FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to be Australian to play?
NO! The New York Magpies welcome players from any nationality who are living in the New York Metro area to play. To compete within the United States Australian Football League (USAFL – http://www.usfooty.com/), we must have a 50/50 ratio of Australian citizens and non-Australian citizens (predominately composed of Americans). Therefore, even if you have never kicked a football before in your life you are still able to play for the Magpies!
Are the players professional or amateur?
The players are all amateur. As such, we organize our trainings and games to try and accommodate for the work schedules that many have in New York. The New York Magpies Australian Football Club is a registered not-for-profit charitable organization under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).
What level of football is the USAFL?
The standard within the teams vary, including players who have previously played at a professional or amateur level in Australia, Americans who have played for a number of years in the US, and also both Australians and Americans who are learning the game for the first time. For those that have played football in Australia, a comparable standard of the New York Magpies is a mid-level amateur side, although rapidly improving in standard.
Where can I learn more about the skills of the game?
One of the best resources is the Auskick website which has great skills and training videos – Video Lessons.
- General Skills – Sidestep, Ruckwork, Picking up the Ball, Palming, Dummy, Bouncing on the Run, Baulking (Blind Turning), Ball Handling
- Marking Skills – Marking, Chest Mark, Hand Mark, Overhead Mark
- Defensive Skills – Smothering
- Handball Skills – Bounce, Rocket
- Kicking Skills – Kicking, Goal Kicking, Torpedo Punt, Drop Punt, Banana Kick
Where can I buy a football in the US?
You can buy footballs in the US from the following locations:
- US Footy Store – Burley (US made) Footballs
- BigGrab Sports, North America’s Official Supplier of AFL Footy Gear – Sherrin Footballs
What fitness level is required?
Australian Football is perfect for people who have previously played an American college sport, such as American football, Rugby, Lacrosse, Soccer etc. The level of fitness is similar to that of soccer players, but Australian Football also contains tackling.
How many games are played per year?
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