8000 kids warm to winter sports
AFTER weeks of waiting, the goal posts are up, fields have been marked, boots are worn in, mouth guards fitted and the winter season is good to go.
The junior winter sport season is ready to get under way with thousands of children from across the Rockhampton region proudly wearing club colours in their chosen sports.
Like many local families, the Bohan household's sporting season runs all year, at least when it comes to kids, sports and activities.
With four children aged 9 to 15, and all active in sports, life is constantly in motion for parents Damian Bohan and Justine Connor.
"It's a little crazy, really," Damian said.
"We try to give them all every opportunity," he said.
"The hardest thing is that they don't always play on the same day or at the same venue, which means getting the kids to their events on time is quite a challenge."
At 15, Connor plays under-15 rugby league for Brothers as well as rugby union for the Rockhampton Grammar School.
Then there's Clayton, 13, also a member of the Brothers Rugby League Club lining up as a second-rower for his under-13 side.
Until this season both boys swam at a competitive level before having to limit their busy schedules to two sports each.
"On top of all their sports, swimming really started to take a strain, struggling to find time to fit it into our busy schedules," Damian said.
Patrick, 11, hopes to follow in the footsteps of his elder brothers playing rugby league for Brothers, in the under-11 age group.
Nine-year-old Imogen this year is participating in her first mini-netball season for the Brothers club.
"We usually do the school pick-up, feed the horses, head to training, go home, shower, do homework, watch some telly, have dinner and head straight to bed," Damian said.
While time-management skills are mandatory for the Bohan family, they are usually left up to Justine, with Damian adding the extra duty of under-13 rugby league coach.
"Last year they only made the finals due to forfeit and this year they are currently leading the competition," Damian said.
"It's great to see how much they have improved."
As we near the business end of the club rugby league season, the Bohan family looks forward to the couple of weeks break before kick-starting into school sport this winter.
ACTIVE KIDS
Sporting registration numbers heading into the 2012 winter season (max):
- Netball - 1000
- Rugby League - 1500
- Hockey - 250
- AFL - 700
- Soccer - 1000
- Golf - 70
- Rugby Union - 460
- Touch Football - 1500
- Tennis - 120
- Basketball - 450
- Auskick - 1300
TOTAL - 8350
