If you are part of a sporting club you will be glad to know that there are programs available out there that can offer your club a grant for your team uniforms. The Victorian Government would like to support recreational clubs and create a sense of community membership through the Sporting Uniform Grants Program.

The Sporting Uniform Grants Program provides grants of up to $1000 to assist in the purchase of sport uniforms. Click on the following link to see if your club is eligible to apply. Grants from this program can be used for the purchase of sporting uniforms and footwear which are essential to participate in sport i.e. jumpers, tracksuits, football boots etc.

For more information on the Sporting Uniform Grants Program you can go to their website or contact the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356.

Sportsmart is able to cater to your clubs uniform requirements for both on and off the field. Contact us at shopsmart@sportsmart.com.au for more information

Most young athletes that try a new sport quickly become frustrated or discouraged when they cannot pick it up easily. Children need motivation even if they are naturally athletic. Coaches and parents play a key role in helping young athletes succeed.

As a coach it is important to build strong relationships with your athletes. Take the time to form individual bonds with each player/athlete on your team and get to know their strengths and weaknesses so that you can give them personalised feedback. Some athletes are able to pick up sports immediately whereas others may struggle with the sport. You can praise them in their efforts when they overcome their weaknesses. Young athletes want to know that they have the potential and that they are valued members of the team. By developing individual relationships and giving them constructive feedback, not only will they be more confident during the game but they will also have trust in you as a coach.

Avoid punishing your athletes or criticising them. This includes making an athlete run laps if they make mistakes or calling out an athlete’s fault in front of the rest of the team. The athlete may feel embarrassed of inadequate and therefore be less likely to continue practicing the sport. However, you shouldn’t ignore mistakes. Provide your athlete with instructions to help them improve their weaknesses and acknowledge when the athlete is working on improving themselves.

Encourage your team to watch the sport regularly and find a role model within the sport. This will give them a goal to work toward and help them realise what is possible if they are dedicated.

Using a mouthguard in contact sports is very important, especially for junior players. A properly fitted mouthguard is essential for you to be protected. The most popular types of mouthguard is the mouth formed or boil and bite which is heated and then formed to fit your mouth.

Moulding a mouthguard is made easy using our directions. Firstly, boil a small pot of water and submerge the mouthguard for about 20 to 30 seconds. Your mouthguard should have instructions for the correct amount of time. Remember, the mouthguard should be heated to the point that you are able to mould it not the point where it is beginning to melt.

Remove the mouthguard from the water using tongs as you do not want to deform the mouthguard by squeezing too tightly. Cool the mouthguard either by dipping it in cool water or allowing it to air dry. Check your mouthguard instructions to see if water is recommended. You only need to cool the mouthguard to the point where you can put it in your mouth without burning yourself.

Place the mouthguard in your mouth to mould it. Push the mouthguard against your teeth with your fingers and bite down lightly. Pull the guard tighter to your teeth by placing your tongue against the roof of your mouth and sucking the air and water out.

Now you need to cool the mouthguard. Some instructions say that the guard needs to cool rapidly after it has been fitted by dipping it in cold water. If the mouthguard does not fit properly, you can remould it by starting the process again.

Using a mouth formed mouthguard is the easiest way to ensure the mouthguard fits perfectly to your mouth. Be sure to inspect your mouthguard frequently and replace it if it becomes deformed or you notice that the edges become jagged.

Sportsmart stocks a variety of mouthguards for both seniors and juniors. You can view our range of mouthguards online or visit our stores to select the type that will suit your sporting needs.

A good team captain looks out for their fellow players before, during and after the game. If a player is not performing at their best or has a personal problem, a team captain will encourage that player to keep going. A good team captain will keep his team mates on the same level. When a team needs a leader, they will always turn to their captain. A captain’s responsibilities are met when the team is successful.

A team captain should strive to keep the teams morale high. They should organise social events for the team and motivate players by discussing goals and leading the team on game day. At the end of the season, the team leader should congratulate their team mates on their accomplishments.

As a team captain, you need to set an example for your teammates. You are a role model. Make sure you are always on time and have all the proper equipment on game day. You must set a high standard that your teammates can follow. The captain should not get into any trouble on and off the field. You should also attend all team functions and encourage your team to do the same.

If you want your team to succeed, practice is involved. At the start of your training sessions, the captain should lead their teammates in all exercise routines. The captain should motivate the team to push their strength to the limit in training and perform at their best in preparation for game day. As team captain, you should help your coach to keep your team focused.

All players in all levels of sport need to be motivated by their coaches. As a coach it is your responsibility to motivate your players during the game and during practice. If you coach youth sports, you not only have to motivate your team but ensure that they are having fun and not focusing entirely on winning.

Assess your team and figure out the type of personality each player has. This will determine your approach. Different people respond to different techniques. Try to set goals as soon as possible. If you coach a much younger team i.e. under 10’s try to focus on having fun and good sportsmanship. If you coach older teams i.e. under 16’s, focus on getting to finals as a team. You have to remember in order for your team to succeed, everyone needs to be focusing on a common goal.

When a coach finds that their team is lacking or not performing at their best, clearly motivation is needed. It is extremely important for a coach to take the time to talk to their players and keep communication open. Take some time during each training session to sit down with your team and talk as a team about what you all think the team needs to improve on or focus on. This doesn’t need to cut into your actual training schedule, you can have this conversation with your players while they train or have a break.

Lastly, it is important to recognise your team’s achievements. Your players will become more confident and will want to continue trying hard when their efforts are recognised by someone in a higher position i.e. their coach.

After your local sports club has recruited volunteers to help out at your club, (hopefully by following the tips from our article – how to recruit volunteers for your local sports club) it is important to understand how to manage your volunteers and ensure that they are on the right track about the goals of your club as a whole.

Your club can develop a policy especially for volunteers, to help everyone stay on track. This policy will also help to define the roles of volunteers, the way they will be managed and how the club operates. It might also be efficient to nominate a volunteer coordinator. This person can manage the volunteers within the club and be the first point of contact if volunteers need help or guidance in their roles.

It is very important that the club supports its volunteers. Volunteers who feel valued and are properly managed are more likely to remain with the club. Proper training should be provided to new volunteers as well as if there are any changes in procedures to ensure that all volunteers have the correct knowledge and information.

Rewarding volunteers for working hard will let them know that they are valued members of the club. Recognising the work they put into improving the club, will help them to feel important. Lastly, make sure that the club pays for expenses that are necessary and does not leave expenses to be paid by volunteers, remember they are volunteering their time and service, do not take advantage of this.

Most clubs face the issue of having to recruit more members. Many clubs have to deal with declining memberships and unfortunately there is no magic way to combat this issue. There are however, some basic approaches you can use to attract more people to your club.

Your clubs representatives should be open and welcoming, so that your club appeals to potential members in the same way. You can hold ‘open days’ so that potential members can meet coaches, see your clubs facilities and get information about the club. Your club can also host open competitions where participants who enter do not have to be actual members of the club. You can also offer prospective members trial memberships for a reduced cost.

Be professional, generally people are more attracted to clubs which appear business-like. This involves responding promptly to requests, providing the correct information, returning phone calls etc. All of your club’s information should be professional looking and well written.

Marketing is an important part of recruiting new members. Develop marketing materials such as brochures and pamphlets. Ensure the distribution of your marketing materials is effective; you don’t want to put in hard work to make the materials stand out to have them sitting in a draw forgotten about. You can send out your materials to former members and encourage them to rejoin or refer the club to friends and family.

Work with local schools, approach schools within the community to organise special days where your clubs coaches can come in and teach students skills to do with your clubs sport. This is a good way to get kids excited about the sport and distribute your materials. This is a win-win situation for both you and the schools you approach, as the day or program you offer will be free and you will be able to promote your club.

Sportsmart recently had the opportunity to be a part of a great cause, the Tanzania Mission Project. A small independent mission team headed off to Tanzania in May to assist the students of St Johns University, Dodma with conversational English and also visit the rural village of Kikombo-Wilunze where they organised a number of activities including teaching sewing, installing solar lighting into the villages health centre and activities for children.

After being approached by members of the project, Sportsmart was more than happy to help. Sportsmart was able to donate soccer balls, cones, pumps and adaptors, quoits and skipping ropes for the children of the village.

The children thoroughly enjoyed using the sports equipment and were able to play various games with the Tanzania Mission Project group members. Children of all ages in the village joined in and were grateful for the equipment as they will be able to use it for a long time to come.

The trip was a success for those involved in the Tanzania Mission Project. Sportsmart commends those who were on the trip as well as those who were involved in organising it.

Indoor soccer first began in the 1980’s as a way of staying in shape for the upcoming soccer season. It has now evolved into its own popular sport with tournaments. Indoor soccer requires different shoes from typical soccer boots. Choosing indoor soccer shoes is made easy using our guide.

Indoor soccer shoes are much lighter than normal soccer shoes and look very similar to runners, however they are much tougher. They also have a rubbery sole to prevent you from rolling your ankles. Playing on indoor surfaces is much trickier than playing on a soccer field; therefore you must wear the appropriate footwear that will enable you to move quickly.

The Adidas Predator Absolado X indoor soccer shoes have a full grain/synthetic leather upper providing you with increased comfort and durability. Predator technology is used to improve power and agility. The cushioned EVA insole is ideal for comfort and shock absorption and the rubber outsole is great for indoor traction.

The asymmetric lacing makes the Predator Absolado’s look modern and give you a bigger and cleaner surface area for optimum touch. The tread pattern is designed specifically for maximum traction on a variety of indoor soccer surfaces. If you want an edge over the competition, then the Adidas Predator Absolado’s are for you.

Sportsmart currently stocks Adidas Predator Absolado X indoor shoes. You can view them online or come into one of our stores to try a pair on for yourself.