Purpose:

Victorians participate in almost 775 million hours of exercise, recreation and sporting activities each year. Significantly, 80 per cent of this time is classified as active recreation. Changes in society mean that people are increasingly time constrained, and although they are more health conscious, they are now more likely to choose flexible options that fit their busy schedules and allow for personal goals and definitions of success, rather than the traditional structured time and place requirements of organised sport.

Definitions:

Physical activity = Any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Physical inactivity (lack of physical activity) has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality.

Active recreation = Active recreation is leisure time physical activity undertaken outside of structured, competition sport. It is a set of activities within the wider range of physical activity options that also include active living, active transport and sport. It also includes physical activity that is not a structured sport and produces movement and health benefits e.g. walking, exercise classes.

Active travel = walking or cycling for transport to a destination.

Unstructured physical activity/less competitive physical activity = sports games that focus less on competition and more on socialising, skill development and fun e.g. walking football for older adults.

Policy Checklist:

Noble Park Tennis Club is committed to supporting Physical Activity and Active Recreation through the following actions:  

• Unstructured/less competitive Physical Activity and Active Recreation programs are available at the club
• Club facilities are made available for use to officials, members, players and families to participate in unstructured/less competitive Physical Activity and Active Recreation activities
• Club facilities are inclusive and support participation in Physical Activity and Active Recreation programs offered by the club
• Club facilities support active modes of travel, such as walking, cycling and/or public transport, to and from the club
• Physical Activity and Active Recreation information and messaging is promoted online and/or at the club
• The club’s website, registration processes, ‘welcome’ procedures and related infrastructure are designed to reduce barriers to entry for new or returning members/participants
• Club officials, members and families are actively encouraged to engage in Physical Activity and Active Recreation
• Club leaders role model and champion positive Physical Activity and Active Recreation behaviours
• The club actively encourages individuals from diverse communities to become coaches, captains and/or program deliverers
• Coaches, captains and program deliverers are supported to increase their skills and knowledge on effective Physical Activity and Active Recreation program delivery