A SPORTS matchmaker coming to the region during school holidays hopes to organise a few first dates and get kids active into the bargain.
The aim is to match clubs with new members and participants and set up a date for them to get to know each other better.
The Meet Your Club program aims to do on a couple of days what Join the Club has been doing all year – introduce new people to community clubs and groups.
Organiser Myles Benham, of the Active After-school Activities program, said the new concept was ideal for an expanding area like the Bellarine Peninsula.
“There are lots of people who are new to the community and don’t really know what clubs and groups are around,” Myles explained.
“This is just a way to enable new people to find out what’s on offer.”
Myles said the larger clubs and high-profile sports would always attract participants and survive but smaller clubs often struggled for lack of awareness.
Clubs and sports like bowls, badminton and softball were often overlooked and had difficulty attracting new members, he said.
No wonder Myles has had a great response from various clubs – and not just sportsclubs, either.
About 35 community clubs will offer their services, including local guides, rotary, a surf club and even Springdale Community Centre.
In return, the Meet Your Club days help local clubs build their brand, attracting members, sponsors and supporters.
“We’re supporting clubs to build their base,” Myles said.
“We’re aiming it at primary school kids firstly, because it’s easier to get them. Families usually get involved as well.”
In its search for clubs on the peninsula, the program, supported by Australian Sports Commission, has also developed a useful database for other programs to make use of.
“I didn’t even know half the clubs were here,” Myles confessed.
“It’s been great to get a better idea of what groups are around and what they’re doing.”
The Active After-school Activities program is a free sport program for primary school kids, supported by Federal Government funding.
Around 30 local clubs provide activities for kids after school and the Meet Your Club concept fits right in, Myles explained.
“It’s virtually an extension of what the program does anyway. There are 45 schools in the region participating in the program.”
The participating clubs will all offer “active stations” on the Meet Your Club days, aiming to get kids playing the sport or doing the activity.
“At the very least it’s a free school holiday activity,” smiled Myles. “Parents should like that.”
Meet Your Club will be at St Ignatius College, Peninsula Dve, Drysdale, from 10am to midday on 23 and 30 September.
