AFLNZ Youth Boys Brochure

youth.aflnz.co.nz

AFL NEW ZEALAND YOUTH BOYS AFL New Zealand has created its Youth Boys Competition to compliment the pathway for participants to excel in AFL. Within the Youth Boys 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 three age groups, U13, U15 & U17 and each include a combination of skill development – kicking, catching, passing and bouncing – game play and personal development that takes place throughout New Zealand.

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.

AGE GROUPS DEFINED OVERVIEW

Under 13 Under 15 Under 17

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t urning 13 or younger in the year the competition commences turning 15 or younger in the year the competition commences turning 17 or younger in the year the competition commences

PARTICIPANTS WILL BE DRAFTED INTO ONE OF FOUR TEAMS YOUTH BOYS COMPETITION TEAM SELECTION

Teams will be selected and announced the week prior to the commencement of the first round.

TEAMS

Each participant will be drafted into one of up to four teams that compete within the Youth Boys competition in your region.

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FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS The Youth Boys competition will involve a total cost of $350 requiring a one off payment due by 8th October 2015.

Payment can be made in conjunction with registration to secure involvement.

Early payment benefit: Payment received by 1st of September 2015 will be $300 .

BENEFITS INCLUDE

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AFL New Zealand Youth Boys polo top 10 week development programme through weekly handouts and information Youth Boys 10 week competition National Combine selection opportunity AFL New Zealand Academy selection opportunity New Zealand representative selection opportunity International Scholarship selection opportunity

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FINANCIAL 4

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 Boys 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:

Wellington:

PO Box 300 633, Albany, Auckland 0752

PO Box 24-148 Manners Street, Wellington 6142

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

WEEKLY HANDOUTS The aim is to minimise time commitments and maximise the value of the programme. Participants will be provided with a weekly handout via hard copy, email and online to utilise and follow in their own time when best suits.

These handouts will focus on two core components of skills/game development and physical preparation.

IMPORTANT NOTES

PARTICIPANTS PLAY IN A 10 WEEK COMPETITION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

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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 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 Boys 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, for age groups of the area.

With limitations on programmes delivered in the South Island, talented players identified in the regions of Christchurch and Otago will be provided with a development staff and programme in place of the Youth Boys 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 Boys Competition, has the opportunity to be selected into the AFL New Zealand Academy.

The Academy will have three age groups U14, U16 and U18, with each age group containing up to 35 athletes from around the nation. Selection will be partly based on performance during the Youth Boys 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 February 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 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, Beep test, Clean Hands and Kicking tests are all measured at the National Combine.

The Combine Programme can also provide opportunities for New Zealand Hawks 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 The New Zealand Hawks represent AFL New Zealand as its premier team. There are also a number of age teams, U14, U16 and U18.

New Zealand Hawks are selected from the respective Academy age groups and either tour in Australia or play a touring Australian based team every April.

A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY

NEW ZEALAND HAWKS

Involvement and selection in these teams will involve further financial commitment.

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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 players Shem Tatupu (St Peters College, rugby and league) and Kurt Heatherley (St Pauls Hamilton, basketball) have successfully transitioned through the process to gain AFL contracts with 2014 Premiers Hawthorn FC. Siope Ngata (Aorere College, rugby) and Giovanni Mountain-Silbery (Aorere College, league), Barclay Miller (Middleton Grange School, basketball) and Joseph Baker Thomas (Porirua College, original sport, rugby), currently have International Scholarships with AFL clubs Hawthorn FC and St Kilda FC.

INT. SCHOLARSHIPS 10

NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY AND NATIONAL TEAMS ARE MONITORED BY AFL TALENT SCOUTS International Scholarship holders with St Kilda FC Giovanni Mountain-Silbery, Joseph Baker Thomas and Barclay Miller

YOUTH BOYS COMPETITION: SCHEDULE 2016

2015 Information Day 1

September 20th

Information Day 2

October 4th

Week 1

October 18th

Week 2

November 1st

Week 3

November 8th

Week 4

November 22nd

Week 5

November 29th

Week 6

December 13th

Week 7

February 14th

Week 8

February 21st

Week 9 Selection - AFLNZ Academy Announcement Week 10

February 28th March 1st March 6th

AFL NZ ACADEMY: SCHEDULE (IF SELECTED) Week 1

Mid-week Development 1 – actual dates vary per region

March 13th 2016

Development session/National League round 5 AKL

Week 2

Mid-week Development 2 – actual dates vary per region

March 20th 2016

Development session/National League round 6 AKL

Week 3

Week 4

Mid-week Development 3 – actual dates vary per region Development session/National League round 7 AKL Selection U14, U16 & U18 New Zealand Hawks Mid-week Development 4 – actual dates vary per region

April 10th 2016

Development session/National League round 8 AKL

Week 5

Mid-week Development 5 – actual dates vary per region

April 17th 2016

Development session/National League round 9 AKL

April 3rd 2016

All age group New Zealand Hawks Teams play annually in April with the end date of 26th April each year.

AFL New Zealand Academy will continue on directly after the Youth Boys competition with National Representation completing the AFL New Zealand season April 26th.

SCHEDULE

NEW ZEALAND HAWKS: SCHEDULE (IF SELECTED)

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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 10 week competition & development based programme in Auckland and Wellington

Under 13

Under 15

Under 17

Selections made by AFL New Zealand talent identification staff through observation of athletes performance

AFL NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY

WILD CARD ENTRY

6 week academy that 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

Under 14

Under 16

Under 18

NEW ZEALAND HAWKS Under 14

Under 16

Under 18

vs Australian based team Either touring Australia or played in New Zealand

Athletes from New Zealand can be provided with an International Scholarship opportunities

by AFL Clubs at anytime.

PATHWAYS

AFL CAREER PH +64 9 213 3249 AFL New Zealand, PO Box 300 633, Albany, New Zealand

aflnz.co.nz

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INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

@aflnz

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