Community football is impacting the community…
According to a La Trobe University Centre for Sport and Social Impact study that has revealed Community Football generates a range of positive benefits for local communities.
Over the past 12 months the project, lead to La Trobe Professor Russell Hoye, had interviewed more than 100 club and community members whilst conducting an analysis of over 1600 surveys from individual clubs.
AFL Victoria Release
Highlights of the study include:
- For every dollar spent on a community football club, at least $4.40 is returned in social value in terms of increased social connectedness, wellbeing, mental health status, employment outcomes, personal development and physical health.
- A football club’s reach is significant and extends beyond the players, coaches, administrators and volunteers within the club; for every one player, football clubs reach 10 people in their community.
- Football clubs provide individuals, particularly those aged 15-24, with significantly increased chances of securing employment via the social networks provided by the club.
- The self-reported mental health of people aged 18-24 associated with a football club is substantially higher than the general population.
The study aimed to show the true value of sporting clubs to the community and thus highlight their importance on society.
It stated that some Leaders of football clubs are both on and off the field considered leaders in the wider community. As well as this it highlighted that often football Clubs become engaged in the local community though schools and various other programs to support various causes.
Football clubs are considered large consumers within their own community, supporting various businesses. The study revealed that an average football club makes an economic contribution of more the $600,000 each year.
It may not be a case of life and death but for many the football club is part of what makes a community.
