NRL & TFA Launch Free Participation Program to Get Inactive Teens Playing Non-Contact Footy Together

The NRL and Touch Football Australia (TFA) are delivering free non-contact footy skills sessions to inactive kids in regional areas around Australia, thanks to a participation grant from the Australian Government’s lead sports agency, Sport Australia, as part of their Move It Aus ‘Find Your 30’ campaign.

The partner organisations are delivering four skills sessions to both primary and high school kids, with a focus on those aged 13 to 18, and girls in particular. Once the participants have completed their four sessions, they’re provided the opportunity to take part in a gala day competing in games, to put their new skills into practice.

NRL Chief Executive Todd Greenberg said the program would provide children with the opportunity to engage in their communities.

“This program not only encourages healthy lifestyles, it provides a pathway for kids to transition into structured Rugby League and Touch Football competitions, which promote teamwork and a real sense of community,’’ he said.

The programs are being delivered in regional areas of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.

The NRL and TFA launched this program at Broome Touch Association on Thursday 24th October.

TFA CEO Jamie O’Connor says that although the positive impacts of footy on individuals and communities all around the country are powerful no matter where you are in Australia, the impacts are even more significant in regional communities like Broome, Katherine, Mt Gambier and Griffith, which are just a few of the places where the program’s being run.

“Passing or kicking a footy around helps you ‘Find Your 30’ minutes of physical activity a day, but in regional towns especially, footy can be the glue that draws the community, people of all ages, together in a healthy activity that brings benefits for physical and mental health,” he said.

“The beauty about non-contact footy is that anyone can play – any age, gender, body shape and skill level – and everyone can play together, girls and boys, the young and old, family members, friends.”

Minister for Youth and Sport Richard Colbeck said the Move It Aus Participation Grants program was about encouraging more Australians to get moving and make Australia the world’s most active and healthy nation.

“The Morrison Government is pleased to support this partnership between the NRL and Touch Football Australia, which aims to encourage up to 4,000 Aussie kids to get involved in non-contact footy,” Minister Colbeck said.

“We know some kids tend to drop out of sport and physical activity in their mid-teens so this is a fantastic initiative to reach children in regional Australia and give them fun opportunities to be involved in sport.”

These programs are being delivered now up until June 2020. For details about where programs are currently running, or to register interest, go to playrugbyleague.com/play/move-it-aus/