2006 VFL Club Barassi Youth Tournament

The 2006 VFLClub Barassi Youth Tournament will be held between 29th September and 7th October 2006 in Canberra, Australia and is a non-elite U16 Australian Football event.  While the competition is primarily for the under 16 age group, younger and mixed (girls and boys) teams can participate.

ALL International teams are invited (school teams etc) and they do not have to be a national team. The tournament is not restricted to one team per country.

It is expected that there will be at least 4 Australian sides competing in the VFLClub Barassi  Youth Tournament 2006 tournament, including the defending champions Kormilda College, from Darwin in the Northern Territory.  These Australian sides will be ‘non elite’ sides, invited to participate not only to provide an appropriate level of competition to ensure visiting international sides have the opportunity to develop their skills but because they will also help advance the tournament’s second objective to provide a real opportunity for the participants to experience different cultures and promote racial tolerance.

Assistance will be available to do things like getting an idea on prices for accommodation/meals and organising accommodation in Canberra.  However participating teams will be required to meet their own travel costs to and from Canberra, book and pay for accommodation and most meals costs – lunches will be provided on match days.  We are endeavouring to arrange sponsorships which may help defray some of the costs but teams should not rely on that to participate in the tournament.

Barassi Youth Tournament organisers will pay for venue hire, awards and trophies, food at games, travel to and from playing and training venues, and travel and entry costs to some site seeing cultural events in the nation's capital.

This is a unique and rare opportunity to travel to a friendly country and represent our county in an athletic event. The tournament has been scheduled during our school year and participants will miss 10 days of class, however the educational benefits go beyond the required independent study.

Participants will:

·        Keep up with class work as prescribed by their teachers in an independent study
·        Learn about Australian government from heads of state
·        Learn about 20th century military history at the War Memorial museum
·        Visit prominent buildings and art of 3 major cities
·        Share cultural exchange with players from other countries
·        Act as ambassadors of our nation
·        Keep a journal of the trip
·        Present a report in at least one class

Fares and sponsorships are yet to be determined, though Qantas currently has a great fare ($999 including 3 fights within Australia) and will be flying a direct route from SFO to Sydney. Players must be under the age of 16 at the time of the tournament. Parents are welcome to join the trip.

Please visit www.biafyt.asn.au respond to me ASAP with your interest and any questions.

For more information please contact:
Jeff Finsand
(925) 945-7819
finsands@juno.com
or
Denis Ryan
443 829 4188
usfootykids@usfooty.com

- Denis Ryan
(626)