Media Release 12 April 2011
For Immediate Release

Kids In Sport

In yesterday’s New Zealand Herald online, under the heading “Bad Sports”, Jane Phare addresses the issue of kids getting access to sport and recreation opportunities in schools. In the article, Ms Phare highlights the high cost of participation in organised sport and recreation opportunities and points out that for many parents this cost is, quite simply, prohibitive. She quotes AUT sociology professor Charles Crothers who says he would like to see more facilities like the YMCA spread through suburbs within easy reach of all families.

The YMCA agrees. As part of its aim of building strong kids, strong families and strong communities, the YMCA has always had a commitment to providing well structured physical activity programmes that aim to develop people in Body, Mind and Spirit. In recent years, the YMCA has worked closely with SPARC to help deliver their strategy of getting more kids in sport and recreation. As Professor Crothers succinctly points out, sport and recreation for kids is “.. not just baby-sitting, it’s developing social skills...” so is a critical tool for helping shape and develop young people (and the not so young). The YMCA see’s huge benefit in provision of ‘non-built’ facilities such as relocatable teen playgrounds and areas for spontaneous recreation spread across communities.

As Ms Phare also points out in her article, cost has become a significant barrier to many kids being more active. Many schools are not well enough resourced to provide adequate sport and recreation programmes and many parents are unable to afford it.

The YMCA believes there is an opportunity for more community groups like us to work with more schools, parents and communities to get our kids involved in sport and recreation. We are already doing this in many areas of New Zealand. With more funding support we could do a great deal more.

ENDS