The Funky Fun Day programme continues to be an outstanding success in introducing Western Bay primary pupils to playing sport for their schools.
Yesterday at ASB Arena, the latest group of up to 240 kids were involved with getting skills coaching and participating in the four core sports in theprogramme of miniball, turbo touch, unihoc (modified indoor hockey) and football.
The programme began in 2006 and is held over four days each term, meaning more than 1000 pupils each year get to compete against other schools while learning about the sports they are playing.
Sport BOP's Vicki Semple says from day one it had been a hugely popular event and had grown considerably over the years.
"It started out with just Year 3-4 children [7 and 8-year-olds) and last year we introduced it to Year 1-2 students and that has been really successful as well," Semple said.
"The cool thing with them is they get to play the game but they also get a coaching component as well.
The [older] kids get into games straight away and they are competitive but we don't take score, so there are no winners or losers. They just have a really good time and it is a really good introduction to school sport.
"It is a full-on day for them as they rotate around the four sports and play 20-minute games and have 20 minutes off."
Semple praised the staff at Tauranga Leisure Centre for their organisation of the event, and Robyn King in particular, who has been involved with the programme from the outset.
