Brisbane Roar FC is helping Queensland kids develop active lifestyles at an early age as part of the Federal Government’s new Sporting Schools initiative.
Football Federation Australia is among more than 30 national sporting organisations partnered with Sporting Schools to nurture healthy habits and greater participation in sport.
Hyundai A-League clubs are administering fun-filled sessions in primary schools around the nation with the Roar already implementing numerous programs across Queensland.
Brisbane Roar already delivers the Hyundai A-League’s longest-running and most successful community football program in the Pauls Roar Active Program (RAP) and the club sees its involvement in Sporting Schools as a natural extension to its RAP program.
With the support of Football Queensland, the Roar has trained 25 coaches to work within the new official Sporting Schools framework and is in the process of accrediting more.
The Roar’s Community Football Program Manager Andy Pinches said kids were getting a kick out of learning basic sporting skills.
“There has been a huge amount of interest from schools in using Sporting Schools funding for football and the kids are loving it,” he said.
“Just getting out in the fresh air and kicking a ball around is great for them.
“We already have school programs organised in venues including Townsville, Kingaroy and Bundaberg as well as a number throughout the south-east corner of the state.”
The Roar’s Community Football Program uses the principles of AIA Vitality MiniRoos, which introduces boys and girls to football in an environment geared to encourage participation and fun.
“Using the fundamentals from MiniRoos and the football experience of Brisbane Roar means we can control the quality of what is being taught,” Pinches said.
“It’s important to make any child’s first interaction with sport a positive one so they develop an early passion.”
School teachers are also being provided with tools for indoor-based futsal games in an effort to make ongoing participation in physical activity more accessible.
For more information on how to get involved in one of the programs, contact the Roar’s Andy Pinches on APinches@brisbaneroar.com.au or go to the Roar’s RAP web page roaractive.com.au
