WA Football benefits from Swisse AFL Community Club ProgramWednesday, July 17, 2013 - 9:55 AM

West Australian community football clubs are set to benefit from the national launch of The Swisse AFL Quality Club Program.

The program, which is aimed at enhancing the standard of community football clubs, has been running in WA since late 2009. During that time 113 WA football clubs have achieved accreditation – 11 at gold level, 7 at silver and 95 at bronze.

Each Gold club, and any new clubs that achieve Gold accreditation going forward, will not only receive the benefits of being a Quality Club, but also score equipment packs for their club, priority access to AFL ticketing, and tickets to the AFL national coaching conference.

The AFL launched the Swisse AFL Quality Club Program nationally this month to provide an opportunity for all community football clubs to improve their administration and operations capabilities, while recognising and rewarding those that meet a range of benchmarks.

The program encourages clubs to reach new standards in providing safe, well managed, healthy, and happy environments in club football on a local level.

A Swisse AFL Quality Club of the Year Award was also launched encouraging clubs to showcase their ‘People, Passion, Health and Happiness’ and in doing so go into the running to share in over $20,000 of prizes.

AFL General Manager – Game Development, Andrew Dillon, said the AFL is focused on community football clubs creating quality environments to ensure grassroots football continues to flourish.

“The AFL is seeking to ensure a quality environment exists within all community football clubs.

“We know that community based clubs right around the country are passionate about Australian Football and we want to ensure that grassroots football is in great shape now and for generations to come.

“The Swisse Quality Club Program was developed to assist community football clubs to improve their operations and local environment. We’re delighted to have Swisse partnering with us as their core values resonate with both the AFL itself and the Swisse Quality Club Program,” Mr Dillon added.

Swisse CEO, Radek Sali, said Swisse were pleased to be able to connect with football clubs at a community level through the program.

“We have been the official vitamin of the AFL for a number of years and through the Swisse Quality Club Program we are now able to dive deeper and connect with those community clubs that are leading the way in creating healthy and happy local football club environments.”

To be eligible for the Swisse AFL Quality Club of the Year Award, and a share in over $20,000 in prizes, local Clubs must first register as Swisse Quality Clubs at either Bronze, Silver or Gold level.

Clubs then have until August 12, 2013 to produce a video that showcases their club’s People, Passion, Health and Happiness and upload it to facebook.com/Swissewellnessaustralia 

Mr Sali said: “The entry criteria is a perfect fit for showcasing what is great about grassroots footy and the healthy and happy ethos engrained in the Swisse philosophy.”

Following the selection of a series of finalists, the winning club will be decided via a public vote from August 13–26, with the entry that receives the most unique votes being crowned the 2013 Swisse AFL Quality Club of the Year.

The winning club will receive $5,000 cash, two tickets to the 2013 AFL Brownlow Medal, and the Swisse Ultimate Sportsman’s Night.

In addition, Swisse will provide one lucky person with two tickets to the 2013 Toyota AFL Grand Final for simply voting for their favourite grassroots Swisse AFL Quality Club video.

For more information regarding the Swisse Quality Club Program, please log onto www.aflcommunityclub.com.au

Swisse AFL Quality Club of the Year Awards details

-        To be eligible, entering Clubs must be officially recognized as a Bronze, Silver, or Gold level Swisse Quality Club Program member.

-        Clubs must submit an eligible one minute video that showcases their club’s People, Passion, Health and Happiness.

-        Submissions for entry close at midnight August 12, 2013.

-        All videos will be available on the Swisse Facebook page – www.facebook.com/Swissewellnessaustralia   

-        The winning club will be decided via a public vote from August 13 – 26, with the entry that receives the most unique votes being crowned the 2013 Swisse AFL Quality Club of the Year.

-        The winning club will receive $5,000 cash, two (2) tickets to the 2013 AFL Brownlow Medal, and the Swisse Ultimate Sportsman’s Night.

-        The four runners up winners will receive $1,000 cash for their club and a Swisse pack

All voters will be in for a chance to win two (2) tickets to the 2013 Toyota AFL Grand Final