I coach a high school footy team. They are keen and talented. But basically all of them played either soccer and basketball at primary level. Both those sports if played at least give the all round hand and feet coordination for taking up footy.
It is just too logistically hard to organise a footy team for under 8's, 9's, 10's...compared with sports where they can play 5-a-side basketball or 9 or 11 a side soccer. Also many primary schools have very small ovals even for primary full size teams.
9-a-side is more open, you can fit the team in a couple of vehicles, you can see them all when giving a half time address, there are 3 zones to the field and only the 3 forwards can score - teamwork is essential, one on one contests abound and they don't follow the ball like a giant rugby scrum. All players get more of the ball and no-one goes blue in the pocket.
So this is the fun way to start kids with footy.
At high school level and at clubs the full size game can continue. And it will be healthier with more juniors coming through.
It is just too logistically hard to organise a footy team for under 8's, 9's, 10's...compared with sports where they can play 5-a-side basketball or 9 or 11 a side soccer. Also many primary schools have very small ovals even for primary full size teams.
9-a-side is more open, you can fit the team in a couple of vehicles, you can see them all when giving a half time address, there are 3 zones to the field and only the 3 forwards can score - teamwork is essential, one on one contests abound and they don't follow the ball like a giant rugby scrum. All players get more of the ball and no-one goes blue in the pocket.
So this is the fun way to start kids with footy.
At high school level and at clubs the full size game can continue. And it will be healthier with more juniors coming through.
