RIVERINA E-NEWS TERM 2 2010 Calling all clubs Clubs in the region wanting to promote sport to juniors, here’s your chance.

Benefits of club involvement in the AASC program include:  Promoting club sign-on days, ‘come and try’ days and club activities to primary school children  Opportunities for your club to apply for grants for new equipment to assist with the delivery of your sports and activities  Opportunities for your coaches to gain payment  Opportunities for your coaches to access free professional development  Exposure of your sport, club facilities and club coaches to primary school children, parents, school teachers and community members. Contact your local regional coordinator for further information.

Local kids turn to new-look tennis sessions Mini nets, brightly coloured compression balls and modified racquets are now a common sight at Riverina AASC sites offering Tennis Australia’s MLC Hot Shots Tennis program this term. Tennis NSW is leading the delivery of ‘playing for life’ sessions at regional NSW AASC sites. The aim of the MLC Hot Shots program is to engage children in the sport and promote pathways into local clubs and Tennis Australia’s entry-level tennis program for 5-12 year olds. Contact your local regional coordinator for more information.

ausport.gov.au/aasc Participation rewarded Make a plan for wet weather The recently-developed AASC Child Participation Chart uses an Participating primary schools and incentive-based system that has been developed to assist after-school hours care services children track their participation and/or behaviour in the AASC across Australia have once again program, with the aim of winning a prize at the end of a term. completed grant applications to fund Children track their participation/behaviour over the course of the their Terms 3 and 4 AASC programs. term by colouring in a sports ball. They can receive recognition As the beautiful autumn days are through demonstrating any of the following: almost over, and we start to

experience cold and wet weather we  being a good sport would like to encourage AASC sites  listening to the coach to think about contingency plans for  learning a new skill AASC sports afternoons affected by  bringing a friend to a session poor weather.

Sites can add to this list with other ideas that they, the At some stage during the next four to community coach or the group come up with. They can also five months you can be sure that it will decide who has the responsibility of selecting the children to rain just when you don’t want it to and colour in a ball at the end of each session. There also is a space you will be forced to move your at the bottom of the poster to highlight the prizes for the term. planned activities indoors or under Sites are encouraged to place the Child Participation Chart in a cover. visible place to enable children to view their progress during the Being planned for wet weather means term. planning for a smoothly-run AASC sports sessions. Three easy steps to weather proof your AASC sports sessions 1. Check to see whether the game you have chosen can be conducted indoors – if you can find an orange colour ‘Indoor Friendly’ indicator on the top of the Playing for Life activity card you have chosen you will still be able to play this game. 2. Ensure that your back-up indoor venue (hall, multi-purpose room, stadium, covered outdoor learning area) is available for you to use. Tentatively book the venue when rain is predicted. 3. Choose sports for your AASC program during Terms 2 and 3 that

If your site requires another Child Participation Chart, pictured above, are best suited as an indoor activity please call your regional coordinator. such as: table tennis, dance, martial arts, ten pin bowling, gymnastics, or circus.

RIVERINA E-NEWS TERM 2 2010 │ AASC Newsletter │ RIVERINA 1 NEWS

Top effort The Active After-schools Communities program requires stakeholders within the community playing their part to make the program a success. The program begins with one or two central figures at each primary school or after-school hours care centre who coordinate the AASC program at their site and provide St Joseph’s Primary School in opportunities for students to get active and to create pathways has been involved in the into clubs and sports. Staff at Riverina AASC sites are doing a AASC program for the past year and tremendous job in coordinating the effective running of their a half. The school has been fortunate programs. The big winners are the students, and your hard work in obtaining the services of local will provide these students with the best possible opportunities aerobics/fitness instructor and mum for a healthy and active future. Angela O’Mahoney as the coordinator of their program. Angela is skilled at multi-tasking and she is not only the face of the program at the school, but also the behind-the-scenes person coordinating the program. Above all, Angela’s AASC sessions are always fun, challenging and inclusive for all students. Angela’s main goals have been to increase the participant numbers in the program and to create clear pathways for the students into sports within the community. Good work Angela!

Tullibigeal Central School students prepare for their AASC sports session.

Community Coach Training Program

The Australian Sports Commission will again be offering free Community Coach Training Programs this term. The next course, designed for those wishing to become community coaches in the AASC program, will be held on:

Wednesday 28 July Angela O’Mahoney St Michael’s Primary School, Coolamon

CONTACT US Refresher courses also will be held for coaches currently involved in the AASC program. Interested coaches should Rick Campbell contact regional coordinator Rick Campbell for further details. Regional Coordinator NSW Riverina 1 Active After-school Communities

Australian Sports Commission Tel: 02 6931 0581 Fax: 02 6931 8965 Mob: 0437 700 380

[email protected] ausport.gov.au

RIVERINA E-NEWS TERM 2 2010 │ AASC Newsletter │

RIVERINA 2 NEWS All go at Woodstock Public School The small community of Woodstock Public School is embracing Looking for something different? the AASC concept with the total student body - 10 in total - Is your site looking to offer something joining in their two weekly sessions with a great deal of different in AASC sports sessions? enthusiasm and energy. Nationally, the AASC program has 70 Along with Christian College OOSH and EA sports and 20 structured physical Southee Public School, Woodstock Public School joined the activities recognised as suitable to Riverina 2 team in Term 1. The hard work by the school offer in AASC programs, with the community and the enthusiastic involvement of two parents in latest two inclusions being pickleball the delivery of the program has been an important factor in the (a cross between tennis and table success of the program. tennis) and kiteboarding. A lack of access to facilities hasn’t stopped this school in their Contact your regional coordinator to quest to provide sporting experiences for their kids. With no talk about the possibilities for your site access to a local golf club, plans are well underway to utilise one – a parent, teacher or community large section of their school grounds for a 9-hole golf course, member associated with a local club with some clever use of old pot plant holders as cups. Looking can often be the stepping stone for a forward to reducing my handicap on that course! new sport being offered at your site. The involvement of parents is a crucial component in the Some other exciting news for Wagga success of many of our smaller schools’ involvement in the and surrounding-based sites is the AASC. All parents who are coaching, organising afternoon tea new relationships with Wagga and being involved in the program deserve a big pat on the back Triathlon and Wagga Squash. More for helping make their school’s program a success. news to come later on what will be available for sites in the way of these two sports.

Do you know the key concepts of the Playing for Life approach to coaching?  Game is the focus  Coach as facilitator  Discrete coaching  Role modelling  Questioning of players  CHANGE IT On the run at Woodstock PS. CONTACT US Trish Suckling Regional Coordinator NSW Riverina 2 Active After-school Communities

Australian Sports Commission Tel: 02 6931 8795 Fax: 02 6931 8965 Mob: 0437 700 367

[email protected] ausport.gov.au

Taking note of game rules at Woodstock PS.

RIVERINA E-NEWS TERM 2 2010 │ AASC Newsletter │ RIVERINA 3 NEWS New Starter - Batlow Technology School I would like to welcome Batlow Technology School to the AASC program this term. Their program is up and running and the In the news? principal at Batlow TS informs me that the kids just can’t get Would you like to see a photo or enough of it. I look forward to my next visit to join in the fun! article featuring your school or after- school care service’s AASC program in the Riverina 3 E-NEWS? Contact Wheelchair Sports & Basketball Gala Event me if you have a special AASC Paralympics wheelchair marathon champion Kurt Fearnley moment you would like to share with dropped in to join in the fun at a AASC wheelchair sports and other AASC sites across the basketball gala event held at the Sports Stadium. On 19 Riverina. March children from and Kiewa Valley public schools Why not even let your local travelled to the stadium to take part in the event. Children newspaper know about your great participated in a variety of activities in and out of the wheelchairs AASC program! to experience sport from a different angle. Coaches from Wheelchair Sports Victoria and players from the Albury Wodonga Coaching qualification Border Bandits basketball club were on hand to ensure the kids opportunities had a great time. Would you like to coach in the AASC Here’s some action from the day: program and also gain your Foundation Coaching accreditation in netball? If so, contact your local AASC office and speak with your regional coordinator about how to go about getting both qualifications. The AASC program and Netball Australia have teamed up to offer the option of gaining a Foundation Coaching accreditation after completing AASC registration requirements.

CONTACT US Mark Brown Regional Coordinator NSW Riverina 3 Active After-school Communities

Australian Sports Commission Tel: 02 6023 4830 Fax: 02 6041 4084 Mob: 0428 200 014 [email protected] ausport.gov.au

RIVERINA E-NEWS TERM 2 2010 │ AASC Newsletter │ RIVERINA 4 NEWS

Resources on hand New equipment at the Sports Park The Australian Sports Commission The Deniliquin Sports Park Inc. recently purchased new has a wealth of information and equipment through the AASC program’s special initiative grant resources to help AASC sites and for local not-for-profit clubs. Since commencement of the AASC community coaches plan their AASC program in 2005, AASC sites in and around Deniliquin have programs: participated in activities at the local stadium including badminton, soccer and fitness/circuit to name a few. Playing for Life kit and Companion Books – hundreds of easy-to-follow AASC community coach and stadium manager John Arthur is session plans; seven-week session constantly striving to improve the facility for the community. John plans for 14 different sports including believes that this modified equipment will be instrumental in basketball, rugby league, ultimate providing greater diversity for AASC programs, assist junior frisbee, lawn bowls, gymnastics, golf sports development such as Aussie Hoops and will also be of and dance. benefit to the local school and disability groups that access the venue on a weekly basis. AASC Online – sites and community coaches have access to AASC Online, with quick and easy access to updated Playing for Life activities, Hart Sport order forms, information on grants and much more.

Behaviour Management Cards – a set of three cards with helpful hints on how to manage common behaviours during coaching sessions. The cards are available for download via AASC Online.

Edward PS teacher and students christen the new equipment with the community coaches at the Deniliquin Sports Park Inc.

Good suggestions a winner for Sharon Local resident and AASC community coach for the Public School has been rewarded for her suggestions to further improve the AASC program.

Last year Sharon took part in an online survey with 1630 other respondents from across Australia and was awarded one of the CONTACT US five $100 sports vouchers on offer. Sharon highlighted the Rachel Phillis-Campbell successful leadership program implemented during AASC Regional Coordinator sessions at the Wakool Burraboi PS. Older students at the small NSW Riverina 4 school are encouraged to display leadership skills and learn Active After-school Communities about important living skills such as hygiene and the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise. Last year two students Australian Sports Commission were formally recognised for their outstanding leadership skills at Tel: 03 5898 3715 the school’s presentation night. Fax: 03 5881 5851 Sharon has decided to purchase new netball equipment for the Mob: 0428 200 026 school with the voucher, as suggested by the students. This rachel.phillis- equipment will come in handy for this term’s AASC AFL/Netball [email protected] program. ausport.gov.au

RIVERINA E-NEWS TERM 2 2010 │ AASC Newsletter │