LEARN.GROW.BELONG.
Ella Marsh
30 Aug 2024
Connecting the future footballers with elite athletes in Tasmania.
North Melbourne Football Club and The Huddle's annual AFLW Community Camp connects elite athletes with aspiring young footballers and local coaches in Tasmania.
This year’s event partnered with McDonald’s and provided a unique platform for elite athletes to engage with the Tasmanian community. This annual event not only inspires young female footballers but also supports local players, coaches, and umpires with developmental opportunities. The 2024 camp featured:
Engagement with 30 unique junior girls' football teams.
Training sessions and match simulations for 10 senior Tasmanian women players.
Skill-building clinics for 67 Under 12 girls and support for nine local female umpires.
Prior to the AFLW Community Camp, there was a noticeable gap in opportunities for young female footballers in Tasmania to interact with elite athletes and experience high-level training. The camp aimed to address this gap by:
Providing junior girls and aspiring athletes with direct engagement from AFLW players.
Offering training and development opportunities to senior Tasmanian players, coaches, and umpires.
Fulfilling an obligation of the AFLW’s agreement with Events Tasmania to promote and support the growth of the game in the state.
The AFLW Community Camp effectively bridged the gap between elite football and local community members by:
Engaging Young Athletes: AFLW players attended junior girls' games, actively participating as goal umpires, coaches, and supporters. This interaction provided motivation and inspiration for the young players, reinforcing that a career in AFLW is within reach.
Training Opportunities: Local Tasmanian athletes experienced high-level training session and match simulation alongside AFLW stars, enhancing their skills and understanding of elite-level play.
Coaching and Umpiring Development: Tasmanian coaches and umpires benefited from specialized training session led by AFLW and AFL experts, improving their knowledge and skills in their respective roles.
The AFLW Community Camp achieved significant outcomes, fostering a sense of community and belonging among participants:
Youth Engagement: Over 67 girls attended the Under 12 all-girls clinic, where they engaged in drills and activities with AFLW players, significantly boosting their confidence and enthusiasm for the sport.
Player Development: 10 senior Tasmanian women players participated in match simulations, enhancing their game readiness and experience.
Coaching and Umpiring Enhancement: nine local female umpires gained valuable insights from AFLW umpire Sam Ritchie, and coaches improved their techniques through workshops with Darren Crocker and his team.
“The North girls were amazing tonight! Please pass on a massive thank you to all of them from the Sandy Bay Lions. Loved that they learned their names and were so interactive.”
- Emma, mum of Sandy Bay Lions U9’s player Lulu.
“As elite athletes and players of AFLW, I think it’s really important that we are in the community and can show these young girls that there is a pathway to the elite level.”
- Nicole Bresnehan.
The AFLW Community Camp aims to build on its success by enhancing the program each year. The focus will remain on deepening community connections and providing continuous development opportunities for local athletes, coaches, and umpires.
Don't miss the opportunity to experience AFLW live! Join us for the upcoming AFLW games in Tasmania:
Week 5: NMFC vs Richmond, UTAS Stadium, Sunday, September 29th, at 1:05 PM
Week 7: NMFC vs Sydney Swans, North Hobart Oval, Sunday, October 13th, at 1:05 PM
Get your tickets here and support local talent while witnessing the excitement of AFLW action!