My Yard - a Different Yard

In 1996, the football fans of Arka Gdynia established a rugby club associating presently 250 players of both sexes. The rugby club organizes not only training but also various activities and meetings for both children and youngsters. Three years ago, the club initiated a project entitled "My yard - a different yard". It is a crackdown programme against maladaptation of difficult youth causing educational problems and being extremely aggressive and strong physically.

The aim of the programme is to change their lifestyle and exchange their present yard/playground for a stadium or a swimming pool. Such places are more attractive to young people as they are full of sport and active recreation under the professional supervision of coaches and at the same time there is no alcohol or drugs.

The programme is addressed at the children and youth of 10-18 and provides for transforming informal groups into teams associated in a club. Project originators not only provide training sessions but also organize meetings with interesting people, summer and winter camps as well as beach tournaments and picnics. While implementing the programme, the organisers closely cooperate with school educators, police and famous sportsmen. A "Multimedia Cup" beach rugby tournament for amateurs has been organised for three years now during the summer vacations. Each year about 400 children take part in these tournaments.

The best way to educate is through sport which shapes many positive character features, teaches fair-play rules and discipline. Fighting social pathologies and promoting healthy lifestyle through sport is extremely significant. Even among the sportsmen one can find those who caused educational problems in the past. They were a nightmare for schools and housing estates and the terror of the inhabitants.

Now they are excellent sportsmen, idols of young people and a good example to follow. Thanks to the club and the team they have found their place in the world. The programme "My yard - a different yard" created on the basis of their experience convinces young people to spend free time differently.