Well Rounded Person - On-field racism

Upcoming Sports Events

SafeClub was officially launched on 25th June 2009 with the support of the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation. Over 40 people representing sport from across NSW attended the luncheon launch to hear how SafeClub makes safety easy for community sport. A presentation from SafeClub’s Jane Nethery and Kristy Abbott included an overview of the program and the research evidence while Michelle Hanley from Football NSW covered the benefits of SafeClub from a sport perspective. Sports from across NSW are now signing up to partner with SafeClub to make their sport safer.

If you missed the launch and would like information on SafeClub click here.

Sunshine Coast Launches Girls Rugby League Competition

On Sunday, 10 May, ARL Development and the Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League will launch their inaugural U15's and U17s Girls Competition at the Beerwah Bulldogs JRL (Roberst Road, Beerwah) between 10am and midday. The Launch will involve Under 15 teams from Caboolture, Bribie Island, Coolum and Beerwah whilst the Under 17s will involve Nambour, Bribie Island and Beerwah.

Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience

Inspiring Youth Cricketer Jack Manning-Bancroft has helped University of Sydney Students get underway a mentoring program linking Indigenous year 9 and 10 school students from with mentors from across all university faculties. The underlying philosophy of AIME is to empower young indigenous people through positive role modelling and relationships, building self esteem and resilience, encouraging schoolattendance and progression to tertiary education.

Refugee Youth Soccer Development Program

This innovative program seeks to assist young refugees in their immigration and integration to Australia through sport. Check out their website for more information.

Upcoming Research

The third round of focus groups and fieldwork has been completed and a General Summary is being collated. Thanks to The Southport School, AB Paterson College, Rockhampton Girls Grammar School, Sapphire Coast Anglican College, Wagga Wagga Christian College, Al-Faisal College Auburn, Football United and the Burwood and Mosman Cubs for their participation. Preparation for further focus groups with parents, coaches and PDHPE teachers is underway.

On-field racism

By Liz Minchin
August 5, 2005
The Age

Anti-racism campaigns in football will be boosted across Victoria next season, as new complaints of racist abuse in junior matches in Melbourne emerged yesterday.

Following a series of reports in The Age, Football Victoria has confirmed plans to produce new anti-racism material, including pamphlets, to be distributed to almost 2000 junior, amateur and women's clubs next season.

The idea for the new anti-racism material came from the Essendon District Football League, which has been under fire over several incidents of racism and rough play over the past few years, including two matches last month in which boys as young as 13 were racially abused.

Essendon District league president Ian Price said that although official complaints of racism were rare, he supported calls to improve education about the problem.

Mr Price approached Football Victoria this week to ask for a new anti-racism pamphlet.

Football Victoria's community football manager Brad Ostermeyer said the new material would complement the sport's existing anti-racism program, which includes the Bouncing Racism Out of Sport video, starring former Essendon champion Michael Long, and a multicultural unit to attract migrants to the game.

"It's obviously been disappointing to see (the recent racism complaints) … so it highlights the fact that more work needs to be done," Mr Ostermeyer said.

The action came as two new racism allegations surfaced yesterday, involving three clubs in the Western Region Football League.

According to the father of one 10-year-old Flemington Juniors player, who asked not to be named, during a match against Sunshine Heights last month one of his son's African teammates was called "nigger" and "black f-----" by an opponent. The man said his son was in tears over the abuse of his friend.

A week later, the man said he was escorting the field umpire off the ground when he heard an Albion player call his Flemington opponent "chocolate boy". He asked the umpire to do something, but said the umpire replied: "They said he started it." The abuse allegedly escalated in the second half.

"After that Albion game some of us parents were wondering whether it's worth letting our kids play," the boy's father said.

Albion president John Tzelepis said he was surprised by the allegation, having attended the same match and not seen any signs of trouble, but said that his club would look into the claim.

A Sunshine Heights official could not be contacted for comment.

Flemington Juniors president Drew Valentine admitted that his club had missed the deadlines for lodging official complaints about the incidents, meaning they could not be formally investigated, but was pleased the league was still taking their concerns seriously.

The Western Region League's chief executive, Damien Phillips, said all clubs and officials, including umpires, had been reminded of their responsibilities to prevent racial and religious abuse.

Link to story: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/new-campaign-to-curb-footy-racism/2005/08/04/1123125853874.html?from=moreStories