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Game On! Youth Sports programs within the Caribbean are designed to give children the ability to develop sports skills while learning how to make healthy lifestyle choices and avoid the negative behaviours that can lead to crime, violence, drug abuse, obesity and diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Through Game On!, children have the opportunity to develop personal and social responsibility using the powerful and authentic medium of sport
All Game On! programs are guided and governed by four key principals:
1. FUN
The focus of Game On! is having fun, not winning. Many sports environments can be stressful for children, especially when the focus is only on winning. Game On!’s focus on fun over winning means that every child can feel comfortable regardless of skill-level or interest in one particular game.
2. Maximum Participation
Children can only enjoy the benefits of sport participation if they are actively engaged. Game On! programs promote the inclusion of ALL children – not only those who demonstrate athletic ability. Game On! programs also promote active engagement of children during sessions leading to less waiting time, less talking time and more playing time.
3. Learning
In addition to the development of fundamental motor skills and learning many sporting skills, significant emphasis is placed on the development of life skills, using sporting disciplines as a conduit for life’s lessons. Each Game On! session provides the opportunity to explore one or more life-skill, such as compromise and teamwork, that are inherent to the sport environment and inextricably linked to real life.
4. Success
Game On! understands that success is a relative concept and not exclusive to winning. In addition to creating a child-centered environment where children are made to feel competent, Game On! uses developmentally appropriate equipment and skill level sensitive activities to ensure success is experienced by all children participating in the program.
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