Auskick

History

Auskick has its roots in the Little League which began to be played at half time during VFL (now AFL) matches in the 1960s, and it was revised in 1980 to make it more accessible. Little League was expanded by Ray Allsopp into a state development program called "Vickick", begun in Victoria in 1985. Participation increased from 7,000 to 35,000 in four years.

The ACT was one of the first other states or territories to introduce the program in 1991 as "Auskick". Between 1993 and 1995, former AFL player and coach David Parkin, who had been coaching the territory's Teal Cup side, successfully lobbied the AFL for the national adoption of Auskick.

In 1998, the AFL Commission, the national governing body for the sport, began to roll it out nationally. At its peak, there were around 200,000 Auskick participants annually.

In 2007, the program's slogan was "Where Champions Begin", with Jo Silvagni (wife of former AFL player Stephen Silvagni) and Robert DiPierdomenico, the 1986 co-Brownlow Medallist as the main ambassadors.{{Cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=41523|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120090025/http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=41523|url-status=dead

Auskick in non-traditional Australian rules football regions

The AFL has used the Auskick program the introduce Australian rules football into schools and communities around the country to increase the AFL's profile in areas that traditionally support other football codes such as New South Wales and Queensland. There have been accusations of exaggerated participation figures in an attempts to gain access to Sydney playing fields. Vast increases in AFL participation figures in Sydney were questioned by David Lawson, a Melbourne University academic, in a study commissioned by the AFL. Lawson's study found that AFL club participation rates in Sydney had stalled, and that the AFL was masking low figures by using short-term, non-club affiliated Auskick participants and comparing them to competitive junior club participation numbers in other sports.

Sponsors

Australia

• Simpson (2002–2005)

Outside Australia

Outside Australia, Auskick programs exist in the following countries:

• Hong Kong
• Nauru
• United Kingdom

Auskick exists under a different name in the following countries:

• Fiji (Bulakick)
• New Zealand (Kiwi Kick)
• Papua New Guinea (Niukick)
• Solomon Islands (Solkick)
• South Africa (Footy Wild)
• United States (Ausball)
• Vanuatu (Pikinini Kick)

References

Notes

References

1. [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-28/-father-figure-of-auskick-ray-allsopp-dies-aged-87/100578404 'Father figure' of Auskick and Richmond Tiger, Ray Allsopp, dies aged 87] by Michael Doyle for [[ABC News (Australia). ABC News]], 28 October 2021
2. (13 September 1968). "Little League plea". [[The Canberra Times]].
3. [https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/auskick-pioneer-and-tigers-player-ray-allsopp-dies-20211028-p5940k.html Auskick pioneer and Tigers player Ray Allsopp dies] by Peter Ryan for [[The Age]]. 28 October 2021
4. (23 November 1994). "Parkin backs joint program to boost AFL". The Canberra Times.
5. (22 June 1993). "Hard work done by juniors is now becoming obvious". The Canberra Times.
6. (22 February 2024). "7.30".
7. "AFL accused of exploiting figures". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
8. "Auskick putting Sydney kids off". The Age.
9. "News article on simpson.com.au".
10. "Aussie Rules Global: Where Footy is Played Overseas".
11. "AFL Nauru | AFL Queensland".
12. [http://www.aflengland.org/afl-england-announces-first-junior-club-collaborations/ AFL England announces first junior club collaborations] aflengland.org {{dead link. (February 2024)
13. "AFL Fiji | AFL Queensland".
14. "AFL Kiwikick".
15. "Niukick comp kicks off – the National".
16. "Niukick Program".
17. "AFL Solomon Islands | AFL Queensland".
18. "Youth focus continues in South Africa - World Footy News".
19. "Ausball".
20. "Rec Footy and Auskick arrive in Vanuatu - World Footy News".