Racing to improve mental health

YOUNG football and netball club leaders across the Barwon region are encouraging better mental health around their clubs with their Game Changers Race.

A Read the Play initiative, the Game Changers program features an Amazing Race-inspired activity that builds connection, support, teamwork and mental health awareness in sporting teams.

Behind the movement are local leaders Noah Smith from Newtown and Chilwell Football Netball Club, Shaya Walter and Darcy Storrar from St Albans Football Netball Club, and Eva Hammond from Geelong Amateur Football Netball Club.

St Albans Football Netball Club held the race on July 31, where the leaders took groups through each of their activities.

Darcy said the race was designed to get others to step outside of their comfort zones and talk about pressing issues that young people face every day, hoping to unite people at the club.

“Life is hard enough as it is without having a football netball club as another stressful facet of your life,” he said.

“Having somewhere you can come, and you know that you’ve got people to talk to and know that it helps playing sport and being around other people is a way to solve other issues that you may have going on in your life as well.”

The young leaders have spent the season working with Read the Play to co-design the initiative that speaks directly to their peers.

Shaya said being able to design everything for the race was one of the most enjoyable parts of the program.

“We pretty much got free rein just to do whatever we wanted, working together, designing everything, and it’s always fun at the club running stuff for the kids,” she said.

“We decided our overall goal was to build connections between the club, the relationships, especially because footy and netball are such a big thing within the Geelong region, having those connections within the clubs can really help people who are struggling.”

The young leaders were nominated by their clubs and have spent the season working with Read the Play to co-design the initiative.

Each participating club receives a challenge kit they can deliver during training or game day, designed to spark real conversations between players.

Read The Play general manager Michelle Gerdtz said the Game Changers Race shows the power of peer leadership.

“These young people have created something that’s already making a difference – breaking down barriers, building stronger teams, and making mental wellbeing a normal part of club culture,” she said.