Youngsters get kick out of season finale

Future football stars have wrapped up their season with an afternoon of kick to kick, lolly bags, medals and a sausage sizzle.

Auskick finished on Tuesday, July 31 with parents and children heading to Kevin Scott Oval for presentations and a free play session.

The program has been running since the start of Term 2 and is for kids in pre-primary to Year 2, teaching the basics of football in a fun, safe environment.

Hedland Auskick co-ordinator Luke Lomax said it was all about teaching the little ones teamwork.

“It brings kids from different schools and walks of life together; they become friends and learn how to play with lots of different people,” he said.

“It’s amazing to see how much they develop. The kids that started last year in pre-primary and have now finished their second season, the difference in their ability is really like chalk and cheese.”

During the presentations, Lomax praised the Hedland Senior High School V Swans Kicking Goals students who had been down helping out with training, along with other volunteers.

“It’s hard for just a couple of people to run this and it’s not easy with shift work, so all the coaches that came week in and week out deserve massive praise,” he said.

Lomax also thanked the Rovers and Swans players that had come down in the more recent weeks.

“It’s really great for the kids to see big players in their own town and it adds a real community feel to footy in Hedland,” he said.

Auskick will return next year with a new style of program, which will have more interaction between parents, coaches and players. The program will begin in Term 2, with sign-up information available about March.