Australian Football has played an important role in shaping Australian culture since the game was founded in 1858. Australian Football is our country’s only indigenous football code with games now played in every state and territory. Participation in our game provides children with the opportunity to engage in a healthy and active lifestyle, while developing life skills through participation in a team environment.
Traditionally, the school system has provided children with the opportunity to experience Australian Football through physical education programs, competitions and schoolyard play. The Australian Football League is committed to ensuring an Australian Football presence in the broader curriculum is maintained through the provision of educational resources and materials to engage children in active learning across all key learning areas. In addition our code has an extensive development network committed to delivering reliable and professional support to teachers wishing to implement football programs.
The AFL – Our National Game curriculum resource has been developed to provide teachers with a package of activities designed to meet the core learning outcomes across all key learning areas with a football theme. We trust that teachers will find the activities beneficial in assisting to engage children in both the classroom and physical education settings.
The Australian Football League would like to acknowledge the work of the Western Australian Football Development Trust and, in particular, Shane Yardley in formulating the activities contained in this resource.
Andrew Demetriou
Chief Executive Officer,
Australian Football League