The Academy is a high school program for boys and girls aged 14 to 19. The program introduces players to the skills and rules of Australian football. Players will practice and play with the Baltimore Washington Eagles and Lady Eagles. They will have dedicated coaches to work with them on skills and game play. Games will be played with modified tackling rules. The program is free.
Wood Acres Elementary school in Bethesda Maryland recently hosted its biennial International Night. Front and centre in the Australia Room was WJAFC Vice President and Eagles player Matt Byrne and his family.
In addition to Vegemite and Mintie tasting there was boomerang decorating, koala mask making and of course footy!!
WJAFC President Chris Adams supplied the handball target and it proved to be a big hit! Dozens of kids and adults lined up to learn some footy skills.
It was a cold, but pleasant early Spring day for the 2015 Saturday Morning Footy Open Day. Some 30 boys and girls came out to play footy at Gunston Middle School in Arlington VA.
After going through some basic skills, the players were split by age group. Coach Matty took the U15s through various kicking drills and a game of "ultimate footy" (like ultimate frisbee but kicking). Coach Chris took the U9s through some of their favorite games including "rob the nest". Both groups ended the session with a non-contact game.
Everyone is looking forward to starting up on Saturday June 13 at Bluemont Park in Arlington VA.
Thanks to Deena Ackerman for the great photos. Check out more photos at our Facebook page (remember to like us!)
The tenth year of Saturday Morning Footy begins on Saturday March 21 with the 2015 Open Day. The Open Day will take place at Gunston Middle School in Arlington VA.
Open Day begins at 9am SHARP. The session will run for 90 minutes and will include fun and safe games for boys and girls aged 5 to 15. The session will end with a non-contact match.
No experience necessary! This is a great opportunity to bring friends and neighbors out to enjoy the Spring day learn about the great game of Australian football.
Registration for the 2015 season is open. Click HERE to register.
OPEN DAY FLYER HERE (PDF).
The 2015 season will be the tenth season of Saturday Morning Footy. The program began in 2006 with two sessions and lots of help from the Baltimore Washington Eagles, friends and neighbors.
The last nine years have been quite a ride. We have had as many as 70 boys and girls participate in a single session to as few as two. We have AFL/NFL greats like Sav Rocca and Peter Schwab help coach and support the program. Our parents have included members of the US and Australian armed forces, diplomats, executives, an IMF board member, a cabinet secretary, journalists, NBL players, Australian ex-pats, Americans who have fallen in love with the game and many who didn't even know what it was.
Throughout, the goal has been simple. Learn footy, be safe and have fun.
