Running head: SPORT AND RECREATION MINISTRY 1

Sport and Recreation Ministry

Students Name

Institutional Affiliation
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Sport and Recreation Ministry

Sports and recreation are very imported to the life a nation. Sports foster the spirit of

teamwork among the players as it enhances their discipline too. The role played by sports and

recreation cannot be minimized. Sports are the best recreational activity that is essential to health

and well-being of the people of the nation. It strengthens the societies when people volunteer and

gets involved in constructive activities (Garner, 2013, p. 12-14). The money spent by the

government on sport and recreation has a significant impact on job creation and also the

economy of the nation. The ministry maximizes the economic and social benefits by promoting

participation in recreational activities at the community level. The government provides funds to

enable the program cover both the youth and the children by expanding their physical activities

and also developed chances of local sports (Winston & Garee, 2015, p. 11).

Sports and recreation have brought and have many benefits to the communities, and that

is why it is strongly backed by the state, sports and recreation bring unity and strengthens our

communities. It is not all about winning and losing but it is all about building healthier, healthy,

safe, and happier communities. The projects are promoted and supported so as to make the

communities stronger through sport and creation. According to Winston & Garee (2015, p. 16),

communities that are actively involved in sport and creation have strong social bonds. People in

these communities are happier and healthier compared to communities where physical activities

are not given priority. Sports and creation are beneficial to children. As it fosters inclusion, it

provides room for focused development in different areas. The research done by the National

Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (U.S.), (2011, p. 9-14), proves that children who are

physically active do better at school, this shows that physical activities improve the cognitive

function thus improving the behavior, memory, academic achievement and concentration. To
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those children who are not physically active, their live - brains are impacted negatively and

cannot multi-task, poor working memory and unable to maintain focus.

Training, seminars, and workshops are held by the state to help the communities

strengthen their abilities to meet their activity needs for the residents. The government partners

with provincial recreation organizations to give confidence to the community so as to increase

societies and own sufficiency and lower the possible barriers to participation. The major priority

is to raise the standard of sport and recreation for the youth and children (Garner, 2013, p. 17).

The Ministry of Sport and Recreation supports the activities through many other ways such as

support and advice, funding the activities, ensuring the clubs is managed well; camping sites are

well maintained and delivering state project such as infrastructure.

Support and advice

The ministry of sport and recreation provides full support for the growth of sustainable

and diverse activities by encouraging participation, the building of talent and contributing to the

health and well-being of the community and the nation at large. Winston & Garee, (2015, p. 19),

states that the core function is to involve and assist the local organizations and communities to be

better than before and deliver sport and recreation services. This is achieved by giving advice

and support through, developing facilities and programs for the community, funding the

activities, ensuring high performance by the teams and organizational developments.

How the Department enhances Sport and Recreation

This is done through; Community programs and initiatives provide funds and support to groups

such as; Headstart into Activity, Communicare Active Together, Vulnerable Womens Resource,

Community Participation Funding, Bandyup Prison Project, ActiveSmart Top Up, PCYC
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Streetball Fremantle, Active Girls, Disability Review Implementation, Environmental

Sustainability Program, and ActiveSmart Mental Health Project.

Sport and Recreation consultants

The ministry provides consultation services for sport and recreation organizations to build

partnership and achieve the mission of sport and recreation. This is done so as to bring the

activities to that are appealing to the community and provide an opening for people to be active.

The organizations are to provide a safe and friendly environment for participation and

achievement of excellence. The consultancy ensures that the strength of the community is

enhanced through the medium of sport and recreation. They also ensure the activities are

accessed by many people, and majority participates (National Intramural-Recreational Sports

Association (U.S.), 2011, p. 18).

A Complicated Business

Since running sports clubs and organizations hard, because these are businesses, there is

the need for rules and regulations to enable management to run smoothly. Since the ministrys

staffs have enough extensive experiences in most areas of sport and recreation, such as finance,

regulations, policies and promotions, they are ready to assist the organizations to prepare well

and manage well the members and resources available.

Funding

Funding is vital to the organization and the activities. The funds support and run the

organization thus providing active chances for everyone in the community. The ministry through,

subsidies, scholarships, and grants provide funds to the organizations to facilitate active sport and

recreation. There are three main reasons as to why the department invests time and funds in the

organizations; these reasons may include; fostering effective governance and management
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competence to enable the organizations to bring sport and recreation in a sustainable, efficient

and safe manner (Winston & Garee, 2015, p. 22). The department helps increase the capacity of

the organizations so as to attract and deliver activities of high quality to the community and the

nation at large. The teams are assisted by providing diverse social policy programs that are

aligned and critical to the governments goals. There are many areas in which funding accessed;

they include regional areas, facilities, and sport and community organizations (Garner, 2013, p.

26-31).

The key major areas that through which funding are located are: Through the State

Government investments in which the money is set aside for the growth of high-quality physical

environments for people to enjoy sport and recreation. Another body offering financial assistance

is the State Sporting Association and Peak Bodies which ensures sustainable programs are

running throughout the sport and recreation associations. Individuals can as well apply for

scholarships and grants so as to support active participation and achievements. There are also

community groups that support the initiatives and target the low participation areas more so the

areas of linguistically and multicultural, diverse areas. The sport and recreation clubs do have a

way with a broad range of funding chances to increase the participation at the grass-roots level

(National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (U.S.), 2011, p. 26).

Clubs

The clubs that participate in the Sport and Recreation activities are the livelihood of the

communities. These clubs are the focal points for communities at whichever level and place they

are. Research carried by Southern Baptist Convention (2013, p. 14-18), indicates that community

organizations and sports clubs helps in the development of social capital and are the best

indicators of community health and strength. These clubs are the meeting places where people
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find the company of like-minded persons. People create friendship and share experiences, and

this leads to a valuable social network developed through experiences and sporting experiences.

To those with the sense of belonging, have strong reasons to get involved and stay active in

sporting activities.

Through the support of sport and recreation ministry, the clubs are built and maintained

by bringing people together with a common goal. The department comes in with the rules and

regulations to run the club and also on how it should manage the finances and the offices. Once

the clubs are formed, the leaders come from the committee members who steer the board because

they know what they want to achieve (Garner, 2013, p. 38-41). The leaders include team

manager, secretary, treasurer, and the president who guide the team. The ministry at this time

supports the team with comprehensive training and kits necessary for the club.

Recreation Camps

The Sport and Recreation department has as well provided unbelievable recreational

fields located regionally and in Perth. The sites are not only meant for the physical site but are

also available for group bookings. These are unusual places where people of all ages get engaged

in outdo activities. The camps are fantastic with various activities that leave one with a pleasant

feeling of sharing because the experience is rewarding. There are also Metropolitan camps that

offer unique activities and accommodation; there are also good locations for, community, school,

or corporate groups. There are also regional camps that provide several opportunities for

exploration (National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (U.S.), 2011, p. 30). The

school camps are also held at subsidized rates courtesy of the Sport and Recreation Ministry. The

students experience these incredible adventures when they try new activities by getting out of

their comfort zones. The school camps are common and very popular among the students. The
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ministry as well offers memorable and unique recreational experiences during students

visitation. Wedding and events are other major events held for the community, individuals,

corporate groups and organizations to hold workshops, seminars, meetings, team-buildings and

conferences (Winston & Garee, 2015, p. 26).

Building Projects

The ministry is developing an important part of business as it is actively involved in

various projects meant to enhance sport and recreation thus benefits the community around. The

state is working on ways of developing the recreational facilities and upgrades the existing ones.

Facilities of high quality and that are well planned encourages one to try physical activities thus

supporting high performance. A well-maintained facility of good standards attracts both national

and international events which at the end of it leaves the community with a positive economic

and social impact. These effects are not felt at the community level but also at the national level

too (Southern Baptist Convention, 2013, p. 23).

Since sport and recreation are of benefit to individual, community and the state, the

Department of Sport and Recreation is doing its best to ensure that there is a positive impact on

an individual level to state level. Apart from the economic benefit that state receives from the

activities, it is important as well when the citizens are in good health when individual are in good

health; the nation as well is healthy, so the government should do all it can to ensure that sporting

and recreation facilities are in good state.

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References

Garner, J. (2013). Recreation and Sports Ministry (2nd ed.). Nashville, NV: B & H Pub. Group.

National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (U.S.). (2011). Campus Recreation:

Essentials for the Professional. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Southern Baptist Convention. (2013). Recreation & sports ministry newsletter (1st ed.).

Nashville, TN: Church Recreation Program of the Pastor-Staff Leadership Dept., Sunday School

Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Winston, L., & Garee, B. (2015). Recreation & Sports (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IL: Accent Press.