WITH the football season well on its way there is a special kind of footy training being conducted each Wednesday afternoon at the Noosa Tigers AFL club for kids, teens and young adults with a disability.
This group of sporting fans is as keen to learn AFL skills as any other die-hard footy followers.
Organiser Rob Purves who launched the Special Needs AFL Clinic last year won the highly regarded State Volunteer of the Year award for AFL Qld for supporting and encouraging young people with disabilities to play the game.
Rob’s attitude towards inclusion has now been firmly ingrained within many of the Noosa Tigers players who come along each week to teach up to 20 young people with disabilities all about AFL.
Rob said that anyone with any ability can play the game and enjoy all that sport brings.
“We are prepping the players to be ready for a interclub display match on 18 June which will be played at half time of the Noosa vs Moreton Bay match,” he said.
“Last year’s successful match was watched and enjoyed by supporters and players from both clubs who cheered from the sidelines encouraging all players.”
Rob said the goals of the clinic are to build self-confidence, create skill development, teach ball skills to help gross motor skills, improve co-ordination and fitness and, most importantly, to be social and fun.
“Everyone responds really well and they can’t wait for each Wednesday to join in and buddy up with Noosa Tiger players who also give up their time,” Rob said.
Disability organisations or individuals with a disability wishing to learn more about this clinic can contact Rob Purves at rob-purves@live.com.au or phone 0433 240 005.
