Catching ’em young

The YMCA is launching Rookie Sports at North Geelong following the success of the program at its Newtown and Bannockburn centres.
The program is open to kindergarten-aged children at the Geelong Arena for term 4, says YMCA’s Marija Privitelli.
“The littlelies come in and do different ball sports each week,” she says. “It’s all about developing motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination in a fun environment.
“We just want to let the community know there’s something for everyone – it doesn’t matter where you’re from in Geelong.”
And Children’s Week is the perfect time to launch the program, Marija says.
The YMCA will join festivities at Geelong’s Big Play Day at the Botanical Gardens on 24 October, hosting sports for the city’s youngsters.
“We’re looking forward to getting the kids trying out some of our sports,” Marija says.
The organisation runs sports ranging from basketball, judo and trampolining to ninja gym and gymnastics at its Newton, North Geelong and Bannockburn centres.
Its young qualified instructors connect well with the kids, Marija says.
“We’re quite proud of the fact that we employ a lot young people.”
One of those instructors is Toby Ford, 25, who has introduced new sports to Bannockburn kids for the past five years.
“When you watch them develop those, it’s quite rewarding,” he says.
But more than anything, the program is about running around, having a good time and making new mates, he says.
“They love it. We focus on enjoyment before development.”