The Barclayss Ashfield Academy is the latest recipient of a $750 Onside Sports voucher after entering the Smarter than Smoking Kicking Off Healthy Clubs competition.
The Healthway initiative rewards clubs who provide a healthy platform for players, officials and spectators.
The academy is part of the Ashfield Sports Club and Julie Nyatsambo explained what they have implemented since it began in November last year.
She said: “A unique part of our club is the additional training hours, which involves teams being involved in five training sessions throughout the week in addition to games. With five sessions a week, staying healthy is an important part of our routine.
“We want to ensure players are refreshed and ready for their training sessions, have fun, learn lots and go home happy.”
Julie said some of the steps the academy had taken included:
-
providing cool, filtered water for players, with filtered water on tap for players to refill water bottles
-
offering healthy snacks and fresh fruit smoothies for players who arrive early to do their homework before training
-
teaming up with Dr Alan Lee, from Perth Healthcare Centre, who will provide a professional level of healthcare for the players
-
checking weather updates regularly, ensuring water breaks occur and taking sessions indoor in the hot weather
Julie added: “We are still starting out but our first six weeks have been exciting.”
Perth Glory Women striker Leticia McKenna is the Kicking Off Healthy Club ambassador.
“The Smarter than Smoking Kicking Off Healthy Clubs program is a great way for clubs to offer a healthier option,” said Leticia, who represented Football West at the NTC Challenge in Canberra in July.
“It is great for young people to be active and healthy.
“My tips for young sports people keen to know more about being healthy are: drink plenty of water; eat healthily and cut down on the chips and fizzy drinks; and get plenty of rest.”
For full details on how clubs can offer healthier options and how to enter the Smarter than Smoking Kicking Off Healthy Clubs competition, please CLICK HERE
– The Smarter than Smoking Kicking Off Healthy Clubs initiative is driven by Football West and Healthway, the WA Health Promotion Foundation which is committed to improving the health of all West Australians.
Filed Under: Community News