9-a-side needed to revitalise primary school football

[Peter P]

I've written an article at http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20091227191919490 on the benefits of 9-a-side footy.

In particular 9's is far better for primary school age kids - continuous aerobic play in shortened match format; fits on the small primary school playing field (often a soccer pitch these days); easier for teachers/parents to organise and coach; far easier to form a team of classmates and thus fit in with school ethos/"patriotism" and more fun to play with classmates than a composite side from several schools.

But the main point is all the players get twice the ball for the match time, no kid is getting cold or bored in a pocket. This accelerates skills development.

At present Auskick is very popular and adolescent age club and high school football going OK. The gulf is in between - at primary schools - where other codes involving smaller teams and smaller playing areas now dominate.

In the same way T20 cricket and Rugby 7's are boosting those sports, Australian Football needs a more high profile small version.

I make more points on how the AFL could promote 9's in the worldfootynews article.

cheers.

 

[BigFootballJoe]

In particular 9's is far better for primary school age kids - continuous aerobic play in shortened match format; fits on the small primary school playing field (often a soccer pitch these days)

What do you mean (often a soccer pitch these days)?

 

[Norchy_pies4life]

He is correct by saying that. Most schools I can think of in Hobart especially the Hobart city district only have soccer fields. My primary school only had a soccer pitch. My high school has 3 soccer pitches. And the school I will be going to for 11-12 shortened their only football ground (and the only oval on the campus) by making a new carpark turning the oval into soccer pitch.

The only area that I can think of that has a football grounds at more than 90% of schools would be the Glenorchy District

 

[BigFootballJoe]

And the school I will be going to for 11-12 shortened their only football ground (and the only oval on the campus) by making a new carpark turning the oval into soccer pitch.

Is that Guilford young college where the oval was transformed into a soccer pitch? Because i heard about that happening.

 

[Norchy_pies4life]

Yeah the Hobart campus lost it although the Glenorchy campus still has one.

 

[BigFootballJoe]

Yeah its interesting that they are getting rid of football ovals seeing that tasmania is a traditional football state. Here in Adelaide at my school i think that they may have shortened the oval years ago to have a football oval and a soccer pitch. Or it may have always been like that idk. But what surprises me is that we don't even do soccer for any part of P.E. lessons. (not that im complaining) But we do do football for P.E.

 

[Norchy_pies4life]

Yeah its interesting that they are getting rid of football ovals seeing that tasmania is a traditional football state.

Yes another interesting thought is that over the next few years in the Glenorchy city area (Where all but one school I think has at least one footy field) they are merging most of the public schools in the area. With more buildings needed on the campus' it will be interesting and dissapointing IMO if we see soccer fields being built over the football fields in at least the primary schools.

But what surprises me is that we don't even do soccer for any part of P.E. lessons. (not that im complaining) But we do do football for P.E.

Would be the opposite for us soccer is done defiantly more than football in all the schools I been at since 2005 at least. We only do "AFL" as the teachers and most students call it which pisses me off for a few weeks around Grand Final Day.

 

[pacemaker]

9 sounds good but I would go with 10 (adding a ruckman) with 3 forwards, 3 midfield and 3 backs. I know for one when I am umpiring these shorte field games with usually 15 players on each side, the players can crowd the ball-ups at stoppages and with 9 or 10 on each side player have superior OPPORTUNITIES to gain more possession

 

[borgsta2006]

In NSW they have the Paul Kelly Cup and they have it as a 12 a side if I remember correctly and the kids must play in one third of the ground. I like it as it encourages the kids to play footy in their correct positions and to play for fun.
9 a side IMO would increase the fun aspect which is great at Primary School level.

 

[BigFootballJoe]

Yes another interesting thought is that over the next few years in the Glenorchy city area (Where all but one school I think has at least one footy field) they are merging most of the public schools in the area. With more buildings needed on the campus' it will be interesting and dissapointing IMO if we see soccer fields being built over the football fields in at least the primary schools.



Would be the opposite for us soccer is done defiantly more than football in all the schools I been at since 2005 at least. We only do "AFL" as the teachers and most students call it which pisses me off for a few weeks around Grand Final Day.

That is strange seeing that tasmania is a traditional football state. It also brings up the question whether tasmania should have an AFL team. It would certainly help the game grow in tassie. And as for the teachers and students who call football 'AFL' remind them that the AFL is a league not the name of the sport. And it also depends on your P.E. teacher. Mine coaches an under 19 local club side so he is very into football.

 

[Peter P]

This webpage from the AFL website was pointed out to me by a commentator on my original article on www.worldfootynews.com

= http://www.afl.com.au/portals/0/afl...olicy/AFL Junior Match Program 9-10 years.pdf

Essentially the AFL do have a 9's policy quite sophisticated for juniors. Although I'm not a fan of the 3 zones - keep it simple would be better and if only the 3 forwards (distinguished by a bib or something) can score - that forces teams to keep position and use passing without having to draw lines on the field.

But this begs the question - why is it so rarely used? What seems to be needed is promotion and organisation. The best promotion is a weekend AFL clubs lightening 9's tournament that makes the small version "cool". Coordinate this with state leagues and clinics promotion through schools and AFL development officers working with primary schools to make 9's the main version of the game.

Given the loss of primary schools ovals to smaller spaces, the entrenched domination and competition of other small team sports like basketball and soccer - there will only be room for primary schools to fit a 9's football team into their inter-school sports competitions.

The fact 9's is more fun and action and accelerates skills for kids is a bonus.


Sad to say but you know the game is dying in primary schools when in a traditional AFL state the teachers call it "AFL" instead of "football".

 

[ballanFYNE]

I remember a couple of years ago, going down to watch my primary school in the grade 5 and 6. They were struggling with numbers so bad they had grade 2s in there.