Search results for #soccer
How rising costs is changing Australian fitness habits
New cost research suggests many Australian adults are changing how they exercise because of household pressure. This article explains what the figures say about gyms, studios, community sport and free activity. It also gives a simple way to compare the real monthly cost before joining, switching or stopping.
Is It Too Late to Start Sport at 12 or 15 in Australia?
Teenagers can start a new sport, even when classmates have played for years. Australian research shows that organised sport participation falls through adolescence, but the numbers do not mean every teenager stops being active. This article looks at why joining can feel harder at 12 or 15, shares real Australian...
How Community Sport Works in Australia: Clubs, Fees and Registration
New to community sport? Learn who runs local competitions, what registration fees cover, when to sign up and what to ask a club before paying.
Sports in Pakenham: A Town Where Old and New Codes Sit Side by Side
Pakenham's sporting story sits at an unusual intersection: a football club that goes back to 1892, a netball association that's been here for decades, and a new wave of social sports like pickleball and weeknight basketball filling the gaps in between. Here's how it all fits together, and where to...
Should Your Child Try Team Sport? What 189 Studies Say About Mental Health
When a child wants to quit a sport, parents often face the same question: try another solo activity, or switch to a team? A major 2026 Australian-led review of 189 studies offers one of the clearest answers yet. The evidence found organised sport supports children’s mental health overall, but team...
The awkward, necessary hurdle of making new friends at 60
Making new friends in your sixties isn't as simple as the brochures make it look. New Monash University research shows kinless older Australians face the highest loneliness rates, and the friction of joining a new group keeps a lot of people on the couch. Pickleball courts, walking netball matches and...
The Matildas Effect — Women’s Football Is Booming
Women’s and girls’ football participation has surged to over 231,000 players across Australia, and the momentum shows no sign of fading. Fuelled by the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and sustained by new beginner-friendly formats, community clubs are scrambling to keep up with demand. This article unpacks what the Matildas...
Get Active for Less: The Changes Proposed to Make Fitness More Affordable in Australia
With the cost of living biting hard, getting active can feel like the last thing you can afford. But a bold new proposal from Australia's peak fitness body could be about to change that — with $500 family vouchers for gyms and studios, tax-free gym perks through your employer, and...
Keeping Teen Girls in the Game: Is Australia Facing a ‘Grand Décrochage’?
A major study from France has highlighted a concerning phenomenon known as the "grand décrochage"—the great drop-out of teenage girls from organised sport. As the pressure of exams, social media, and body image mounts, many girls are hanging up their boots before they even reach adulthood. But is this just...
From Team Sports to Pickleball: How Our Relationship with Sport Changes Over a Lifetime
Sport in Australia is constantly evolving, and the way we stay active looks different at every stage of life. From childhood swimming lessons to the rise of casual fitness and social sports, new data from the latest AusPlay “Lifelong Involvement in Sport” report highlights how our habits, motivations and barriers...