- Award Entered:
Best New Project
- Parent Organisation:
Backyard Football league Australia
- Project Host Nation:
Australia
- Overview of Project:
Backyard Football was an initiative piloted in a small regional community affected by drought in rural South Australia. The population of available males in the age bracket 17-39 years are unable to play Saturday football due to skills and work commitments as farms get bigger. The target group represents nearly 80% of available males. The project was to encourage people to play a game of Australian Rules Football in August 2007 and run an event around them. It relied on men overcoming there fears and phobias to come together with people they did not know and play together. The mainaim was to introduce the to a wider network of people that could lead to increased employment opportunities, business development ideas and importantly most of all to build self esteem amongst each other and in the wider community. Players attracted to Backyard Football were policemen, lawyers, business people, unemployed, under employed, white collar,blue collar workers. It reverses the lack of opportunities for social inclusion and networking outside of "match day"
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: 17 Mar 2009 - 07:31 GMT
For those who have difficulty in participating in organised sport, it can make it a difficult task to integrate within the community. Sadly many young males across Australia have experienced the disappointment of missing selection in organised sport, which can lead to frustration and eventually non-participation in the games that we love. Backyard Football is an important vehicle to re-introduce the lost participants back in to physical activity. The thrill of being provided with another opportunity to emjoy Australia’s only indigenous code of football, allows participants to overcome the fear of participation. Backyard Football allows participants to remember why they first played the sport, for the cohesive community environment and the long standing friendships that the game provides, particularly in times of adversity. James Lang - Inaugural participant Backyard Football League Australia.
: 17 Mar 2009 - 02:45 GMT
As Mayor of Victor Harbor, some 400km from where Backyard Football Australia started at Jamestown, I am intrigued by Backyard Footy and how it picks up 80% of available males who are not involved at community level. As Mayor, I want to encourage men 17-39 back into sport at a community level. This will take time but we have to start to rebuilding our communitiies and our volunteer strcutures to support this activity. Backyard Footy is all about fund and a mix of positive signals for the population. We cannot just keep doing sport in the same competitive way. That's where Backyard Footy is different - it's about a social, community connectivity building self-confidence with a healthy outcome and worth a real trial over the next five years. Mayor Mary-Lou Corcoran City of Victor Harbor, South Australia
: 09 Mar 2009 - 22:59 GMT
As a daughter of a Farmer and a fellow backyard Footy player I have seen the positive effects of the backyard football league in the community. The support and positive outlook it gives farmers that have been struggling through the drought is comendable. I really enjoyed playing football as I am not apart of many sporting groups and this is a great community event to be involved in, the self esteme and confidence built from the game was very rewarding and leads to long term relationships with people i wouldnt usually associate with. Backyard Footy and Netball helps build bridges between towns and farms and rural regions. Anna Bottrall Conara
: 09 Mar 2009 - 22:51 GMT
I have watched Backyard Football grow and develop in Northern Rural Australia, I have watched it expand to include female football and also now seeing the development of netball for girls 16-24yrs from rural areas who have become socially isolated living in the city of Adelaide. Backyard Football and netball concept is vital to linking individuals of all social classes together in a non-elite format. Sadly no Government programs exist to being able to run these sports and activities in Australia. In Australia rural areas (because of drought and loss of jobs) needs Backyard activities to help in the long-term with education of participants and their families in positive mental health, suicide awareness, and building social networks.
: 06 Mar 2009 - 12:44 GMT
Backyard Footy is an icredibly important and succesful initiative. Given the hardships faced by many in farming areas due to a prolongued drought, declining working population and less time for leisure Backyard Footy provides a healthy escape. Not only does this version of Australia's most popular football code provide a vehicle for physical health it brings people together and promotes mental wellbeing. Both the Federal & State Government's provide various drought relief responses but Backyard Footy is something that gives strength to resiliance and resolve to see out a period of sustained hardship. In no small way Backyard Footy contributes greatly to social, cultural and economic viablity and it would be fit and proper for the organisers and participants to be recognised via these awards. Signed: Sean Holden Manager Regions - Northern, Department of Trade & Economic Development (South Australia).