Program gives youth chance to try sports
The Burnie Play for Life program has began to roll out to get young people active in sports, as reported on by The Advocate Newspaper Sept. 9, 2014, 9:30 a.m.
ACROSS Burnie basketballs are bouncing and lawn bowls clinking as hundreds of young people, including members of the community most at need, get the opportunity to play for life.
The Burnie Play for Life Program is a joint initiative of the Department Health and Human Services and the Burnie City Council and is supporting young people to be involved and connected to regular, organised sport or recreational activity.
Every primary and high school in the Burnie City Council region has a Play for Life ambassador that encourages students who are disengaged or at risk of disengagement to be given the opportunity to connect in a purposeful and successful way with clubs and or organisations using sport as the driver.
‘‘Sport has so many benefits to young people,’’ said Havenview Primary School Principal and chair of the Play for Life Committee, Simon Dent.
‘‘The Play for Life Program, partnering with inclusive sports in Burnie who share our values of developing self-confidence, team work and determination, are helping our youth be inspired to stay engaged in the community.’’
The first sports connecting with the program are the South Burnie Bowls Club and Burnie Basketball Association.
Over the course of a week accredited coaches have at lunch time been delivering fun, inclusive, safe and highly active sessions for boys and girls.
To keep the fun going students then have the opportunity to be involved in upcoming term 3 school holiday Jack Attack and Aussie Hoops programs, giving the chance for participants to join as a member.
So far 140 high school students from Parklands and Marist have had a bowl and 200 children from Somerset, Natone, Montello and Havenview have shot some hoops.
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Burnie Basketball Association president Tim Waller was thrilled at how Play for Life has strengthened the club’s community links.
‘‘When we became aware of the program our club jumped at the opportunity to get involved as it helps us to build our junior membership by getting basketball into our schools and then offering them a pathway back to our club,’’ he said.
Clubs in Burnie interested in getting on board with the fun should contact Simon Dent on 6431 3995.
