100 NT sports clubs commit to change with Good Sports

More than one hundred sports clubs across the Northern Territory have pledged to reduce the link between alcohol and sport by committing to the Good Sports program.

Good Sports works with community sports clubs to help them provide safe and healthy environments through the responsible management of alcohol.

Welcoming the commitment of Northern Territory sports clubs, Good Sports State Manager Sharron Noske said she was glad to see so many clubs taking up the challenge, stating "with alcohol a leading cause of preventable illness and death in Australia and 29.4% of Territorians drinking at risky levels, breaking the link between alcohol and sport has never been more important.

"Sport is a great catalyst for change."

Casuarina Storm Swimming Club is the 100th club on board.

President Charles Staples said the program is about setting an example, adding "Good Sports is a natural fit for a swimming club such as ours and acknowledges the sort of environment we have created."

Noske congratulated the club on their commitment, continuing "with clubs like Casuarina and Leagues such as AFL Central Australia signing up to the program we are well on the way to reducing risky drinking, not just within the sports club, but the wider community as well."

AFL Central Australia Manager Andy Hood said that Good Sports was helping clubs implement small changes to reduce the risk of members and spectators drinking too much alcohol which has a flow on effect for the whole community.

Hood concluded "when we joined Good Sports, we were determined to change the culture of excessive drinking at clubs and show our members and the wider community that the competition was about football, not getting drunk and causing trouble.

"People in the community often comment that the environment is better now and increasing our remote and female participation has been crucial in attracting new players and spectators to the game."

Good Sports is Australia's largest preventive health program for the community sporting sector, with more than 6,200 clubs involved.

Good Sports was featured in the January/February 2014 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

For more information about Good Sports visit www.goodsports.com.au

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