Tackling a Fun All Abilities Auskick Challenge in Ballarat

Children in Ballarat’s first all-abilities Auskick group love crashing the tackle bags and marking the football.

The season is almost complete but already interest has doubled for potential participants next year.

Ballarat Football League had been wanting to start such a group for awhile but needed the right people to get it started – then Ballarat mum Kellie Tait, whose four-year-old son has autism, enquired and the Auskick group grew.

ACTION: Ten-year-old Mitchell Rehfisch tries out his skills in Ballarat’s all-abilities Auskick. Organisers hope it could help build a future path for players to Ballarat Bulldogs’ all-abilities football team. Picture: Kate Healy

“Auskick was a bit too fast-paced, there were too many kids and not enough one-on-one time for him to keep up,” Ms Tait said.

“I thought there were probably a lot of kids missing out who love sport and sports statistics and don’t get out to do much physical sport.”