Children’s recreation programs and sport academies among recipients of 2019 What’s On 4 Kids Awards 

Kelly Mini Sports and Football Star Academy are among the winners for this year’s What’s On 4 Kids Awards with Ready Steady Go Kids receiving Best Franchised Kids Activity/Party award and Industry Leader award.

In its 8th successful year the 2019 What’s On 4 Kids Awards recognises excellence in the industry over 27 categories. The What’s On 4 Kids Awards is Australia’s industry event for the chidren’s sport, recreation, family entertainment and party businesses. The demand for children’s activities continues to grow steadily, making the children’s activity and party industry one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy.

Categories include Industry Leaders, Best Family Day Out, Best Franchised Kids Activity, Best National Pre-schooler Activity, Outstanding Coach/Leader and Best Kids Party Provider.

All nominations are judged by an independent panel with the ‘People’s Choice’ winners decided on community voting.

Football Star Academy won the award for Best National School Aged Activity (5-12 years) for their provision of skill-based children’s football programs. The Football Star Academy program allows children to learn the skills of football while having fun in a professional environment. Boys and girls are welcomed from five years old at any level of ability.

Kelly Mini Sports won the People’s Choice Award for teaching over 2,000 toddlers and preschoolers the fundamental skills of Basketball, Cricket, Dance, Footy, Soccer, Tennis and Rugby League. Their dedicated team of coaches are trained to instruct children in a friendly yet professional manner while teaching their parents and carers how to continue their sporting and dance education at home. 

Kelly Mini Sports was built by three Melbournians who wanted to create a life-long love of sports for children across the nation. Jeff Fleming and Steve Martin teamed up with Cameron Drake, Kelly Mini Sports Director and General Manager, to create Kelly Mini Sports in June 2013 to accomplish this aim.

All three have played at high levels of the game representing teams such as Melbourne Victory, the New Zealand National Team, New Zealand Knights, Bulleen Zebras, Whittlesea and Green Gully Soccer Club.

From their combined vision, Kelly Mini Sports has grown rapidly across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The core program transitions toddlers and preschoolers to school life and organised activities.

Ready Steady Go Kids commenced in 2004 with a quest to help all children benefit from sport and physical activity. Today, their physio-designed program is run at approximately 200 locations across Australia. 

Director, Danie O’Connor commented "we are thrilled to again be the recipient of the Best Franchised Activity and to win the inaugural Industry Leader Award, recognising the hard work and dedication of all of our franchisees and coaches in bringing our program to Australian children each and every week.”

The Ready Steady Go Kids program objectives are as follows:

• Introduce preschoolers to a variety of sports in a structured, safe, inclusive and non-competitive environment.
• Show preschoolers that sport and physical activity are fun, thus developing a lifelong passion for exercise.
• Develop and enhance age-appropriate gross motor skills, coordination and correct posture.
• Introduce and reinforce the importance of warm-up and stretching to help prevent injuries, and proper hydration.
• Teach the importance of good sportsmanship and teamwork.
• Decrease childhood obesity.
• Increase each child’s confidence.
• Prepare children for school and participation in the broader community.

The What’s On 4 Kids Awards recognises that these businesses are an essential part of Australia’s small and medium-sized business community but more importantly the greater community at large. They provide activities, classes, clubs, school holiday programs, shows, and entertainment for our young people, for the next generation. The skills and life lessons they obtain from these business owners develop their physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual growth and encourages them to set goals and go through life with a growth mindset.

Details can be found at www.whatson4kids.com.au/awards/ 

Image top of Football Star Academy