National Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Conference

Enhancing Performance: A case of LLN development in sport

Enhancing Performance: A case of LLN development in sport

Presenters: Jim Spithill, ACER

Friday, 10 May 2013

Breakout Session 5, 1.30 - 2:30 pm

The end of each AFL season sees significant turnover in the player lists of the eighteen teams. Dozens of mostly young players are drafted into each club’s system. They arrive from a wide range of backgrounds into a system where the demands on their literacy and numeracy skills are very high. There is information to absorb about fitness levels, nutrition, weight training, team playing styles and personal wellbeing. Once the season proper begins they are deluged with match statistics about their own and their opponents’ performances. They need to learn independent living skills and how to manage their money.

Internationally, the need to care for athletes during and after their active careers is recognised and promoted from the International Olympic Committee level and down through the peak sporting bodies. The AFL requires that clubs have designated Player Development Managers, and the AFL Players’ Association Player Development team works with these staff within each club. The AFLPA takes the leading role in helping clubs to assist their players with the LLN skills that underpin performance. All new draftees take an assessment of their literacy and numeracy levels against the ACSF descriptors, and the results inevitably show a wide range of abilities.

This session will outline the way the AFLPA works with the assessment expertise of ACER to facilitate good on ground performance and career outcomes for as many players as possible.

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