Sports clubs

Sport not only keeps children fit, it also builds their confidence and social skills. Getting your child involved in sports can be a good way of keeping them busy and active.

Why is sport important?

Children are becoming increasingly less active, and that is bad news for their health. Overweight children are much more likely to develop diabetes or heart disease in later life, and are more likely to be obese as adults.

To guard against this, it is recommended that all children are active for one hour every day, and there is no better way to achieve this than through playing sport.

Children and healthy weight - find out more

Sports bodies and facilities outside school

Sport Northern Ireland is the lead agency for developing sport in Northern Ireland. They can help you locate sports facilities in your areas through Active Places NI which includes information on a wide range of sports facilities - from sports halls to tennis courts, swimming pools to pitches.

It includes district council leisure facilities as well as club and commercial sites. Many governing bodies of sports may also have specific activities and programmes for children.

Safeguarding children in sport

Sport Northern Ireland recognises its moral duty and legal obligation to protect children and vulnerable adults in sport through the creation, and promotion, of a safe environment which protects from abuse.

Sport Northern Ireland is therefore working in partnership with the Child Protection in Sport Unit to encourage sports governing bodies and clubs to implement the standards of practice outlined in Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport.

By encouraging all sporting organisations to implement these, Sport Northern Ireland believes that everyone in children’s sport will benefit – children, parents/guardians and sports leaders.