season April 26th.
SCHEDULES 14
AFL New Zealand Under 18 team tour the first week of May each year.
AFLNZ ACADEMY: SCHEDULE (IF SELECTED) The AFL New Zealand Academy is from February to March of each year. Detailed schedule and venues will be provided on selection into the Academy and at Information evenings Academy Selection
First Week of December each year
Northland
December 12th
Auckland and Wellington
December 13th
Christchurch and Otago
December 14th
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SCHEDULES
Academy information evening
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Stream watchduke.co.nz freeview channel 13 sky channel 23
PH +64 9 213 3251 Email: youth@aflnz.co.nz AFL New Zealand, PO Box 300 633, Albany, New Zealand
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