Push to get more kids on the track

WITH the summer approaching, Sports Central is teaming up with Regional Sport Victoria to try and boost recruitment for clubs.

Known as Stride into Sport, statewide initiative, is aimed at encouraging people aged between four and 19 to join a local sports organisation.

Sports Central’s executive officer Michael Flynn said the program will take the form of internet advertising.

“This is a digital campaign heavily driven by media and social media with the aim of looking to activate and encourage our communities to join local sporting teams,” he said.

“We’re particularly looking at juniors and families trying to get back into sport for the summer seasons so we’ll be really pushing this for the next few weeks.

“It’s a critical signup time right now. We’re working closely with local clubs and leagues across the Central Highlands region to promote them.”

Sports Central is one of eight sporting groups throughout the state involved in the program.

A survey from VicHealth and Sport and Recreation Victoria estimated a drop in the regional organised sports participation eight per cent between 2019 and 2020.

Over that time the number of player registrations per 100 residents in Ballarat dropped from 14.81 per cent to 10 per cent.

Mr Flynn said it’s especially important to get young people back into sport.

“Obviously juniors have been really heavily impacted from the last few years. They haven’t had that continuity over that period,” he said.

“The health and social connectiveness benefit of being part of local teams is really important for their development and wellbeing.

“Our region is pretty reflective of the drop off rates from that statewide report. It’s important for clubs to be healthy and vibrant and to have junior families be part of that.”