OVERVIEW

Sport plays a vital role in children’s lives. Whether at a social or competitive level, it is fundamental in the development of one’s personality, co-ordination, discipline and social development. It provides one with the opportunity to develop one’s interpersonal skills, self-esteem and create a positive self- image.

The Sporting Chance Health of the Nation research which measured changing norms for physical activity and physical fitness in children produced substantial evidence to suggest that low levels of physical activity in school children are linked to obesity, even after taking socio-economic status into consideration. In addition, there is now also evidence to show that physical activity and other lifestyle patterns are largely established early in life (by the age of 12 yrs for some and even earlier for others). Furthermore, although there is no argument about the abundance of raw sporting talent available in South Africa, there is some concern about the small proportion of this talent that develops into its full potential.