Upcoming Sports Events
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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. |
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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. |
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Australian Indigenous Mentoring ExperienceInspiring 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. |
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Refugee Youth Soccer Development Program
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Upcoming Research
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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. |
News and Media Racial taunts 'took toll and I gave up' | Racial taunts 'took toll and I gave up' |
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By Liz Minchin Violence and racism have been allowed to get out of hand in the junior ranks of the Essendon District Football League, according to several players and parents who spoke to The Age. One of them was Ryan Williams, who quit the game at 16 because of what he claims were regular outbreaks of violence and racist taunts involving players, officials and spectators. "I started junior football when I was nine, but I got sick of turning up on Saturday and Sunday mornings, knowing I was entering a really big boxing ring," said Mr Williams, now 20 and studying to be a primary school teacher. "Things started getting ugly in the under-14s, when you'd get players throwing stray elbows or punching you when you weren't looking, and all-in fights were breaking out all over the place. By the time I got to the under-16s those incidents were more isolated but they were also getting a bit more serious. And I was becoming subject to racial taunts, stuff like 'f------ skippy c---', and teammates with other backgrounds were copping it, too. Eventually it took its toll and I gave it up."
After a year, Mr Williams joined another league to play with the Fitzroy Amateurs, where he found there was "zero tolerance" of bad behaviour on or off the field. His three younger brothers play junior football, two in the Essendon league, but at times have swapped to the rival Yarra junior league where, they say, rules are strictly enforced.
"You just don't get the same level of rough play, spectator abuse, and potential for all-in brawls that you have regularly in EDFL games," said Ryan's mother, Anne Williams. Mrs Williams said the worst case of racism she witnessed was in an under-16s Essendon league match in 2001 when a goal umpire from an opposition club repeatedly urged his defenders to "get that black wog c---", kick him in the balls", in retaliation for a crude tackle. Mrs Williams claims her pleas to the goal umpire and the club co-ordinator to stop the abuse were ignored. She wrote a complaint to the league, but did not get a reply. While pleased that the league had acted on last week's complaints against Roxburgh Park, Mrs Williams hoped more effort would be put into education and enforcing the rules, rather than focusing on individuals. Several families who contacted The Age asked not to be named, to avoid making themselves or their sons targets for further abuse. One father claimed his 13-year-old son was punched in the eye in May this year, only minutes after witnesses heard the opposition coach telling his under-14s team to go and "king hit" the boy. The boy's father rang the league to complain and later spoke to league president Ian Price who, he said, promised to "sort things out". "That was a couple of months ago, but I haven't heard anything about it since," he said.
Essendon District Football League general manager Stan Pettett said he was not aware of the incidents reported by the 13-year-old's father or by Mrs Williams. |
