IT is all about giving back to a sport that has already given them so much.
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That’s the response from one of Port Macquarie’s Australian oztag representatives Greg Smith when asked why he will hold a junior skills session this weekend.
Smith will be joined by green-and-gold counterparts Mandy McCudden, Laura Cudmore, Steve van Gamert and Greg Gleeson at Stuart Park on Saturday.
They will run players through various skills drills in the under-10, under-12, under-14 and under-16 age groups ahead of the start of the upcoming season.
“We want to put back into the juniors because we’ve done a lot a representative level, but we want to get the juniors on that same path from a young age,” Smith said.
“We didn't have that luxury when we played because we took up the game at an older age.”
The growth of oztag at a junior level continues to grow and Smith wanted to play his part in continuing the momentum.
“Oztag is without the physicality of rugby league and brings those kids that don’t have the size and strength into the game,” he said.
“It’s more of a level playing field. Oztag gives you the chance to be skillful whereas a sport like touch football lends itself to fast people.”
The Australian representative said the day would be open to both boys and girls.
“We want to get kids active and taking up a new sport so it was important for us to have some of the girls there (doing drills) as well,” Smith said.
“That’s one of the challenges you face when you have netball it’s all for girls or rugby league used to be all for the boys.
“Now they play oztag in schools so they also want to play at a club level.”
The skills day is free and will run from 9am until 11am while it will be the final day to register for the upcoming season.