The winter sports have either started or are all commencing soon. 

It is very encouraging to see an increase in players for a number of sports locally.

I love that Parkes is so enthusiastic about sport, both senior and junior.

We have so many excellent sportspeople and the list of representative honours grows at a steady pace each year.

The parent’s role in encouraging their child to participate is so imperative for the continued strength of junior sport in Parkes.

I think most people are aware now that a strong junior program is the only way to secure a senior club or sport’s future.

That is why I love hearing about junior sports having increased numbers and needing more teams than last season. 

Some winter sports have had to order more sets of uniforms because they have had a much better than expected increase in numbers.

While such growth cannot continue at such a rate, it is really promising for the future.

What these associations have done to achieve such good results should be a model for the others to follow.

Most clubs and associations have a junior development officer or junior coordinator whose job it is to grow and develop the junior program.

These people contribute a mountain of their time with their only reward the satisfaction they get from seeing the young stars of the future running around on a field, court or course.

I have so much admiration for these people and their helpers.

They are the ones ensuring my kids will have a pick of many excellent sports to play growing up.

My daughter Lilia plays Hot Shots tennis and loves it.

She sees friends from school there and as they practice in groups, she enjoys having fun with the other players (sometimes maybe too much!).

We also go out and play nine holes of golf together when we can and she really enjoys that too.

On some days she may only have 15 or 20 hits and like her dad, most of those will be putts.

It doesn’t worry me that she may want to go and pick up pine cones or pick some flowers instead of hitting the ball as we have a great time together. 

Her personality shows me that she will grow to be very competitive.

I think the highlight of the time we spend on course for Lilia is getting to eat the customary Kit Kat!

- - - -

Another Premier League soccer (european football) manager got the sack this week.

Chris Hughton was coach of Norwich before his position was terminated.

Hughton had been manager of the Canaries for 20 months and had kept them in the Premier League for that period.

Norwich currently sit above the relegation places by only five points and recent performances have not filled the club with confidence.

I wish the board had stuck with Hughton as he has been working within a very tight budget and performing admirably.

I also understand why they did not.

The financial ramifications of dropping back to the League Championship are massive.

This is something Leicester City will enjoy next year as they are already assured an automatic promotion thanks to an excellent season that sees them nine points clear at the top of the Championship.

Go the Foxes!

While Hughton didn’t last 21 months at Norwich, Arsene Wenger recently completed his 1000th match as Arsenal manager.

The Gunners were beaten 6-0 by Chelsea in that match and haven’t won again since.

We’ve gone from fighting for the title to hoping we can hang on to fourth place and qualify for Champions League football next season.