Sporting chance

Every week more than eight million children in this country take part in organised sports such as football, rugby or tennis matches, or compete in swimming galas and athletics competitions. Yet it is a sad fact that a greater number avoid sport all together, or give up before they reach their teens. All the major sports associations now recognise the importance of encouraging children to take part by forming youth leagues and adapting their games to suit growing children.

Many children are influenced by the success of their national team in rugby or cricket, for example, or by footballers who achieve heroic status in the media. Such an interest can be encouraged further by taking a child along to a match -if they can handle the crowds - or letting them watch a training session at the nearest grounds. Schools are now making more effort to promote sports activities, but there is still a lot of emphasis on inter-school competitions, which results in only the 'best' or most motivated dozen or so children getting to train and take part.