Sport in the Neighbourhood

We all have fond childhood memories of playing muck-around sport at the local park.

No rules, no cost, no structure – just long afternoons of exercise, enjoyment and fun with friends and neighbours.

Changes in our society have seen this type of play fade away over the years.  

But the residents of Bateau Bay on the NSW Central Coast have reignited it, with many positive results for their community.  

And they’re now sharing their experience with others.

“Sport in the Neighbourhood is a free community-run program in Bateau Bay,” says Matt Sawyer from Sport and Recreation.

“Volunteer leaders coordinate and supervise sports and games for young people at the local park each week.

“The leaders set up a number of games where kids can walk straight up and get started.

“There’s also a range of equipment kids are free to use to start their own games. At the end of the session, everyone helps pack up the gear and return it to the local youth centre,” says Mr Sawyer.

It’s a simple concept, but effective because it stems from strong community desire.

“Parents in the area wanted regular, free sporting activities for local kids to keep them active and safe.

“It was also about making their neighbourhood an even better place to live. They hoped these activities would help adults to get to know their neighbours better and create a sense of community,” says Mr Sawyer.

Bateau Bay residents worked with members of the Killarney Vale, Bateau Bay and Tumbi Umbi Community Building Network, made up of government agencies and community groups.

“Working together was essential. Securing playing fields, training volunteers, getting access to toilets, funding equipment purchases and conducting letterbox drops were just some of the tasks the group had to coordinate.”

Sport in the Neighbourhood has now been running in Bateau Bay for five years. Today, dozens of children still attend sessions on a weekly basis.

Its success has led to the development of a guide on how to establish such a program.

“This new guide covers step-by-step how Sport in the Neighbourhood was set up, from the initial community consultation right through to running the program and evaluating it.

“Sport in the Neighbourhood has produced many positive results for Bateau Bay.

“We hope this guide can help other communities develop similar successful and sustainable grass-roots sport programs,” says Mr Sawyer.

More information

Matt Sawyer
Sport and Recreation, Central Coast Office
Phone (02) 4362 3184
Email matthew.sawyer @communities.nsw.gov.au