Well, now the youngsters down Shellharbour are in for a treat! They can participate in Playball lessons at Shellharbour Indoor Sports Centre from Mondays to Fridays.

And those behind the move are Alana Richardson and her sister–in–law, Lynette Richardson.

With two years’ direct experience as a Playball coach in South Africa, Alana is excited about being able to share her knowledge and skills with the children of Shellharbour.

Both women were born in South Africa with Lynette moving Down Under in 1999 and Alana now following her footsteps, and she says the lifestyle here really suits her.

Alana has also enjoyed success as a representative of the South African hockey team and she holds both a certificate and diploma in Sports Management.

She says that Playball is already highly successful in America, Canada, England, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand and has found a niche at Bondi before spreading its wings to Indooroopilly in Queensland, Patterson Lakes and Peninsula North in Victoria and St Ives in NSW.

Among the aims of the program is not only giving children skills at an early age but building their self esteem, leading the way in the fight against obesity, and offering an entrée to an ongoing healthy lifestyle.

In short, Alana says, Playball is all about developing children’s physical competence, developing concentration, focus and listening skills and developing confidence and social skills. Playball is not concerned with creating sport starts but rather with giving children the opportunity to reach their full potential and giving them the personal skills and life skills that can be applied to every aspect of their lives.

Lynette says they have 16 enrolments already between the ages of two and seven years and among the sports the children are being introduced to are tennis, basketball, hockey, baseball and soccer.

Classes are on offer from Monday to Friday at Shellharbour Indoor Sports between 9am and 4pm and include 2 Can Do for two-year-olds, Watch Me at 3, Dinkies for the four-year-olds, Preps for those aged five and Players for six and seven years of age.

Lessons cost only $15.

School Camps 

Shellharbour Playball is also offering school holiday camps and birthday parties can also be catered for.

Free trial lessons are available by contacting Alana on 0421 926 408 or Lynette on 0423 357 472.

And for more information just visit the Playball website at www.playball.com.au