Forward Pivot

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First Sporting Experiences

We all have them - mine takes me back to 1994. I was shy and not super keen on basketball, but I had been dragged along to watch my older brother attend a basketball clinic at Nunawading featuring the NBL’s South East Melbourne Magic.

As I sat on the sidelines in my Power Rangers tracksuit playing with toys, my mum seized an opportunity for me to get a photo with Magic player Adonis Jordan.

As you can see, whilst Adonis was great with kids I was too young to understand the experience. I know that look - I’m eager to return my toys I had brought to pass the time.

Flash forward ten minutes to the next photo - I'm brimming with delight and donning a Magic cap. Why?

Sonic the Hedgehog.

There is certainly truth in the idea that kids have changed in recent generations, but not as much as we think.

Engaging kids in sport is not a one size fits all approach. Some will be drawn to a sport by quality coaching; others will be attracted by activations, equipment, merchandise, player role models, and the odd video game mascot.

A quality community engagement strategy brings together all of these elements in a vibrant and accessible manner.

Ready to level up the first experiences your organisation provides to maximise membership and community impact? Book a free consult with us today.