Kids taste Olympic glory as Allianz Grassroots Champion Initiative aims to tackle worrying youth sport dropout rates
Talented young sportspeople are getting a taste of what it’s like to be an Aussie Olympian or Paralympian in a bid to drive up youth sport participation as concerning research emerges.
NSW
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Young Sydney sportspeople are getting a taste of what it’s like to be an Olympian or Paralympian in a bid to drive up youth sport participation.
The Allianz Grassroots Champion Initiative is underway as new research shows one third of Aussie kids are planning to drop out of sport in favour of activities such as gaming.
Football St George midfielder Ashleigh, 12, stepped into Sydney’s world-class Allianz Stadium to play a match and dream big.
As part of the initiative, when young athletes like Ashleigh score a goal or finish a race they will hear the roar of about 45,000 Australians cheering them on – “Go Australia” – despite grandstands being empty.
The sound was recorded with the voices of athletes including wheelchair sprinter Madison de Rozario and diver Nikita Hains to give kids a chance to feel what it’s like to be backed by the nation.
“It was amazing to experience what it would be like one day to see all those seats full of people cheering loudly as I play on the pitch,” Ashleigh said.
“It felt amazing to represent the club and just to be with my team, and it felt like a step closer to one day representing the Matildas at Allianz Stadium.”
“We got to pass and shoot on the field and it was a great time to be able to play on the grounds, I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” she said.
Grassroots teams also got the chance to meet Olympic bronze medallist surfer Owen Wright.
The Allianz ambassador said support and inspiration were key to encouraging children to continue playing sport both professionally and socially.
A survey of more than 1000 parents has revealed a quarter of young Australians decide to stop playing sport by age 15, while 50 per cent of children with a disability have alarmingly decided to stop playing sport altogether by the age of 11.
Among the reasons cited were include cost-of-living pressures and membership fees, as well as travel expenses, lack of time, accessibility and competitiveness.
Up to one in 10 children without a disability and one in four with a disability have decided to drop out-of-school sport due to feeling anxious while playing, opting for home-based activities like gaming instead.
However, with the Paris 2024 Games only weeks away, kids like Ashleigh have been inspired and the benefits of sport have been made clear by the initiative.
She was thrilled “to get the opportunity to experience being on the grounds of the stadium” and said “meeting Olympians motivated me to keep trying harder so I can one day be an Olympian”.
“I think kids should stay in sport because it’s just a great way to enjoy yourself and break away from other outside problems,” she said.
“Plus, you can also make new friends, find things you love and always stay positive.”
Ashleigh’s mum, Karina said she believed families should prioritise sport and use the Olympics – which historically triggers an up-tick in participation – to encourage kids.
“I think watching the Olympics with your kids is an awesome way to motivate them to play sports,” she said.
“It’s also a great way for them to learn about the athletes and get to understand who they are as people, which is a fantastic way to then find inspiration in them as role models.”
Wright said he would not be where he was today without his support network and country cheering.
“ … because there is no other feeling like being cheered on to do your best,” he said.
“The confidence and encouragement it offers is indescribable and I am so excited to share this feeling with the next generation of young athletes.”
But Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre clinical psychologist Doctor Emma Steer said kids
can just play for fun and do not need to aim to be an don’t have to aim for the world stage.
She wants to see a stronger focus on fitness and fun versus competition and winning in Australia, as well as more training for coaches to support children of all needs.
Dr Steer also called for flexibility around financial commitments.
She agreed simply cheering on kids could encourage them to stick with sport.
“Ensuring children know they have a strong support network around them can be a huge motivation for them to stay in sport,” Dr Steer said.
“Seeing their parents and guardians cheer them on, showing pride in their participation and giving words of affirmation are some of the ways Aussie kids can feel supported.
“As the research finds, there are so many benefits to children of all abilities being involved in sports, such as developing an increased confidence and self-belief and learning the value of teamwork.
“It’s incredibly beneficial that we keep kids in sport so they can see their full potential.”
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Originally published as Kids taste Olympic glory as Allianz Grassroots Champion Initiative aims to tackle worrying youth sport dropout rates
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