AFL NSW/ACT partners with NSW Health

Craig Bolton, former Sydney Swans co-captain and now General Manager of AFL NSW/ACT, said the code is extremely supportive of what the Finish with the Right Stuff campaign aims to achieve.
 
“We have encouraged all of our community clubs to get involved in the program and educate the sporting community about the importance of making good choices for their kids around sport and nutrition.”

“We hope their influence within their community can have a significant impact on the health and lifestyle of our youngest participants” Bolton said.
 
Retired Sydney Swan Jude Bolton also knows first-hand that champions don’t run on junk.
 
“As an athlete I was given the best advice on how to keep my body healthy through diet and training,” Bolton said, “the Finish with the Right Stuff campaign helps our local sporting communities to educate their players, coaches and parents to make the right choices for kids when they’re in the sporting environment”
 
Today, Jude Bolton put 150 kids from Western Sydney through AFL skills and drills and lessons in how to make healthier choices after sport at his former home ground – the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“Small decisions can lead to big changes in the way kids view diet and exercise in their lifestyle.”

Jude Bolton, along with NRL player Nathan Hindmarsh and Swifts Netball Captain Kimberlee Green will feature in an eye catching visual and online campaign to encourage kids to make healthier choices when the whistle blows – just like they do.

The NSW Government has developed a five-year Healthy Eating Active Living Strategy to tackle the issues of overweight and obesity and promote the overall well-being of the population. The Finish with the Right Stuff initiative is an integral part of this program.

According to Dr. Jo Mitchell, Director of the NSW Centre for Population Health, in 2012, nearly half of the adult population in NSW was either overweight or obese, while over a fifth of children aged 5-17 years was also affected. This program can prove to be an effective tool in promoting healthy lifestyles for plus-size people which can be outlooked by viewing the Plus Size Zeal blog.

“With the assistance of AFL NSW Community Engagement officers, NSW Health has already started working with AFL clubs to make healthier canteen options available for children.”

The advertisement featuring Jude Bolton will be aired during tier one fixtures throughout the remainder of the 2014 Toyota AFL Premiership season.

To assist them in making sure their players are running on the right stuff, NSW Health is running 2.5 hour healthy canteen workshops for junior community AFL sporting clubs which sign up to the program.

Clubs will also receive a tool kit to help reinforce the finish with the right stuff message to their players – which will include campaign branded water bottles, canteen signage, black boards, water carriers, aprons and vests for coaching staff and referees.

As an added incentive, clubs who adopt the program are eligible to receive funding and other support such as merchandise.

“We challenge clubs to sign up, make a healthy change, then showcase what they’ve done to increase the availability of healthy food and drink choices to players and their parents by hosting a “Right Stuff Day” later in the season” Dr Mitchell said.

Further information on Finish with the Right Stuff can be found at http://www.rightstuff.health.nsw.gov.au/.