This year, in addition to all the fun and games of this annual sporting extravaganza, the schoolchildren also took part in a serious fact-finding study, a 10-year follow-up to the original ground-breaking Health of the Nation study, which first revealed the magnitude of obesity in South African children. The resulting information and statistics will assist health and education policy makers to gauge where we are, so that they can continue steering SA youth towards healthier lifestyles.   The Kellogg’s Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge is supported by the national Department of Health Promotion, Western Cape Department of Health, Education, Cultural Affairs and Sport.

Thanks to our sponsors Kellogg’s in association with Virgin Active, KIA Motors, SuperSport Let’s and Good Hope fm for making the project possible. and to the Sporting Chance team of coaches for all their hard work.

The weather has been sublime and we couldn’t be more grateful to have had a warm week in the middle of July. Not sure if it’s climate change or just pure luck with the timing, but it certainly made the clinics run well with everyone enjoying the winter sunshine.

The Constantia venue has again proved popular with both the rugby and soccer clinics being well attended. Of particular interest was the amount of players that come from the traditional Southern Schools that enjoy soccer and would like to see the sport being introduced into their school sports structure… we will have to watch that space.

Bellville and Somerset West venues have been busy with the three sports codes producing good results. Kelvin Grove was buzzing with activity as the soccer and rugby boys and girls were put through their paces.

The highlight of the week must be the awesome vibe and amazing performance of the close on 100 juniors and seniors at the WPCC astro hockey clinic. The coaching team was phenomenal featuring a group of provincial and top level club players and SA women’s hockey player, Cindy Brown and SA u21 representative, Taylor Dart. To have a coaching team with such experience and hockey pedigree is fantastic and the skills certainly rubbed off on the eager participants.

SA cricket icon Herschelle Gibbs was once again passing on his expertise and incredible skills. His presence was well received by the young Sporting Chancers and their parents alike.

Many thanks to our Sporting Chance team of coaches and our sponsors Flip File, Sportsmans Warehouse, Second Skins, GM, BIC, TK hockey and SuperSport Let’s Play for their continued support.

With five venues operating simultaneously with three major sports codes being played, it’s been an action packed time for the Sporting Chance team.

With the Stormers doing battle on Saturday in the Super 15 semi final, the rugby clinics have been well supported with all the kids emulating their idols as the target tackle bags and execute slick passes. Still in the hype of 2010 and Bafana Bafana’s rise to glory, the soccer clinic numbers have grown and it’s fantastic to see the young Tshabalala’s, Rooney’s and Ferdinand’s showing their skills. The hockey clinics have continued to be popular and it has been great to have SA U21 player Taylor Dart be part of the Sporting Chance coaches on the astro in Bellville as he imparts his valuable advice to the admiring players.

All the Sporting Chancers were in for a treat when SA cricket icon Herschelle Gibbs joined them on the field and spent time doing fitness shuttles and skill sessions, as well as passing on his work ethic philosophy that got him to record breaking status. He may be exceptional with the cricket bat, but give him a rugby or soccer ball and he could still challenge the best. His quick footwork and inspiring co-ordination had all the Sporting Chancers gasping in amazement and his message was simple “Work hard to achieve your dreams.”

 Tomorrow we bring to an end the first week of coaching clinics and we say thank you to all the young Sporting Chancers and our team of dedicated coaches for a wonderful time. Thanks too to our Sporting Chance sponsors: Flip File, Sportsmans Warehouse, GM, Second Skins, BIC, TK hockey and SuperSport Let’s Play for their continued support. We look forward to seeing you in week 3 (Monday 11^th to Friday 15^th July 2011)…

The Sporting Chance coaching clinics have been one of the most popular and affordable children’s holiday activities for almost 21 years. Kids get to choose between hockey, soccer and rugby and, as over 2000 children that have done our clinics in the past will testify, there is no better way to enhance your sporting skills and have fun at the same time. 

For more information on venues, times and costs please visit our website or contact Marike on 021 683 7299.

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The aim of the event, which took place at the Western Province Cricket Club Sports Centre from 2pm Friday 17 until 4pm Sunday 19 September, was to highlight the importance of physical activity in children’s lives. The participants, who hailed from 32 schools throughout the Peninsula, played 15 different indoor and outdoor sports over the course of the weekend including soccer, cricket, hockey, table tennis, badminton, netball, basketball, squash and touch rugby.

The Kellogg’s® Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge, in association with Sporting Chance, Virgin Active and Kia Charity and Care plus media partners Good Hope FM and Let’s Play, is the largest sporting event of its kind in the country.
According to Brad Bing of Sporting Chance, the youth sports development agency that conceived and co-ordinated the event, for many of the participants it was a first time experience.

“Most of the learners have not had the opportunity to play sports such as badminton or squash before and the Kellogg’s® Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge gives us the chance to introduce as many kids as possible to as many different sporting codes as possible,” said Bing. “The idea that kids play one sport limits opportunities for children who might not be good at football or cricket, but have talent to play tennis or badminton. The WP Badminton Association for instance, is in partnership with Sporting Chance and if they see a talented youngster they’ll help him or her to have more access to the sport.”

“The prime objective of Sporting Chance is to make sport available to as many children as possible irrespective of race, gender or social class,” said Bing. “Team sports are a great way of teaching children essential skills that can be applied throughout their lives. Sport shows us the beauty of friendship, camaraderie and team spirit and it helps us to deal with the hardships of failure, frustration and disappointment.”

Bing said the Challenge was originally born as a direct response to the results of the Health of the Nation research findings1, which were released in 2008. The study to investigate the physical fitness levels and lifestyles of South African children revealed that schoolchildren, from all backgrounds across the country showed a tendency towards the onset of obesity, similar to that seen in developed countries more than a decade ago.  “It was obvious that South Africa faced a serious task in getting the nation to keep active and participate in physical activity to create a healthy lifestyle,” said Bing.

Western Cape MEC for Education Donald Grant who officially kicked off the event on Friday is also an advocate for encouraging physical activity amongst South African youth. “Research has shown that healthy, physically active children learn more effectively and achieve more academically,” said Grant. “I wholeheartedly support the Health of the Nation initiative as it encourages children to be physically active and educates them in the importance of health through balanced diet and exercise.”

“Up to a certain age, all boys and girls should ideally be exposed to sport,” continued Bing. “Research has shown you develop your habits by the age of 12. If you’re not playing sport or leading an active and healthy lifestyle by then, the chances are that sport and physical activity will not feature in your adult lifestyle. The Health of the Nation research that we pioneered with Tim Noakes proved that.”

“Health of the Nation is a groundbreaking project that focuses on the importance of physical activity and the positive role it plays in a child’s life,” said Sarah Mansfield, corporate spokesperson for the Kellogg Company of South Africa.   “Whether at a social or competitive level, it is fundamental in the development of their personality, co-ordination and social development.

As a brand, Kellogg understands the importance of creating awareness and supports the work being done by Sporting Chance in encouraging self improvement.”

Kim Webster, CSR Manager for co-sponsor Virgin Active added, “Virgin Active believes that life’s more fun when you move. And with partnerships like this one with Sporting Chance and our Club V product we can introduce children to movement at a young age and encourage them towards adopting active and healthy lifestyles when they grow older.”

The Kellogg’s® Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge is supported by the national Department of Health, the Department of Sport and Recreation, Education and Social Development and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa.

The Johannesburg leg of the Kellogg’s® Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge runs from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 October at the Southern Suburbs Recreation Centre in Rosettenville to coincide with National Nutrition Week during October.
Schools or individuals wishing to participate in the Kellogg’s® Health of the Nation 50-hour Sports Challenge can contact Natalie at Sporting Chance on 021 683 7299 or log onto www.sportingchance.co.za

In fine form and on the back of his 102 not out against the Dolphins, Gibbs will be advising, coaching and mentoring keen cricketers from selected impoverished communities in the build up to the regional finals on 20^th November 2009.

The sixth annual Sporting Chance Street Cricket League, in association with Disney Enterprises, the City of Cape Town, various private donors and with media partners, Good Hope fm and Lets Play commenced on Friday 16th October 2009 and has so far seen over 3 000 participants competing in the 12 regional championship areas after four weeks of competitive street cricket.

What makes the Sporting Chance Street Cricket League so exciting is that despite the obstacles of houses, washing lines and vehicles, the game still goes on. “It’s amazing to see how unique and different all the regions are for instance in Manenberg and Elsies River matches are played in the flat courtyards and balls rebound against the high walls while in Khayelitsha shacks and corrugated iron line the sides of the playing area creating interesting fielders” said Natalie Pollock, Project manager for the Sporting Chance Street Cricket League.

Whilst every participant is rewarded with a certificate of participation, the regional winners will receive a trophy with winner’s medals, and the Western Cape Street Cricket champions will receive the converted trophy, winner’s medals and a brand new pair of trainers.

Managing Director of Sporting Chance, Brad Bing who started the first Street Cricket League in 2003, says the initiative has enjoyed unprecedented success since its humble beginnings as a pilot project in Langa. “We have had a huge response from our communities who have made the Sporting Chance Street Cricket League part of their weekly diaries and with high profiled players like Herschelle Gibbs attending, this will only add flair to both players and spectators alike” said Bing.