Who should use Prep-to-Play?

ALL players, regardless of age, sex/gender, sport or competition-level should use exercise-based injury prevention programs like Prep-to-Play, to prevent all types of injuries. Similar programs are effective in boys’/men’s Australian Football (Footy First), soccer (Perform+), and rugby (Activate).

Need more support? 

Coaches and clubs can access Prep-to-Play practical workshops and support at their local club - enquire here or email prep2play@latrobe.edu.au. Workshops are proven to improve confidence and uptake, and better uptake results in fewer injuries.  

It is vital that coaches educate players on their safe technique and execution of the following contested skills and that these are frequently practised at training:

• Coaching the Ball Carrier being tackled
• Coaching the tackler
• Ground Balls
• Aerial Contests

Educate players about their duty of care to themselves and their opponents.

Coaches can access the AFL Tackle Curriculum for more drill ideas. 

The Prep-to-Play warm-up program provides options for various levels of training experience. View the video, and download the poster by clicking the button below. Complete the warm-up prior to every training session and game.

The Prep-to-Play strength program provides options for various levels of training experience. 

View the video, and download the poster by clicking the button below. 

Complete the strength exercises before, during or after your team's training. 

Read more about the research: 

1. Patterson B et al. Injury prevention for women and girls playing Australian Football: programme cocreation, dissemination and coach feedback. BMJ Open Sport & Ex Med (2024)
2. Bruder A et al. Creating Prep to Play PRO for women playing elite Australian football: A how-to guide for developing injury-prevention programs. J Sport Health Sci (2023).
3. Patterson et al. Supported implementation enhances injury prevention program (Prep-to-Play) use in women and girls playing Australian Football: a pragmatic type III hybrid implementation-effectiveness stepped wedge cluster randomised trial. Br J Sports Med (2026[BP1.1][BP1.2]).
4. Crossley et al. Making football safer for women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of injury prevention programmes in 11 773 female football (soccer) players. Br J Sports Med (2020).
5. Crossley K et al. Female, woman and/or girl Athlete Injury pRevention (FAIR) practical recommendations: International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus. Br J Sports Med (2025).
6. Patterson B et al. Dissemination and implementation of injury prevention interventions: a scoping review for the FAIR consensus. Br J Sports Med (2025).

The AFL Junior Coaching Curriculum and its subsequent resources have been designed for coaches of players aged 7–12 years.

The prescribed training sessions make it simple and easy for parent and volunteer junior coaches to deliver. The program has been developed with the support of industry experts across coaching and education and has been incorporated into the digital Rookie Me Coach platform, an interactive, animated training activities and sessions library, available to all coaches through their Coaching Membership.

Coaches are the key influencers in creating a positive junior football experience.

That’s why the AFL has developed a Junior Coaching Curriculum with leading experts.

This introductory video takes you through the research that shaped the curriculum and the resources available for coaches.

CoachAFL and Rookie Me have partnered together to provide all accredited coaches of Australian Football with an innovative online platform, set to take your coaching to the next level. Gain access to the Junior Coaching Curriculum resources including sessions and insights through the Rookie Me Coach platform.

As part of your Coaching membership, you have a FREE subscription to the Rookie Me Coach platform. A premium upgrade is also available to access extra content and features.

A guidebook has been created for coaches and clubs to learn more about the Junior Coaching Curriculum.

Discover "The What, The Why and The How" and learn more about the research, philosophy, principles of play, session structure, activities and more!

The junior training session structure is designed to sequentially build kids football skills and confidence over ten training sessions using a game-based approach whilst incorporating fundamental skill development throughout the program. Each training session runs for 70 minutes and is designed around the four quarters of a game with a pre-game activity section for unstructured play.

Designed for players turning 7 and 8 who are transitioning over from Auskick to Junior Footy. This level focuses on skills needed to work as an individual.

Designed for players turning 9 and 10 beginning the transition to working in small groups.

Designed for players who are under 11 and 12, focusing on skills needed to work as part of a team.

The Youth Coaching Curriculum (YCC) is specifically designed for football coaches working with players aged 13-18 and offers a structured curriculum comprising age-specific training blocks tailored to the needs of players within the 13-18 age range. Each training block includes session learning focuses, activity instructions, coaching constraints, and essential coaching insights.

View the Youth Coaching Curriculum here.

Listen to the experiences of Simon Goodwin, Adam Simpson and Justin Longmuir as they discuss their personal coaching experiences.

Learn from Sam Mitchell, Brendon Lade & Michael Voss on fundamentals of providing qualify feedback and effectively communicating with players.

Hear coaching insights from John Longmire, Brad Scott and Brett Ratten; and how they prepare and perform on match day.

Discover how you can become a ‘facilitator’ coach and ways to get your players to be more involved in their learning.

Understand the different types of motivation a player may have and the importance of gaining their input.

Explore different methods to help your coaching practice become more player driven.

Explore the different types of feedback a coach can provide and how you can help guide players learning.

The way we provide feedback will look different in various situations. Learn how to get the most out of your players in different settings and environments.

The way we provide feedback will look different in various situations. Learn how to get the most out of your players in different settings and environments.