Guyra Junior Rugby League Football Club has become the latest community sporting club in the New England region to enthusiastically embrace thehealthy ideals of the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports Program. Theclub has recently achieved Level 1 Accreditation in the innovative free program, which helps community sports clubs change their culture and become more focused on young people and family friendly environments. These changes include the responsible management of alcohol, the promotion of healthy eating, encouragement of physical participation and the restriction of ‘on-site’ smoking as required by law.

To achieve Level 1 Accreditation of the three-step Good Sports program, a sporting club has to adhere to the Liquor Licensing laws; train their bar staff in the Responsible Serving of Alcohol; undertake certified coach accreditation; as well as training in basic nutrition and safe food handling techniques.

Mark Honeysett, Good Sports Project Officer for Guyra says, “The Good Sports program brings real benefits to the community sporting clubs through increased membership and numbers of volunteers, as well as increased support of the club through sponsorship by local organizations. It also makes the club is a more attractive place to be for players, spectators and volunteers.

Registrar Guyra Junior Rugby League Football Club Peta Waters said, “As aclub with young members who look up to the more senior players, we believeit is valuable for our club to work with the Good Sports program to build ahealthier, more family friendly environment for all our members.”

Good Sports is a nationwide program that helps community sports clubs to change their culture to become more focused on young people and families by providing leadership and support to build viable family friendly environments in which alcohol is managed responsibly, healthy eating is promoted, physical participation is encouraged and ‘on-site’ smoking is restricted as required by law.

To achieve Level 1 Accreditation of the three-step program, a sporting club has to adhere to the Liquor Licensing laws (if they are licensed); train their bar staff in the Responsible Serving of Alcohol (if they are licensed and sell alcohol); ensure their coaches are accredited; and provide a few healthier food and drink alternatives in their canteen, if they have one.

To get your sporting club involved in the free program, or for further information, please contact Marc Glanville, Hunter New England Regional Manager on 0407 701 690 or email marc@adf.org.au, or visit our website www.goodsports.com.au