Coaches' corner

The Love the Game round celebrates coaches and your role in the lives of young people.

Coaches are encouraged to make a game plan to talk to their team about the risks of sports betting.

Young men (18–24 years) make up almost a third of sports bettors in Victoria, and participation by young women is rising. This group is the first generation to have grown up with sports betting ads.

You don’t need to be an expert on gambling to start a conversation about it. You can learn about the issue and get ahead by encouraging your team to love the game, not the odds.

Why is this important?

  • Kids think betting on sport is normal.
  • The ads make it look fun, but gambling is a risky activity.
  • Kids are constantly bombarded by sports gambling ads and they absorb the content.
  • Kids’ exposure to gambling ads now will influence their attitudes and behaviour later.

Be a leader

  • Kids respect and look up to you to lead them on and off the field.
  • As their coach, your team will listen to your advice.
  • This is a growing issue and research shows the potential for it to get worse – coaches can be a positive influence for their teams.
  • You can help your team understand and critically assess the risks associated with gambling, so they will be better prepared to make decisions about betting in the future.

Watch our community coaches' virtual forum,‘The game plan - creating a culture for success’ – AFL’s top professional coaches offer advice.

  • Take a leading role this month:
    • listen out for sports betting banter and respond by shifting the conversation away from the odds, and towards skills, teamwork and fun
    • ask your team what they think about sports betting ads
    • get the team excited about playing sport, encourage them to love the game, not the odds.
  • Watch videos from Victoria’s top coaches

Coaches videos

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 1

VRGF CEO Shane Lucas & Head of AFL Victoria Ben Kavenagh discuss why the Love the Game message is so important and why coaches are the most influential voices in local clubs.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 1

VRGF CEO Shane Lucas & Head of AFL Victoria Ben Kavenagh discuss why the Love the Game message is so important and why coaches are the most influential voices in local clubs.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 2

St Kilda FC's Head of Development & Learning - Damian Caril & Melbourne Demons' Midfield Coach Adem Yze talk about the role of the coach as a mentor.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 2

St Kilda FC's Head of Development & Learning - Damian Caril & Melbourne Demons' Midfield Coach Adem Yze talk about the role of the coach as a mentor.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 3

Renowned sports mindfulness coach Emma Murray joins Abbey Holmes to talk about the negatives of sports betting advertising.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 3

Renowned sports mindfulness coach Emma Murray joins Abbey Holmes to talk about the negatives of sports betting advertising.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 4

AFL Victoria State Coaching Manager Rick Coburn and Western Bulldogs AFLW Coach Nathan Burke join to forum to talk about the importance of community coaches.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 4

AFL Victoria State Coaching Manager Rick Coburn and Western Bulldogs AFLW Coach Nathan Burke join to forum to talk about the importance of community coaches.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 5

Geelong Cats Coach Chris Scott talks about consistency and maintaining success.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 5

Geelong Cats Coach Chris Scott talks about consistency and maintaining success.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 6

The AFL's first female Assistant Coach, Peta Searle talks about courageous leadership and influencing change.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 6

The AFL's first female Assistant Coach, Peta Searle talks about courageous leadership and influencing change.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 7

Hawthorn AFLW Coach Bec Goddard, Collingwood AFLW Coach Steve Symonds and Essendon AFLW Coach Natalie Wood talk about actions and behaviours off the field.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 8

Former AFL coaches Paul Roos and Guy McKenna talk about how to build club culture.

The Game Plan Coaches' Forum Part 9

Hosts Gerrard Whateley and Abbey Holmes call on all coaches to talk to their teams about the risks of sports betting.

Building strong relationships

Anthony Frost – Academy Director, Western United FC speaks about how a coach can build strong relationships and get the best out of their players.

Creating a love for the game

Jeff Hopkins, A-Leagues Head Coach - Women highlights the importance of building relationships with your team and nurturing their love of the game.

The joy of coaching

Helen Winterburn, Assistant Coach at Western United FC talks about creating buy-in from the playing group and how to get the most out of yourself as a coach.

Building the best club culture

Anthony Frost discusses how to work towards building the best club culture.

Coaches of influence

Assistant Coach, Western United FC Helen Winterburn talks about the pervasiveness of gambling ads, and the coaches who have influenced her career.

Make a game plan

Coach Nick Wall from Whitehorse Colts Netball & Football encourages other coaches to talk to kids about the benefits of the game.

Love the Game Round 2022

VRGF CEO Shane Lucas joins AFL Victoria’s Andrew Ainger, Whitehorse Colts Coach Nick Wall and Tim Murray from Yarra Junior Football to encourage coaches to continue to talk to kids about the risks of sports betting.

Love the Game Quiz

Do you know how much was spent on gambling ads in 2021? Or how many gambling ads were shown per day?

Quiz time with Magpies Geva Mentor and Kelsey Browne

Join Geva Mentor and Kelsey Browne in taking the Love the Game Quiz.

Magpies Coach, Nicole Richardson, encourages parents to make a game plan.

Magpies Coach, Nicole Richardson, encourages parents to make a game plan on talking to kids about the risks of sports betting.

Q&A with Collingwood's Nev Jetta and Craig McRae

Assistant coaches Neville Jetta and Scott Selwood talk about being the coach for kids.

Question time with Hawthorn's Mitch Lewis and coach Sam Mitchell

Coach Sam Mitchell and Mitch Lewis make a game plan to talk to kids about sports betting risks.

Melbourne Victory - Make a game plan

Melbourne Rebels - Make a game plan

Western Bulldogs Coach Chris Grant - Tips for parents

Speaking as a coach and parent, Western Bulldogs Coach Chris Grant is encouraging parents to talk to kids about the risks of gambling.

Richmond FC Coach on why we need to Love the Game, Not the Odds

Richmond FC Coach Damien Hardwick talks about how parents can make a game plan.

Carlton FC coach on what we need to coach our kids

Carlton FC Coach Michael Voss shares tips for parents on how to talk to kids about the risks of gambling.

Love the Game Launch - Mitch Lewis

Like us, Mitch Lewis and Hawthorn Football Club are concerned that the first generation to grow up with gambling advertising is now the largest group of sports bettors in Victoria.

Western United FC coach John Aloisi - Make a game plan

Speaking as a coach and parent, legendary Socceroos and Western United FC coach John Aloisi urges parents and coaches to make a game plan.

Melbourne Demons - Talking To Kids About Sports Betting

Join Goody and Browny in making a game plan to talk about the risks of sports betting.

Victorian coaches unite for Love the Game round

This May for Love the Game round, Victorian coaches are encouraging coaches and parents to make a game plan and talk to kids about the risks of sports betting.

Western Bulldog's Luke Beveridge on Talk. Share. Support.

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