A keen Rotorua rugby club is doing its best to keep young people active by showing them how playing rugby can be fun.
Waikite Junior Rugby Club held a Whanau Day on Sunday, which doubled as registration drive for this year's junior rugby season.
The club attracted a record 220 boys and girls aged between 4 and 13 last season who made up 13 teams and the club was hoping to do the same again this year.
The Whanau Day was affected by the weekend's flooding, which saw the fun outside activities downsized and moved indoors, but those wanting to register were still treated to a free sausage sizzle and a bouncy castle.
Club chairwoman Tanya Hemara said she had seen first-hand the difference playing sport made to young children.
"I just think it's good for their confidence, their health and they are going to meet new friends and have lots of fun while doing it."
Sport New Zealand's most recent Active survey found participation in weekly sport and recreation activities in the area had fallen in the past few years, with busier lives and the use of technology cited as reasons.
The survey found almost three-quarters of Bay of Plenty residents, 72 per cent, do some form of sport and recreation each week, which was fewer than the 2007/08 survey which found 77 per cent exercised weekly.
Ms Hemara said young people should be encouraged to develop exercise habits and if they had fun while doing it, they were more likely to stick at it.
She said Waikite was a staunchly proud whanau-based club that welcomed any new members and she was heartened by the new children who came along on Sunday wanting to join.
She said a member of the public also came along and offered his services as a coach.
She said girls were encouraged to play just as much as boys, with last year the club forming the Bay of Plenty's first all-girl under 6 ripper rugby team.
The team went throughout the season undefeated and were a finalist in the Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards Team of the Year category. They were also the winner of the Te Arawa Rangatahi Awards for Team of the Year.
Ms Hemara said those wanting to register could go to the Waikite JRC Facebook plus look out for two more registration dates.
Sport Bay of Plenty also has details about other clubs within the area which are also registering new players at this time of year.
The junior rugby season starts on May 6 and finishes in late August.
Kids' View: What do you love about playing rugby?
Oden Mahia Loffley, 5
I love rugby because it's really awesome. It's my favourite. We stand in mud.
