First-ever Pingelly Transport Auskick Carnival offers new sports opportunities to young players

Pingelly will welcome its first-ever Auskick carnival later this month with the popular event a social and sporting opportunity for regional youngsters. Budding young footballers will compete in a round-robin against their age group at Pingelly Recreation & Cultural Centre on June 29. Pingelly Auskick Centre will welcome 12 mixed Auskick teams from Boddington to Katanning, split into two age divisions: Little Tackers for ages five to eight and Auskickers for ages eight to 12. The first game whistle will blow at 9.30am and the competition will finish at 3pm and include a sausage sizzle lunch for all the players. A final presentation will award first and second-place Auskicker teams, best and fairest and future player decided by the coaches, and all Little Tackers will receive a participation certificate. Pingelly Auskick coordinator and mother of four Auskick players Kate MacNamara said “our centre wanted something else in the area that gives kids an opportunity to just have fun and learn the sport.” Ms MacNamara said the importance of Pingelly’s carnival is to give regional children sporting opportunities to learn, lead and have fun. “The carnival is building on what the kids are learning at Auskick and being able to put that into a game setting — it’s a skill-based program where they learn how to handball, kick and a bit of gameplay,” she said. “I’ve got two boys playing at the Pingelly carnival and my two older boys played at Corrigin Auskick carnival in past years and they loved it.” Sponsored by Pingelly Transport, the centre has set up eight playing fields including a canteen and coffee van and the complex will be open for dinner and drinks after the carnival. For more information, contact your local Auskick Centre.