2026 YOUTH CLINICS
Join the Rising Suns again for another round of youth footy clinics and re-kindle your enjoyment of this phenomenal sport as we prepare to begin the 2026 season! We will review the fundamental skills of Australian Football, kick some goals, and play some games. Invite your friends and schoolmates!
- Clinic #1 April 25th @ 8AM Bryte Park
- Clinic #2 May 2nd @ 8 AM Bryte Park
- Clinic #3 May 9th @ 8 AM Bryte Park
- Clinic #4 May 16th @ 8 AM Bryte Park
- Clinic #5 June 13th @ 8AM BROCK Park
- Clinic #6 June 20th @ 8AM McKinley Park
- Clinic #7 FAMILY DAY @ 10am @ McKinley Park (Clinic, Lunch, games, bounce house!)
Hosted by the Sacramento Australian Football Club’s Youth Footy Committee.
Although these clinics are geared toward kids ages 8-12, any youth (4+) may attend with parental permission. Please feel free to share with friends, family, and schoolmates. All are welcome!
**PLEASE USE THIS CHECKLIST TO HELP GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE MULTI-STEP REGISTRATION PROCESS.**
What is Youth Footy?
ALL YOUTH — (ages 5-13) — Come learn an exciting sport that is growing in popularity around the world…and is relatively new to the U.S….It’s called “Footy”!
The Sacramento Australian Football Club will be hosting a series of FREE youth clinics for kids & teens who would like to come learn how to play Australian Rules Football–also known as Aussie Rules Football or “Footy”.
These sessions will include introductory skill work and drills for youth of all ages. Depending on the number and ages of participants in attendance, we hope to be able to hold some tag scrimmages at the end of the session. So invite friends to come to ensure there are enough players to organize a scrimmage!
Although Australia’s national sport has existed for over 150 years, it is relatively new to the U.S., but it is growing rapidly in popularity among amatuer adult athletes nationwide. The USAFL is flourishing–with nearly 40 clubs nationwide. The Sacramento Australian Football club was established in 2009, and since 2012 has been proudly represented in USAFL competitions by the Sacramento Suns (men’s and women’s representative teams). In 2014, the Suns won the Division 3 championship at the National Championship tournament held in Dublin, OH. There are also currently several men and women from the SAFC who have represented our nation on the U.S. representative teams (Revolution, Freedom, & Liberty) in international Footy Competitions.
The SAFC is striving to grow the sport in the Sacramento area, and hopes to be able to help establish youth footy leagues by the year 2020. These two clinics are just the beginning of what will be a long-term vision to grow the sport among Sacramento’s young athletes
Want to host a Youth Clinic at your school?
The Sacramento Australian Football Club, as a part of its overarching mission to build a thriving Australian Football community in Sacramento, has held several introductory footy clinics for students in several of the local school Physical Education classes. As part of this effort, members of the Sacramento Suns & Lady Suns volunteer to teach kids the basics of Ausball (the modified tag version of Footy).
**If your PE class, school, or youth group is interested in learning the basics of Footy from the Sacramento Suns, please contact risingsuns@sacfooty.com.**
Youth Footy Committee
In 2017, the SAFC Board has commissioned the creation of the Youth Footy Committee in an effort to grow the sport among the area’s youth. We hope to grow the game among the area youth–and hopefully there will be enough interest in the sport to warrant the creation of a Sacramento youth footy league soon.
2026 SAFC Youth Footy Committee members:
- Jenna Taipaleti (Chair)
- Stan Rucker (Co-Chair)
- Vili Taipaleti (Coach)
- Ashley Green
- Kendall Hutchings
- Luke Castle
- M O’Leary
- Marcus Jones
- Michele Gundros
- Alex Perkins
- Andrew Patzschfield
- Steve Butler