Why Just Play?
- While school sport exists in many forms, many students currently do not engage due to a number of reasons – whether they are less skilled, less “sporty” or simply not interested in what’s being offered.
- Sporting Organisations and physical activity providers are realising the need to create alternatives to organised and competitive sport to better meet the interests and lifestyle requirements of young people.
- The need exists for an initiative to focus on those students who do not participate – providing them with opportunities to access physical activity
Where does it fit?
- Just Play is funded by the Australian Government’s Sporting Schools Program – a national program aimed at providing the resources to help sporting clubs, coaches and teachers to run sport specific activities and get children before, during and after school active, engaged and having fun.
What are the key aims of Just Play?
- To engage more primary students in school “sport” through the diversification of opportunity, breaking the traditional focus and delivery model, while building school cluster communities, and promoting school unity and spirit; and
- To assist sports to enhance their relevance and viability by opening a different entry point into their activities through social engagement within the school setting.
What does it look like?
- Development and implementation of cluster participation events and gala days focusing on providing students with opportunities to engage in physical activity in a fun, safe and non-competitive environment.
- Creating and strengthening links between primary schools and high school/colleges in regards to peer coaching and organisation and implementation of sporting events/gala days.
- Cluster events/gala days specifically targeting students with special needs and/or disabilities.
- Facilitation of links between schools and sporting providers.
- Professional development opportunities aimed at building teachers capacity to deliver physical education and activity that is relevant to all students.
Want to be involved?
Contact Liz Chester at justplay@schoolsportact.org.au or on 6205 9174
What’s been happening?
Term 1, 2016
Sports coaching students from Stromlo High School were upskilled by Capital Football in preparation for Just Play’s pilot program with Arawang and Chapman primary school students.
Year 5 and 6 students from Arawang PS and Chapman PS are participating in a 6 week program run by Capital Football and Stromlo HS sports coaching students. The sessions are centred on fun, inclusiveness and high engagement.
Term 4, 2015
Over 500 students from schools across Canberra attended North Side and South Side Just Play Gala days to participate in more than 15 different sports.
Latest Bulletins
- ACT Sport Bulletin 2019 #1 16 Jan 2019
- ACT Sport Bulletin #19 19 Dec 2018
- ACT Sport Bulletin #18 05 Dec 2018
Contact Us
Hackett, ACT 2602
Phone: +61 2 6205 9174
Fax: +61 2 6205 7799
Email: info@schoolsportact.org.au
ABN: 95 825 767 889