Amazing participation rates at grassroots level.
The Australian Football League supports The Clubbies – Inside Sport’s grassroots sports awards.
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL: A SNAPSHOT
When a serious issue emerges in the game of Australian football, it usually transcends sport. The recent controversy surrounding the booing of Sydney Swan Adam Goodes, the most decorated champion playing the game today, has captivated a nation and turned our attention beyond the boundaries of the playing field – indeed, the issue has turned the spotlight on our perceptions of ourselves as Australians.
This is what happens when a code of football means so much to so many. The national “indigenous” game is a way of life to the millions of Australians who passionately follow the sport and call themselves true fans.
At grassroots level, though, the code has amazing participation rates that provide a vivid insight into the game’s popularity today: in 2014, across the nation, there were 266 leagues, consisting of 2695 clubs, 13,647 club teams, 27,377 school teams, for a total of 1,145,224 participants in Australia (and overseas).
Australian football proudly connects this country’s best-known elite athletes with a playing base of weekend warriors and enthusiastic kids who come together at community level in a spirit of fair play – we hope! They also follow in a grand Australian tradition that reaches back more than 150 years: the game prides itself on a culture of inclusiveness, healthy outdoor activity and respectful competition. It is also now our truly national football code, with its popularity continuing to grow. Which is why there is only “one” Australian football.
For more information, or to find a club near you, go to: www.afl.com.au/
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