Junior touch football is making a return to the Moree Plains, with a new program for seven to 17-year-olds being launched with a free skills day at Ron Harborne Oval from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Wednesday, January 23.
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The skills day provides an opportunity for children to try their hand at touch football under the guidance of local NSW Touch Association and Goodsports coaches ahead of the commencement of a weekly junior touch football competition set to kick off in February/March.
Registration for the skills day is not required, however participants are asked to bring water, sunscreen and hat, and parental supervision is required for children aged seven to 10.
“We are excited to be getting junior touch football up and running again in the region, and are thrilled to be able to offer the program free of charge to the community,” Moree Plains Shire Council’s community development officer Ros Laws said.
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The program is an initiative of the Moree Local Drug Action Team (LDAT), which was formed in 2018 after council received $10,000 from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) to establish a Local Drug Action Plan and become part of the National LDAT program for the region.
The Moree LDAT includes representatives from Moree Plains Shire Council, Moree Police Citizens Youth Club, Miyay Birray Youth Service, Moree Community Drug Action Team (CDAT), Healthwise, Moree Family Support, Hunter New England Health, St Vincent de Paul and NSW Police.
The Moree LDAT has since been successful in receiving an additional $17,000 from ADF to launch the junior touch football competition, a key priority in its LDAT Action Plan.
“Getting children involved in sport from an early age is critical in fostering an active lifestyle, and by offering this program free of charge, all children in our community can access it,” Mrs Laws said.
“Participants in the junior touch gootball competition will not only benefit from quality coaching and skills development, but will also be provided with education on leading a healthy lifestyle.
“We are also looking for dedicated members of the community who would like to become part of the new junior touch football committee, train as coaches and referees and generally assist with getting the season started in February/March 2019.”
Free training for coaches and referees will be provided by NSW Junior Touch Association, and all training and play is free of charge for the community for the duration of the season.
For more information on the competition and how you can get involved, enquire at the Skills Day on Wednesday, January 23 or contact Ros Laws on 6757 3428 or email roslyn.laws@mpsc.nsw.gov.au.
