Clubs get creative for seniors

RUNNING sporting competitions during the day, modifying games to be less physically exerting, and promoting their volunteer potential are being touted as ways to get more older adults into sporting clubs.

A $23 million pot of federal funding has been made available to sporting associations that get more seniors active, as part of a national sporting strategy.

But sport participation researchers say clubs need to include older adults into their strategic plans to truly make the program sustainable, as well as ensuring it is not simply walking that is promoted as physical activity.

Associate Professor Rochelle Eime from Victoria University’s Institute for Sport and Health said while Sport Australia’s strategy was a vital boost to ensuring more older adults gained the physical and social benefits of playing sport, associations needed to make considered changes to the way they structured competitions, and to the accessibility of their grounds, to make the program realise its full potential.

“Sports don’t necessarily have the capacities or expertise to work with this new target market, who have completely different needs to young child- ren,” Associate Prof Eime said.

“If they don’t prioritise older adults in their strategic plan, they’ll grab at this money but not have the capacity to make it sustainable.”

VicHealth is leading a similar program encouraging associations to modify sports to attract teenagers through a $6 million State Government initiative.

Associate Prof Eime said sporting clubs could boost numbers by getting creative.

“Infrastructure like ramps and rails is important, but also modifying the traditional competitive sport model so it’s not run in the peak heat of the day, using softer balls or bringing the boundaries in,” she said.