SRU youth development target healthy lifestyles

Source: Samoa Rugby Union

APIA, SAMOA – 09 JULY 2020: Getting young people to become more physically active, with the long-term intention of reducing the prevalence of obesity and overweight issues in Samoan children is a goal the Samoa Rugby Union continues to drill into children and parents through a programme that is now in its third year around the country.

Samoa Rugby Union is excited at the rolling out of the next level of development for rugby trainers around the country’s sub unions.

The programme is the Pacific Sporting Partnership- Sport for Health which is being implemented by the development unit of the Samoa Rugby Union under the leadership of SRU Development Manager, Ta’ala Tui Komiti.

The programme is expected to increase participation in sport and rugby and to ensure parents and the community that are also engaged in sports development for young children.

The SRU intention is to roll out the program in the sub unions for Under 10s, Under 13s and U16s for both boys and girls.

Quick Rip is the non contact format of rugby that Pacific Sporting Partnership-Sport for Health use to meet the outcomes and outputs.

“One of the outcomes we would like to see from this roll out is an increase of awareness amongst parents and children of the importance of physical exercise and nutrition for improving healthy lifestyles,” said Ta’ala.

It is also hoped that the capacity of local providers to deliver sports programmes like rugby, which would allow for improved access to sporting and rugby opportunities not just locally but at an international level later on in life.

To achieve these targets, the roll out will deliver sports programmes along with the provision of some sporting equipment.

Ta’ala said they will also provide training for local sports providers and will continue to deliver a healthy lifestyle awareness campaign.

“We are ending in Savaii this week to deliver training for sports providers after starting earlier at the Aleipata, Apia and Faleata areas,” he said.