AFL BRISBANE JUNIORS FIGHTING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES - NO âPAY BEFORE YOU PLAYâ POLICY
There will be no âpay before you playâ policy in junior Australian football throughout Queensland this year despite moves in that direction by rival codes.
Instead, as has been the case in previous years, installment plans for registration fees will be available if necessary.
And there will be no increase in registration fees from last year.
Looking to set the record straight after a newspaper report last weekend wrongly painted Australian football as the most expensive code in south-east Queensland, code officials have reinforced the responsible approach to fees ahead of this weekendâs sign-on days.
Cherie Brockwell, Manager of AFL Brisbane Juniors, assured all families that costs would be the same as last year and would be kept at a bare minimum.
Responding to suggestions that it cost $180 to play Australian football at junior level, she explained that the average all-up price was âabout $120â and maintained her belief that the code was cheaper in comparison to other codes of football.
According to Ms Brockwell, there are three levels of registration imposed by the League which cover insurance, umpiring fees when applicable, and all associated costs:-
· U8 to U10 - $66 (including GST)
· U11 - $88 (including GST)
· U12 â U16 - $99 (including GST)
To this, she explains, each club adds its own operating costs which vary according to circumstances.
âA club which has poker machines and other external income may be in a position to subsidise junior registration fees a little more than smaller clubs without extra income but on overall Iâd say our average all-inclusive junior registration fee is $120.
âAnd our research shows that when you take into account all costs we are the cheapest football code.
âWeâve asked all clubs to be mindful of the tough economic situation and be as generous as possible. There will certainly be no increases from last year, and we even have one junior club â Mt.Gravatt â that has decided to lower their registration fees.
âAlso, there will certainly be no pay before you play policy. We will never stop someone from playing if they cannot afford to pay their full registration fee up front,â said Ms Brockwell.
âIn circumstances like that, if money is really tight, families just need to discuss the situation with club officials and work out a suitable payment scheme. A lot of clubs do that â itâs nothing new.
âThe other thing about BJAFL fees that needs to be understood â other than a pair of boots, there are no extra costs. Everything else is provided and included in the one-off charge.â
In addition to junior club football, AFL Queensland offers an introductory NAB AFL Auskick program for children aged five to 12. This ranges in price from $55 for a school-based or pre-season club program of eight weeks, to a $75 12-week in-season club program.
There are no additional fees, and each registered Auskick participant receives a value-plus benefits pack which includes a Synthetic Sherrin football, Backpack, NAB AFL Auskick cap, drink bottle, football pump, CD-ROM loaded with games, downloads and important information, personal best logbook, stationery set (rookie packs only) and a magnetic photo frame,
Also, all NAB AFL Auskick participants in Queensland who register online at www.aflauskick.com.au by 3 April 2009 will be offered two childrenâs tickets and two adult tickets to a designated AFL match during the 2009 Toyota AFL Home & Away Season at the Gabba.
The Club Connect package is limited to the first 3000 people who register online. All ticketing is subject to capacity and availability on the night of the designated match.
AFL BJ sign-on days will be held at clubs throughout Brisbane from 10am-2pm on Saturday and Sunday.
For full details, please visit www.aflbj.com or call AFL BJ on (07) 3394-2433.
Last Modified on 23/02/2009 16:00