Thousands of Australian children will participate in 150 ‘Try a Sport’ gala days as part of the national campaign ‘Play for Life...join a sporting club’, launched by the Australian Sports Commission in Marysville, Victoria on 21 July.

The campaign aims to educate and promote greater awareness about the benefits of good health, getting physically active and learning life skills. 

More than 150 events are being held in schools across Australia to highlight the variety of activities offered by Australian sporting clubs, as well as how these activities contribute to the healthy growth of Australian children and teach valuable life skills.

Ambassador of the ‘Play for Life...join a sporting club’ campaign, Johanna Griggs, joined Australian Football League Hawthorn Hawk players Clinton Young and Max Bailey and Australian cricketer Kristen Beams to help launch the initiative at Marysville Primary School. 

ASC CEO Matt Miller said the national campaign aims to encourage an estimated one million Australian children — or 37 per cent of children aged between five and 14  — who do not participate in any organised sportto get physically active.

‘The key is to find a sport that your child enjoys,’ Miller said. 

‘You may not find the perfect fit first time, but persevere. There are so many options available today — bowls, archery, golf, handball — to the more traditional sports we associate with children such as cricket, tennis, football and netball.

To assist in finding this fit, the campaign also features the launch of an online club finder to help people easily identify and join sporting clubs in their local area.

Johanna Griggs said the campaign reflects her own life journey, and her involvement in many club sports.

‘Playing club sports while growing up gave me a strong grounding in skills that are important to me today—like discipline, time management, team work, goal setting, motivation, respect and good sportsmanship,’ Griggs said. 

These are the qualities we all value in our peers, our work colleagues and our friends.’
Research shows there are strong links between playing a sport and maintaining good health and wellbeing.

Dr Andrew Pesce, President of the Australian Medical Association, said that children benefit from physical activity, especially in terms of their cognitive development, coordination, confidence and self esteem.

‘Providing opportunities for children to play sport can establish life-long positive attitudes towards physical activity. These attitudes will be crucial if Australia is to tackle its increasing levels of obesity and chronic disease,’ Dr Pesce said.

The campaign is a joint initiative of the ASC and state and territory departments of sport and recreation.