THE AFL's 2008 Qantas AFL Kickstart camp will begin in Melbourne tomorrow with 49 Indigenous boys from every Australian State and Territory attending the annual five-day camp.
The squad will participate in AIS and AFL high-performance testing and will meet Olympic champion Cathy Freeman, former Essendon great Michael Long and legendary coach Kevin Sheedy tomorrow and media are invited to attend.
AFL youth and high performance co-Ordinator, Jason McCartney, said the camp will focus on the three principles of participation, leadership and life skills and uses football as a way to promote healthy lifestyles in Indigenous communities.
"The Qantas AFL KickStart camp is designed to offer Indigenous youth a unique football and educational experience. It will provide leadership, education and life skills that will last a lifetime," McCartney said. "For many this will be the first opportunity to visit Melbourne and see the AFL culture first hand."
While in Melbourne the squad will visit Arden Street to watch North Melbourne Football Club training, visit the Koori Heritage Trust and the National Sports Museum, and a play in a curtain-raiser before the Richmond-Essendon match on the MCG Saturday July 19.
The Qantas AFL KickStart program uses Australian football as a vehicle to promote healthy lifestyles in Indigenous communities. The program works with state governments to tailor messages for different regions and communities. The program involves children, teenagers, adults, coaches, administrators and women.
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
www.AFL.com.au
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Last Modified on 30/07/2008 22:49