SPORT is a crucial avenue in teaching youth values vital to the community.
Last week the Swan Hill Leisure Centre (SHLC) and Reclink partnered to help children in Swan Hill let off their bountiful energy with a youth basketball tournament.
With a $100 Sportspower voucher up for grabs, teams of three formed for the fun-filled competitive tournament.
SHLC youth activation officer and tournament organiser Dani Fleming said the tournament was organised to give children an activity to do during the school holidays.
“Speaking to a few of the kids, they all loved basketball,” she said.
“So, we came up with the idea of a tournament to be run towards the back of school holidays when there’s less going on for kids to do.”
The tournament began with teams of five before moving to the three-person per team, 10-minute format midway through the week – an idea Fleming described as “fantastic”.
“The 10-minute games proved to be a great hit with the kids, and their sportsmanship throughout the week was brilliant, which made it a very enjoyable tournament,” Fleming said.
Getting children involved in a team environment is important to their development as valued community members, a central aim of the tournament, Reclink sports co-ordinator Mikayla Evans said.
“Programs like these provide youth with the opportunity to connect to their community,” she said.
“Through our programs at Reclink like this one, participants can achieve better physical and mental health along with making friends and being involved socially with the people they live around.”
Fleming continued: “This is a major part of social inclusion, development and acceptance.
“In every local community, there’s got to be teamwork and little things like these teach kids the value of community and teamwork.
“The Swan Hill community should be giving a big thank you to Mikayla and Youthinc worker Will Burns for their tremendous work with the youth in our community.”
