Anzac Day Clash a Curtain Raiser For Wellington Kids

26 April 2013

Anzac Day Clash a Curtain Raiser For Wellington Kids

More than 1000 Wellington children and their parents scored free tickets to last night’s premier AFL Anzac Day game at Westpac Stadium.

They were given the tickets by AFL New Zealand to further promote AFL KiwiKick in schools.

The 25 April game between St Kilda Saints and the Sydney Swans was a curtain raiser for the children to learn more about the fun, new, fast-paced sport. The schools, more than 20 in the Wellington region, are now in line for KiwiSport-funded AFL KiwiKick tasters.

“They’ll be taught the fundamental skills of kick, catch, pass and bounce during the tasters,” says AFLNZ National ‘Play AFL Community Centre’ Coordinator, Sam McKenzie. “These are basic ball skills which can be built on playing AFL or can transfer to a wide range of other sporting codes.”

Half-time at the premier Anzac Day clash featured five additional Wellington schools that graduated from the AFL KiwiKick programme in 2012.

Sam – A New Zealand Hawks player – says the ticket offer was a great opportunity to thank the local community for its support and give people the experience of the fun and excitement of an AFL game on a big stage.

“We’re on target to see an amazing growth of kids playing AFL over the next couple of years in Wellington,” he says.

KiwiSport funding of $65,000 over three years, through Sport Wellington, launched AFL KiwiKick into the region in last year. Already hundreds of Wellington children have ‘tasted’ the sport which can see new players move up through the grades quickly.

ENDS

© Scoop Media