Players including co-captain Brett Kirk and new Swans’ player Daniel Bradshaw have been visiting junior clubs and primary schools in Sydney to spread the word about the Red Rookie program.
Kids can join up as a Red Rookie by visiting the Club’s new website, www.redrookie.com.au
By signing up and registering as a Red Rookie, those aged under 15 will have the opportunity to be a member of the Red Rookie club and attend three home games in 2010 for free. The offer also includes a free ticket for a parent or guardian to come along to the first game.
The new website www.redrookie.com.au provides information about the latest footy news from the team, profiles on your favourite players, and stories from behind-the-scenes.
The Red Rookie registration and ticket offer builds on the work by Swans’ players to spread the word about healthy lifestyles. As part of the new Team Swans Schools program, which was recently launched by Kirk at his son, Indhi’s, school, players visit to talk about lifestyle choices, and how young people can become leaders.
The Red Rookie site also has training tips for kids from coach Paul Roos.
He says there are a few basic things kids should be doing if they want to improve and hopefully play for the Swans one day.
“FIRST THINGS FIRST… make sure you’ve got an AFL footy! If you haven’t got one, make sure you ask for one for your next birthday.
“You should be kicking the ball as much as you can, with a friend or your brother if there’s one around, or just on your own.
“If you look at senior AFL football now, the ability to kick the ball has never been more important.
“Turning the ball over to the opposition is so costly!?? At training, tell your coach I said not to worry too much about setting up intricate stoppage plans or complicated drills, the main thing is to make sure all the players in the team can kick the ball well and handball well. Then together you’ll find a way to move the ball down the ground,’’ Roos advises.?
And when youngsters take up the offer to come to watch the Swans play, Roos says have a close look at where and how the players run during a game.
“Watch Brett Kirk and see how he finds the ball, watch Adam Goodes play at centre half forward, watch Craig Bolton play as a defender. Look at their running patterns because, even in junior football, the better you can run, the more likely you are to get the ball.??
“You don’t necessarily have to be lightning quick. It’s about smart running. That is one thing about AFL football, it caters for all different shapes and sizes as we know, but one thing that is becoming more and more important is the ability to run and be aerobically fit.??
“Come and watch the guys run, see how far they run and where they run and then try to transfer that into your junior game.’’
Become a Red Rookie and come and watch the Swans play for free!
