KICKABILITY | Pittwater Tigers Jaf

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KICKABILITY!

Pittwater Tigers is excited to launch the first Kickability Program on the Northern Beaches in 2024 with the help from a AAMI Clangers for Good Grant and support from AFL NSW/ACT and AFL Kids!

PLEASE NOTE OUR SEASON IS COMING TO AN END.

We have had the most amazing, successful 2024 season and welcome all youth and young adults with disability to join us next season.

We welcome enquiries at any time. Next season registrations will open around January, 2025, with sessions commencing May 2025. Feel free to ask us to place you on the notification list using the enquiry button below.

Kickability is "All-Ability", modified AFL for youth and young adults who identify as living with disability or need additional support playing Australian Football for youth and young adults.

It is held Sundays 10:30am at North Narrabeen Reserve from May to August 2024, exclusive of school holidays.

Specialist Coaches from AFL Kids guide the team with the assistance of professional Disability Sports Support Staff at a ratio of 1:5. You are welcome to bring your own carer.

Registration has been substantially subsidised at $100 and Active Kids Vouchers are accepted. A free pack of goodies, footy, socks and shorts are provided free thanks to AFL NSW/ACT and Pittwater Tigers! A Team Playing Guernsey is loaned for the season.

There are amazing extra opportunities throughout the season including the potential to play at a Sydney Swans or GWS Giants half-time demonstration game and at Sydney Club Gala Days, amongst other opportunities our Kickability Players may like to participate in.

AFL also has a representative pathway, culminating in State representation at an annual National Championships, for those seeking to trial.

Frequently Asked Questions are below as are social stories to assist your player.

ENQUIRE NOW!

SOCIAL STORIES TO ASSIST YOUR PLAYER

These social stories are great to explain to your player what happens at Kickability and what happens in poor weather. Other social stories for Auskick, which are useful, can be found here

Kickability Rainy Day Social Story

Kickability What happens at Kickability

How long is each session?

1 hour. However, if your player needs a rest/wants to finish/just wants to watch, that's all ok!
My child doesn't engage in sports well...should we still join?

Our support team are all specialists in the field of all-ability sports, so this is exactly what they do, and enjoying doing - getting kids with disability involved! They will use a variety of strategies to assist your child to enjoy their Kickability session, with a goal of being involved and participating by the end of the season!
Is there tackling?

No, Kickability is a non-contact game. However we will group players with like- minded sensory needs so those that don't mind a bear-hug hold, are together, and those that don't, are together. Or there may be no holding at all. The coaches will work with the players and each group to determine what's best!
Social story?

A social story has been prepared to assist our Kickability Players to prepare for a session. We recommend you read this with your player a few times prior to the first session.
How can I tell you about my child? "All About Me" Player Form

We will be sending out an "All About Me" form to every player so the Support Crew can learn all about the Kickability Team and players. This will cover likes/dislikes/ triggers/sensory concerns/motivators/ regulators/risks (e.g. absconding, high needs)/medical concerns/limitations. One player loves the colour yellow, so we will ensure he receives a yellow footy for motivation and regulation. Another finds chewing raw pasta assists with engagement and regulation, so we will understand why he has a pocket of pasta! Parents can speak with the Support Crew before or after a session as required.
What is the support/carer ratio?

1 carer to 5 players. However, you are welcome to be hands on and support your child (we encourage it!) or bring your own carer who can get involved. Please ensure they wear runners/sports shoes.
Can I bring my own carer?

Yes, absolutely. Please ask them to wear runners/sports shoes, introduce themselves to the Support Crew and get involved!
Are assistive technologies welcome? e.g. communication/hearing devices, mobility aids like walkers, frame runner trikes, and wheelchairs.

Kickability is very inclusive so we will try very hard to accommodate everyone's needs. However, we would like to highlight that we are limited by our environment. It is played outdoors, on a grass field. Parking is around 100m away, however there is a concrete pathway to our Clubhouse from the northern car park. And of course there is a football and physical activity. However, Our Support Crew are very talented when it comes to inclusion and believe they can assist most players to get involved in some capacity! If your child can be on grass, we will work something out! If you have any particular questions regarding accessibility please send an enquiry to us with relevant information concerning any possible limitations for your player and we will seek a response from our Support Crew.
Is there weekly training as well as a game?

There is only one session per week - Sundays 10:30am May to August excluding school holidays. This will be a mix of drills and possibly a mini game, much like Auskick. It is held at North Narrabeen Reserve AFL fields.
Parents involvement

Be involved as much or as little as you like. We encourage parents to come and watch, bring a picnic chair and enjoy a coffee or dim sim/sausage from our Club Canteen. Please say hello to the other parents too. We also encourage parents to be there at the session to provide any support that your child might need.
What is a Gala Day?

There are 7 Kickability Programs / Clubs in NSW. A Gala Day brings teams together from these Clubs to hold Kickability games against each other, like a tournament! If your child does not want to play in the Sydney Gala Day, not a problem, but we'd still like to encourage them to attend and be involved with roles like cheer leading (team songs!), water carrier, assistant coaches etc... it will be a lot of fun, even if they're not on the field!
What about wet weather?

In the event of rain occuring before the game, Council may decide to close the fields. If this happens, or in the event of adverse weather, Pittwater Tigers will post a notice on our Facebook page advising if Kickability is going ahead or not.

How long is each session?

1 hour. However, if your player needs a rest/wants to finish/just wants to watch, that's all ok!
My child doesn't engage in sports well...should we still join?

Our support team are all specialists in the field of all-ability sports, so this is exactly what they do, and enjoying doing - getting kids with disability involved! They will use a variety of strategies to assist your child to enjoy their Kickability session, with a goal of being involved and participating by the end of the season!
Is there tackling?

No, Kickability is a non-contact game. However we will group players with like- minded sensory needs so those that don't mind a bear-hug hold, are together, and those that don't, are together. Or there may be no holding at all. The coaches will work with the players and each group to determine what's best!
Social story?

A social story has been prepared to assist our Kickability Players to prepare for a session. We recommend you read this with your player a few times prior to the first session.
How can I tell you about my child? "All About Me" Player Form

We will be sending out an "All About Me" form to every player so the Support Crew can learn all about the Kickability Team and players. This will cover likes/dislikes/ triggers/sensory concerns/motivators/ regulators/risks (e.g. absconding, high needs)/medical concerns/limitations. One player loves the colour yellow, so we will ensure he receives a yellow footy for motivation and regulation. Another finds chewing raw pasta assists with engagement and regulation, so we will understand why he has a pocket of pasta! Parents can speak with the Support Crew before or after a session as required.
What is the support/carer ratio?

1 carer to 5 players. However, you are welcome to be hands on and support your child (we encourage it!) or bring your own carer who can get involved. Please ensure they wear runners/sports shoes.
Can I bring my own carer?

Yes, absolutely. Please ask them to wear runners/sports shoes, introduce themselves to the Support Crew and get involved!
Are assistive technologies welcome? e.g. communication/hearing devices, mobility aids like walkers, frame runner trikes, and wheelchairs.

Kickability is very inclusive so we will try very hard to accommodate everyone's needs. However, we would like to highlight that we are limited by our environment. It is played outdoors, on a grass field. Parking is around 100m away, however there is a concrete pathway to our Clubhouse from the northern car park. And of course there is a football and physical activity. However, Our Support Crew are very talented when it comes to inclusion and believe they can assist most players to get involved in some capacity! If your child can be on grass, we will work something out! If you have any particular questions regarding accessibility please send an enquiry to us with relevant information concerning any possible limitations for your player and we will seek a response from our Support Crew.
Is there weekly training as well as a game?

There is only one session per week - Sundays 10:30am May to August excluding school holidays. This will be a mix of drills and possibly a mini game, much like Auskick. It is held at North Narrabeen Reserve AFL fields.
Parents involvement

Be involved as much or as little as you like. We encourage parents to come and watch, bring a picnic chair and enjoy a coffee or dim sim/sausage from our Club Canteen. Please say hello to the other parents too. We also encourage parents to be there at the session to provide any support that your child might need.
What is a Gala Day?

There are 7 Kickability Programs / Clubs in NSW. A Gala Day brings teams together from these Clubs to hold Kickability games against each other, like a tournament! If your child does not want to play in the Sydney Gala Day, not a problem, but we'd still like to encourage them to attend and be involved with roles like cheer leading (team songs!), water carrier, assistant coaches etc... it will be a lot of fun, even if they're not on the field!
What about wet weather?

In the event of rain occuring before the game, Council may decide to close the fields. If this happens, or in the event of adverse weather, Pittwater Tigers will post a notice on our Facebook page advising if Kickability is going ahead or not.