SANFL Club Development Day

By ZAC MILBANK

SANFL’s ”Rebooting Footy” program gathered steam on Saturday when more than 150 Community Football volunteers from clubs and leagues across the state attended SANFL Club Development Day.

As many as 70 Community Football clubs, 30 per cent from regional South Australia, were represented at the full day event hosted by SANFL at the Adelaide Oval.

Attendees heard from Breakthrough Mental Health Foundation about the importance of opening up the conversation in regards to dealing with mental health, an issue impacting every football club in the wake of Covid-19.

Volunteer engagement was also a key focus at the forum, with expert Mike Feszczak providing invaluable insight into understanding of the needs, barriers and expectations of volunteers, volunteer managers and volunteer-involved organisations.

Education seminars were also conducted in regards to Play HQ and Auskick, Coach Behaviour, Covidsafe protocols, Financial Management and applying for facilities grants.

SANFL Club Development Day was just one aspect of the League’s ”Rebooting Footy” campaign, which began last year to assist clubs in regional areas where there was limited or no participation due to Covid-19.

Made possible through a $60,000 State Government Community Wellbeing and Resilience Grant, the Rebooting Footy campaign has also included webinars on financial management, promotion and marketing support and ongoing Covidsafe protocol education and training.

SANFL General Manager Football Matt Duldig said the impact of COVID on regional community sport had been far reaching and to ensure a successful return to the field in 2021 in a COVID environment, it was important to provide as much education and resources as possible.

“SANFL’s Community Football department identified a number of opportunities to support clubs and leagues in their return to play in 2021 and, thanks to the State Government funding, we have been delivering these,” Mr Duldig said.