Sporting Linx - Linking Leadership Potential

Sporting Linx is a Sports/Healthy lifestyle program established in 2011. It was designed as a sports-based tool for the engagement of young people (14-18 years) and as the name Sporting Linx suggests, is about creating a... [ view full abstract ]

Sporting Linx is a Sports/Healthy lifestyle program established in 2011. It was designed as a sports-based tool for the engagement of young people (14-18 years) and as the name Sporting Linx suggests, is about creating a platform for connection (Links). The tag line for the program is, ‘Linking Leadership Potential’. Thus, a major focus of the program includes the concept of linking leadership to young people being responsible for leading in their own environment. In addition, the program aimed to select those young people with significant leadership potential and provide them with opportunities to develop and use these skills to improve the well being of those around them.

The program seeks to establish opportunity for social contact between young refugees, local peers, teachers and local community and sporting groups. All of these opportunities focused on the skills and knowledge needed to lead on a personal and community level building social capital. Utilising professional coaches and support staff, the program encourages participants to improve connections and interpersonal skills whilst identifying and encouraging leadership potential. The development of 'soft' skills are essential to settlement needs.

Session based in structure, STARTTS’ personnel have been able to address the key areas of self-esteem, communication, sharing and gathering support for young people that are all essential elements in building social capital. Sporting Linx seeks to provide knowledge that will improve well being and empower individuals to pursue personal and community goals in a safe and healthy way.

The program has been evaluated using a qualitative approach which engaged all stakeholders. This outcome based evaluation has highlighted a number of positive outcomes as well as addressed potential for improvement not solely in this program but sports based interventions in general.