The Roger Rasheed Sports Foundation (RRSF), in partnership with City of Onkaparinga, has wasted no time in launching a range of free basketball, soccer, skateboarding, football and tennis programs since the official launch of the Morton Road/ Niipu-niipu Wama park in October 2021.
Designed to get local youth involved in various sports, over 30 sports sessions have been introduced in just the first three months of this year. More than 50 participants have thrown themselves enthusiastically into the sessions and, for many of these local kids, it’s their first time having a go at their selected sport.
Local sporting organisations are providing a trained coach to facilitate the various sporting programs including South Adelaide Football Club, Free Mind Skate School, Community 3 x 3 Basketball, One Culture Football and Down the Line Tennis.
Parents of the local participants have expressed their gratitude to both RRSF and council, many have been unable to afford other sports programs and these free sessions have provided the perfect opportunity to get their kids active and involved.
City of Onkaparinga Community Development Officer Jeffery Purves is part of the collaboration team responsible for bringing the free coaching and mentoring sports programs to local youth.
“We have had a number of very positive outcomes in a short time period including young people receiving their own football to take home after being part of our footy sessions, an equal number of boys and girls signing up for the skate board sessions and a number of kids buying their own tennis racquet so they can play outside of our tennis sessions.
The collaboration has formed great links with a variety of community groups and the public to increase participation levels in these free sports programs. There will be more sports to come so keep an eye out for more positive news coming from Niipu-niipu Wama”, Jeffery said.
Niipu-niipu Wama, on the corner of Morton and Flaxmill Road includes multi-use courts, a skate park, play space and public facilities.
For more information visit the website or phone 0481 093 908.