Disability Clinics
PARTICIPATION FOR THE DISABLED - FOOTBALL FOR ALL ABILITIES
F.I.D.A Football Clinics
The FIDA football clinics began within the Shire of Yarra Ranges at Montrose in 2004. Several very
successful school and weekend clinics were coordinated as a joint initiative between the Montrose
Football Club, Shire of Yarra Ranges and Access For All Abilities.
Offering an opportunity for individuals to participate in Australian Rules Football can increase social
interaction, motor skills, personal development and self esteem. All within the context of a supportive
club enviroment.
The Montrose Football Club, in partnership with the Ringwood Blues FIDA team, is offering people
with an intellectual disability aged 12 and over, the opportunity to learn the skills of Australian Rules
Football at the Montrose Football Club.
The clinics will be supported by experienced Coaches and Club volunteers. It will also be staffed by
a qualified carer from Melba Support Services.
WHAT CAN PARTICIPANTS EXPECT?
The clinics will include skill development activites including drills, games and practice matches,
similar to what is currently being offered at most Auskick Clinics.It is hoped that players will learn
the skills of the game so that they are able to be recuited by the Ringwood Blues FIDA team (for
people over 18 years who have an intellectual disability) or another mainstream junior team.
For Further information of our clinics or to book please contact Chris Dowling on 9761 9690 or
David Harbinson on 0425 772 371
2009 FIDA DISABILITY CLINICS
The clinics will resume for 2009 season on Sunday ??th April. The venue for the clinics this year
will be the Montrose Primary School Oval, Burley st Montrose. Melways (52 D6).
The Clinic will be conducted between 11am and 1pm including lunch.
Clinic Dates are :
Individual clinic cost is $5 per head which can be paid on the day.
For any further information regarding the clinics please contact
Chris Dowling on 9728 4675 or 0409 336 790
or email go-dees@bigpond.com
The partnership has run a series of football clinics in an effort to recruit enough players to enter a
Montrose team in the Football Integration Devolpment Associantion (FIDA) next year.
The FIDA competition has been running since 1991 for people aged 12 years and over who have
an intellectual disability.
Students from Mount Evelyn special devolopment school and the Vermont special school were
invited to attend the clinics.
Yarra Ranges councillor Len Cox says the clinics, which ran from June to the start of August this year,
have been a great recreational outlet for people with intellectual disabilities.
The FIDA clinics have been a great oppurtunity for people with intellectual disabilities to devolop
confidence and skills appropriate for their ability, "Cr Cox said.
No matter what your ability, sport and recreation is an important part of everyone's life for health
and wellbeing, and the shire is proud to support this initiative.
Sarah Forbes from Ranges community Health says the football clinics have benefitted not just people
with intellectual disabilities but their families too.
For anyone, being involved in a recreational activity helps us feel we belong in the community, and
increases our social networks, "Sarah says.
The FIDA clinics in Montrose have drawn people from within the shire and beyond - not just students
from the special schools, but their friends and families.
Sarah says the clinics are a great way or people with intellectual disabilities to extend their social
networks.
"Many recreational activities for people with an intellectual disability are organised with the same
group, whether it be people they live with or work with, "Sarah says.
"This is an oppurtunity for them to participate in recreation with a whole new group of people, and
helps improve their athletic ability and coordination.
Montrose Football Club's coordinator of the disability team, David Harbinson, says the clinics offer
a new experience for many participants.
"Many parents have indicated that this is the first time their children have participated in a communty
activity, "David says.
"If through these clinics that's all we've acheived, then I think that we've achieived a lot, "he says.
"Everyone involoved is looking forward to continuing the clinics at the club in the future.
For more information on the FIDA clinics, contact the shires Recreation, Youth and Culture team on
1300 368 333.
*Article taken from Shirewide Magazine
Issue 28. August/September 2004.
Our Senior Players and Coaches have thoroughly enjoyed participation and assitance at the clinics.
Montrose Football Club are proud of the association, with all participants, helpers, coaches, parents
and supporters having great benefit in the partnership.
Christine Dowling
FIDA Co-ordinator