The AJFC All Abilities Football program aims to provide members of the City of Canada Bay community who live with a disability or neurodiverse condition with the opportunity to engage in football, fostering physical activity, social interaction, and personal development. The program caters to each participant’s special needs, creating an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes the physical and mental well-being of participants.
By offering a supportive and inclusive environment to participants, the program hopes to promote physical health and skill development as well as fostering a sense of belonging, team-work and personal growth.
AJFC’s program objectives are to:
- Provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals with disabilities to participate in football;
- Foster physical fitness, coordination, and motor skills development;
- Promote social interaction, teamwork, and communication skills;
- Enhance participants’ self-esteem, confidence, and personal growth; and
- Raise awareness within the Club and wider community about inclusivity and diversity in sport.
All Abilities Program Detail
The overall goal of the AJFC All Abilities Football program aim is to offer participation opportunities for male or female players with a disability within the City of Canada Bay council area and its surrounds. Abbotsford Juniors Football Club is fortunate to have access to an Amenities building with disabled access and toilet facilities. However access to our fields of play from these facilities is not currently suitable for some individuals with physical disabilities. Specifically those who require the use a wheelchair or other physical aid to participate in football activity.
In recognition of this limitation, the AJFC All Abilities Football program in 2025 will offer participation opportunity for people with a neurodiverse condition or related disability. The Club is continuing discussions with City of Canada Bay Council representatives to provide suitable facilities, access and field surfaces that will allow the Club to extend the program to individuals with a physical disability as soon as possible.
Program Coaches, Mentors and Support Staff
The AJFC All Abilities Football program will be led by a passionate volunteer member of the Club with significant experience in the provision of disability services. All coaches and mentors involved in the program will hold appropriate football coaching qualifications and will be experienced in working with individuals with a disability. All Club coaches and support staff will complete a NDIS Workers Check and have a current Working with Children Check.
Parent/Guardian/Carer Responsibility and Involvement
Parents, guardians, and carers will play an important role in the success of the All Abilities Football program. Parents and carers of individual participants in the program will be required to agree to a Charter as part of the registration process. In summary, the Charter will specify that parents and carers are to be required to be “Engaged” to support and assist participants and their coaches, and “Present” in that they are physically present and in close proximity to where program sessions are being conducted.
Age Groups and Structure
All Abilities Football Program participation is open to children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years of age that are seeking an inclusive football experience.
Program participation will be grouped by age group (subject to numbers):
5 – 8 years
8 – 13 years
14 – 18 years
Sessions will be 60 minutes long, consisting of a 15-minute warm-up activity, 30 minutes of skill development with appropriate breaks, and a 10 to 15-minute fun activity. These will be held on a Saturday morning at 10:00am using the Campbell Park Community Room and dedicated Campbell Park field space.
COst and Inclusions
Participation in the All Abilities Football Program will be at a cost of $50 per participant thanks to the generous support of a new AJFC Club sponsor (who will be announced shortly).
Approved participants will receive a free playing kit comprising a jersey, shorts and socks and will have the opportunity to participate in all AJFC Community events and share in other Club membership benefits.
This will include participation in the AJFC Team Presentation Day where medals and acknowledgement of individual achievement will be presented.
Individualised Skill Goals
Sessions will offer structured football training focusing on skill development, coordination, and team dynamic in a fun environment.
The program will use as its guide, sport specific training techniques sourced from the Special Olympics “Learn to Train” Soccer resource for the creation of the program.
Activities will be tailored to the ability of each participant in the program. Coaches will work with each participant to set an achievable set of goals for their participation. This will include an assessment of the participant’s baseline skills which will be evaluated again at the end of the annual program with feedback provided to the participant.
If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the AJFC All Abilities Football Program, please consider lodging an Expression of Interest. Your expression of interest is completely confidential, not binding and will not be shared with any other party or business. The Club will make contact with you using your nominated contact detail shortly after receipt of your expression of interest.