Are AFL fans to stupid?
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:25 pm
We all know AFL players are..
The AFL Players' Association revealed the alarming statistic, detailing how a lack of literacy and numeracy skills had cost some players their careers.
General manager of playing development Steve Alessio said the players' association was working hard in conjunction with AFL clubs on intensive tutoring sessions to help players come up to speed.
Players are chosen by clubs for their physical skills, but many cannot grasp tactics and game plans.
The damning statistic comes as the players' union prepares to launch a university course to prepare club welfare managers for mentoring elite athletes.
Alessio said as many as 30 first-year players needed help with their basic skills every season.
"About three years ago we decided to start testing every player that came into the system," he said.
"There are about 120 players every year, and 25 per cent of those players roughly will have literacy and numeracy levels at less than a year 10 level.
"That causes us some concern. If a player has issues in that area, how is he going to understand complex tactics? How does he understand if the fitness guy comes to him and says, 'You have a hamstring injury, so do four 100m sprints at 50 per cent, then take a two-minute break and step it up to 75 per cent'.
"If you have numeracy issues that is going to be very difficult to understand."
The players' association believes literacy and numeracy problems are symptomatic of the broader community. Alessio said once the difficulties were identified, clubs and the AFL worked on courses tailored for individual players.
Richmond draftee Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls was found to have profound learning difficulties only when he swapped to West Coast four years into his career.
Alessio has no doubt players have failed in football because of their lack of education.
"That's why we are so particular in terms of testing and finding out who the 25 per cent are," he said.
He said every player who needed support would get it.
The AFL Players' Association revealed the alarming statistic, detailing how a lack of literacy and numeracy skills had cost some players their careers.
General manager of playing development Steve Alessio said the players' association was working hard in conjunction with AFL clubs on intensive tutoring sessions to help players come up to speed.
Players are chosen by clubs for their physical skills, but many cannot grasp tactics and game plans.
The damning statistic comes as the players' union prepares to launch a university course to prepare club welfare managers for mentoring elite athletes.
Alessio said as many as 30 first-year players needed help with their basic skills every season.
"About three years ago we decided to start testing every player that came into the system," he said.
"There are about 120 players every year, and 25 per cent of those players roughly will have literacy and numeracy levels at less than a year 10 level.
"That causes us some concern. If a player has issues in that area, how is he going to understand complex tactics? How does he understand if the fitness guy comes to him and says, 'You have a hamstring injury, so do four 100m sprints at 50 per cent, then take a two-minute break and step it up to 75 per cent'.
"If you have numeracy issues that is going to be very difficult to understand."
The players' association believes literacy and numeracy problems are symptomatic of the broader community. Alessio said once the difficulties were identified, clubs and the AFL worked on courses tailored for individual players.
Richmond draftee Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls was found to have profound learning difficulties only when he swapped to West Coast four years into his career.
Alessio has no doubt players have failed in football because of their lack of education.
"That's why we are so particular in terms of testing and finding out who the 25 per cent are," he said.
He said every player who needed support would get it.
