Following the arrival of the 6-12-year Just Play Programme in October 2020, ‘Eua is ready to implement the next stage of programme after the successful delivery of a two-day training by Tonga Just Play.
Fifteen volunteers attended the Sport to Life training for the 13-18-year Just Play Programme, held at Mata’aho Community Hall and conducted by Tonga Just Play Master Instructor, Lafaele Moala.
The Sport 2 Life component focuses on coaches and guiding them to facilitate positive outcomes by helping players to develop the skills to make consistent, long-term, healthy lifestyle choices on and off the field of play.
Mr.Mosa’ati Ma’u, President of ‘Eua Football, praised the programme and its impact during his opening remarks.
“We are extremely grateful for the Just Play Programme and the contribution it has made towards the football player pathway. I’m sure that this is a continuation of the Just Play 6-12 programme here on the island and the volunteers will get to familiarise themselves with the sport to life skills.”
Just Play was originally introduced to ‘Eua through the Ministry of Education with the Just Play 6-12-year Health and WASH component delivered in six Government Primary Schools.
With support from the Tonga Just Play donors, the programme is being expanded to include the Just Play 13-18-year Sport to Life programme.
Just Play Master Instructor, Lafaele Moala said: “To ensure that volunteers gain confidence, we allow them to run one of the 16 sessions with their respective skills, they are able to adapt or change the sessions according to the theme, and using football as a tool.”
Feedback was given by one of the volunteers who said: “Sport to Life training is really important to everyone not only for the players but for the volunteer and we can also apply to our everyday norms.”
Mr Ma’u concluded the training with a message acknowledging the Just Play Programme guidance in assisting volunteers to understand the importance of the messages and skills of Sport to Life.
“We learn healthy messages in Just Play 6-12 Health and WASH, also we learn eight high-impact attributes and six Sport to Life skills in Just Play Sport to life Skills 13 – 18 programmes. I also witness the key factors that affect our youth today as discussed such as drugs, smoking, drinking alcohols and domestic violence. Including in the six Sport to Life skills, Look and Listen are vital for the awareness of safety in our society,” explained Ma’u.
“I wish the volunteers when they go out to their communities, try to apply every little thing they learned from the two-day training so that their children will grow up and become good citizens,” he said.
