It is always great to see Aotearoa's premier venues being utilised for junior sport. The latest example I witnessed was the Basin Reserve being used for under-12's football on a windy Wellington morning in the weekend.
Community use of premier venues makes sense on so many levels:
- The surface is beautifully flat, allowing perfect skill development opportunities for young people.
- It offers a level of inspiration for young people, being able to play on iconic fields.
- It puts to use a surface that would otherwise lay dormant for many months each year.
- Parents and friends also get a real buzz out of being able to stand on the grass at these hallowed grounds.
Some would say the turf could get ruined. I'd say these kids would be struggling to do that. In times where we need to look to maximise use of our venues, watching these kids was simply music to my ears. And who won? All I saw were two teams loving the beautiful game!
