SCHOOL SPORTS - THE GOOD GUYS GOOD TO BE ACTIVE PRORGAM

Total Recreation began working in schools in 2004 after it was identified that many students with a disability did not have access to structured sporting sessions during schools hours.

For example both Nemarluk and Henbury schools (both for students with a disability) neither have a sports teacher.  As outlined in the School Sports survey conducted during 2009 67% of students involved in the School Sports program had never been involved in structured sporting activities previously. Also highlighted was that 81% of the students surveyed also felt that their involvement in the School Sports program had motivated them to become more active outside of school hours.  A separate survey was also conducted with teachers and support staff who attended the program and they identified students involved had developed skilled, increased fitness and gained confidence from their involvement.

Over the past 6 years the program has developed from 1 school to now include 12 schools and over 200 students on a weekly basis.   The program is delivered through 7 sessions each week in schools and includes the swimming carnival, NT Table Cricket Championships and the Nemarluk and Henbury athletics carnivals.  The program provides a safe and inclusive environment in which students with a disability develop sporting skills, become part of a team and experience all of the advantages of being involved in physical activity.

A further pathway of this program is a gymnastics group, a swimming squad and a soccer squad all of which practice after school and involve athletes with a disability that were introduced to the sport during the School Sports program.  Six of these athletes recently represented the Northern Territory at the Special Olympics Nation Games in Adelaide.

Physical activity is important in the development of any child. The School Sports program aims to close to gap between students with a disability and their peers, providing equal access to structure physical activity during school hours.