THE AFL and Swisse have extended their connection to community football following the launch of a new national grassroots program aimed at enhancing the standard of community football clubs.
The Swisse AFL Quality Club Program, launched at Avondale Heights Football Club in Victoria on Friday, provides an opportunity for community football clubs to improve their administration and operations capabilities while recognising and rewarding those local clubs that meet a range of benchmarks.
The program encourages clubs to reach new standards in providing safe, well managed, healthy, and happy environments for more than 300,000 players involved in club football on a local level.
Friday also saw the launch of the inaugural Swisse AFL Quality Club of the Year Award, a competition encouraging clubs to showcase their 'people, passion, health and happiness' and in doing so go into the running to share in more than $20,000 of prizes for their local club.
The AFL's general manager of game development Andrew Dillon, said the League is focused on community football clubs creating quality environments to ensure grassroots football continues to flourish.
"The AFL is seeking to ensure a quality environment exists within all community football clubs.
"We know that community based clubs right around the country are passionate about Australian football and we want to ensure that grassroots football is in great shape now and for generations to come.
"The Swisse Quality Club Program was developed to assist community football clubs to improve their operations and local environment. We're delighted to have Swisse partnering with us as their core values resonate with both the AFL itself and the Swisse Quality Club Program," Mr Dillon added.
Swisse CEO, Radek Sali, said Swisse were pleased to be able to connect with football clubs at a community level through the program.
"We have been the official vitamin of the AFL for a number of years and through the Swisse Quality Club Program we are now able to dive deeper and connect with those community clubs that are leading the way in creating healthy and happy local football club environments," he said.
To be eligible for the Swisse AFL Quality Club of the Year Award, and a share in more than $20,000 in prizes, local clubs must first register as Swisse quality clubs at either bronze, silver or gold level.
Clubs then have until August 12, 2013 to produce a video that showcases their club's people, passion, health and happiness and upload it to facebook.com/Swissewellnessaustralia
Mr Sali said: "The entry criteria is a perfect fit for showcasing what is great about grassroots footy and the healthy and happy ethos engrained in the Swisse philosophy."
Following the selection of a series of finalists, the winning club will be decided via a public vote from August 13–26, with the entry that receives the most unique votes being crowned the 2013 Swisse AFL Quality Club of the Year.
The winning club will receive $5,000 cash, two tickets to the 2013 Brownlow Medal count, and the Swisse ultimate sportsman's night.
In addition, Swisse will provide one lucky person with two tickets to the 2013 Toyota AFL Grand Final for simply voting for their favourite grassroots Swisse AFL Quality Club video.
For more information regarding the Swisse Quality Club Program, please log onto www.aflcommunityclub.com.au
