TIPS FOR (ACTUALLY) SOCIAL BASKETBALL

June 30, 2023 - one year ago

What’s up players?!! Did you know that social basketball is played in almost all of Urban Rec’s locations around Australia? If you're keen on having a ripper time on the court and shooting hoops with your mates, then social basketball is where it's at! Whether you're a seasoned baller or just starting out, we've got a few tips to help you make the most of your game and avoid any rookie mistakes. Grab your sneakers and let's get into it!

First things first, it's all about teamwork. Our basketball leagues are more about having fun rather than winning championships (okay okay we know winning is awesome but having fun is actually better!). Make sure you communicate with your team and play off each other's strengths. 

Now, let's talk about defense! Playing solid D can make a huge difference in the game. Get in your opponent's face, use your wingspan, and don't be afraid to get a bit physical. Just don't go overboard and commit any fouls that'll earn you a trip to the bench! Keep it friendly and have a laugh along the way.

When it comes to shooting, practice makes perfect!. Hit up the local court or your backyard and work on your jump shot. Get your aim right, focus on your form, and don't forget to follow through with that flick of the wrist! If you miss a shot, no worries, mate. Keep your chin up and hustle for the rebound. There's always another opportunity to sink that three-pointer!

Another thing to keep in mind is fitness. Basketball can be a real cardio workout, so make sure you're in decent nick so you don’t let your teammates down. Run some laps, do some sprints, and get those lungs pumping. Don't forget to stretch before and after the game to avoid any injuries. The last thing you want to do is pull out of your game! That ain’t fun.

Lastly, don't be a ball hog. Sharing is caring, and in social basketball, everyone deserves a fair go. Pass the ball, involve your teammates, and make sure everyone gets their fair share of play time. Remember, the more everyone gets involved, the more fun it'll be for everyone!

So there you have it, there’s a few handy tips to keep in mind for your social basketball sessions. Play hard, have a laugh, and enjoy the banter with your mates. Just remember, it's not all about the scoreboard, but about the good times you'll have both on and off the court. Now go out there, give it a red-hot crack, and may the basketball gods be on your side!

NAIDOC WEEK 2023

June 28, 2023 - one year ago

This Naidoc week Urban Rec asked artist, Urban Rec Member and proud proud Ngunnawal, Bundjalung and Kamilaroi woman Shaenice Miles to create an artwork that represents our community. Shaenice wanted to create something to represent the amazing community Urban Rec creates. We are so excited and proud to have something that represents us so well.

BUY A SHIRT

This Naidoc week we will be selling a limited edition (80 only) Narragunnawali shirts with all proceeds going to National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy, who use sport and mentoring to engage young people, build self esteem and enable a strong sense of autonomy through personal development. You can find out more about the amazing work NASCA is doing or donate directly here.

Get the squad together and get a new kit or just get yourself some epic swag while helping an amazing organisation. Pre-order your shirt here. There’s only 80 and its first in, best dressed. Shirts are $35 with all proceeds going to NASCA.

MORE ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Narragunnawali (English Translation Coming Together)
The Artwork I wanted to create was something to represent the amazing community Urban Rec creates and will create. Each component of the artwork – the middle bit is a meeting circle with each of the community members coming together to play sports. There are footprints representing the different journeys and diverse backgrounds we all come from. The different meeting circles at the bottom is all cultures coming together to represent Reconciliation. The dots is to represent all the sports and sporting levels each individual brings. The blue, orange and yellow bit represents everyone coming together during different seasons and times throughout the year.

MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST

My name is Shaenice Miles, and I am a proud Ngunnawal, Bundjalung and Kamilaroi woman. I have grown up in Canberra and have been amongst the Urban Rec community playing social basketball. The one thing I love about Urban Rec is the social community, and friends you get to connect with.

ADDITIONAL NAIDOC WEEK AKNOWLEGEMENTS

This Naidoc week Urban Rec is coming together with our community doing the following to celebrate the first nations people of this wonderful country we call home.

• We’ve partnered with artist proud Ngunnawal, Bundjalung and Kamilaroi woman Shaenice Miles to create Narragunnawali a design that represents our community.
• We’ve created a limited edition shirt using the design which we are selling with all proceeds going to the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy.
• We’ve changed all of our sports locations to include the (land) that they are located on.
• We’re adding an acknowledgement to country into our League Managers first day on ground team welcomes with the help of indigenous leaders.

HOW DOES NETBALL HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT?

June 28, 2023 - one year ago

Did you know that you burn an estimate of 449 calories in a 45 minute netball game? That is equivalent to 4 Gin and Tonics or 2 chocolate bars!

Netball is an epic sport that can help with a common new year's resolution almost all of us have. Do you have any guesses as to what we’re referring to? It’s weightloss! Netball is fast-paced as the nature of the game involves constant running, jumping, and changes in direction. You’re going to start working up a sweat within 5 minutes of playing and while you’re catching your breath, don’t give up just yet. Be sure to remember that playing netball helps to increase cardiovascular fitness, burn fat, and improve muscle tone. 

We mentioned that running and jumping are a part of netball but how does someone actually lose weight while playing netball? The thing is, you need to move quickly and efficiently using a combination of strength, agility, and coordination to outmaneuver opponents and score points. The intensity of the game means that players can burn a significant number of calories in a relatively short amount of time, making netball a great option for those looking to lose weight. Playing for a short time and burning a lot of calories sounds like a dream come true really! 

While netball is super great for weight loss, it is also a social sport that can help to improve mental wellbeing. Joining a netball team can provide a sense of camaraderie and belonging, as well as the opportunity to meet new people and make friends. This social aspect can be particularly beneficial for those who may be struggling with weight loss and looking for support and encouragement from others. Playing netball can also help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can be a common trigger for overeating or unhealthy food choices.

Here at Urban Rec, we love to support our community in achieving their goals. Whether it’s about trying to lose weight, learning a new sport, making new friends or all three and much more! Netball is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and fitness levels which is what Urban rec is all about! Urban Rec provides a sustainable and enjoyable way to incorporate regular exercise into your lifestyle, leading to long-term weight loss and improved overall health.

HOW DOES SPORT IMPROVE SOCIAL SKILLS?

June 28, 2023 - one year ago

Hey legends! We’re always saying Urban Rec is more than sports but do you know why? There’s a reason why you’re reading our blog so we think you already know the answer to that question. We’d love to let you know how freaking amazing sport is for your social skills. Here's the lowdown on how getting in the game can level up your social game:

1. Teamwork makes the dream work: Playing sports with a team teaches you how to work together towards a common goal. You gotta communicate, coordinate, and trust your teammates. This helps you develop awesome teamwork skills that transfer to real-life situations like group projects or even just hanging out with your crew.

2. Making friends: Sports are a bloody awesome way to meet new people and make friends. Whether you're joining a team or just playing casually, you're bound to meet fellow sports enthusiasts who share your passion. You share the highs, the lows, and the bloody awesome moments, which creates a bond that's stronger than a crocodile's grip.

3. Winning and losing gracefully: Sports teach you how to handle victories and defeats. You gotta learn to celebrate the wins without being a sore winner and accept losses without throwing a major tantrum. This helps you develop sportsmanship and resilience, which are key qualities for handling setbacks in life with a positive attitude.

4. Communication on fleek: When you're in the game, communication is key, ya hear us? You’ve got to shout out plays, call for passes, and support your teammates. Effective communication on the field translates to real-life situations, where you gotta express yourself clearly, listen actively, and understand others. It's like leveling up your social interaction skills! A win-win!

5. Respect all around: Sports teach you to respect your opponents, teammates, and officials. You learn to play fair, follow the rules, and treat everyone with respect, regardless of their skills or background. This respect carries over into your everyday life, making you a bloody legend to be around.

So, there you have it, mate! Sports give you the chance to develop killer social skills and that’s one of the things we love about Urban Rec. It’s more than sport. You practice teamwork, making friends, handling wins and losses, communication, and respect. Get out there, play hard, and watch your social game level up to epic awesomeness!

PRESS RELEASE: URBAN REC AUSTRALIA’S SUPERBOWL FLAG GRIDIRON TOURNAMENT RAISES MONEY FOR OTLR.

June 28, 2023 - one year ago

Release: Urban Rec Australia, the leading provider of adult recreational sports leagues in the country, held its annual Flag Gridiron tournament on Sunday, 12 February 2023 in honor of the NFL Super Bowl LVII. The tournament hosted two divisions - intermediate and recreational - with six teams each, for a total of 12 teams and about 100 players participating, marking Urban Rec’s largest annual Flag Gridiron tournament to date.

History of Urban Rec’s Annual Flag Gridiron Tournament: Since 2016, the tournament has been an annual staple to Urban Rec’s calendar. Wollongong serves as a prime location for the annual event, as it allows for teams traveling to from our other Urban Rec Cities. We had teams representing Sydney, Greater Western Sydney, Wollongong and Canberra. This year, Wollongong is also going to be hosting the 2023 Gridiron Australia National Championships from 24-29 April 2023, so it is Urban Rec’s hope that the 2023 Super Bowl Flag Gridiron Tournament has generated a bit of hype for this niche sport to encourage spectators to come out and watch the National Championships.

2023 Flag Gridiron Tournament: This year the sponsors and spectators really made the difference. Examples of this include but not limited to:

• A Young Henrys sponsored party cart serving up a classic American tailgate with hot dogs and beers from chilled kegs courtesy of Young Henrys.
• Fireball AU sponsored prizing for the intermediate division winners.
• Red Bull supported ‘Chill Out Zone’ featuring a tent, bean bags, tailgate games of cornhole and finksa plus Red Bull samples and the Red Bull event vehicle pumping DJ tunes all day.
• Wollongong Mustangs Gridiron Club sponsoring a field by staffing officials and bringing down a ‘ball launcher’ for players to show off their long-haul catches and TD celebrations.
• Spectators galore, including a team with a designated ‘water runner’ showing off his budgie smugglers throughout the day…truly embracing the spirit of the game.

A huge thanks goes out to Young Henrys, Fireball, Red Bull and the Wollongong Mustangs Gridiron Club for their generosity to contribute to the success of the event in their own unique way.

In addition to all of that, potentially the biggest difference in the 2023 tournament compared to previous years is the fact that all proceeds will be donated to Outside The Locker Room (OTLR), a charity that provides mental health education and welfare support to sporting clubs, schools and workplaces across Australia. With the help of the generosity of all of the sponsors, the 2023 Urban Rec Superbowl Flag Gridiron Tournament raised a total of $2145 for Outside The Locker Room.

"Outside the Locker Room are excited to partner with Urban Rec Australia as their wellbeing partner and to change the game for mental health in sport. The incredible support shown by Urban Rec Australia, its staff, its members and the entire community towards OTLR has been incredible. When presented with the opportunity to become partners, all of us at OTLR were ecstatic to become a part of the Urban Rec Australia family. What Urban Rec Australia brings to sport is amazing, focusing on fun, community connection, starting conversations and supporting one another, everything we stand for at OTLR. We believe with this partnership we can truly work together to connect our communities through conversation on the path to positive mental wellbeing for all."

Needless to say, the 2023 Urban Rec Superbowl Flag Gridiron Tournament was one to remember. Lindsay Malony, of Urban Rec Wollongong and Coordinator of the tournament, stated, “As someone who has been around American Football (Gridiron) for over 12 years. I can honestly say this was one of the highlights of my involvement in the game. The camaraderie of the teams, the buy-in from players in making it a memorable experience and the generosity from all our sponsors, all while raising money for a cause that is close to my heart, mental health awareness. This tournament reminded me how sport has the ability to bring people together. It’s events like this that reaffirm my passion to be involved in the sporting world and make social sport accessible to all.”

We can’t wait to see what this tournament brings in 2024, because it definitely will be back, so mark your calendars now for February 2024! If you’re keen to participate in other Urban Rec Australia events this year, 2023 has a high-energy calendar of events for the rest of 2023, including 3v3 Basketball Tournaments (Sydney, Canberra and Newcastle), City to Surf involvement (Sydney), a Touch Football World Cup (Canberra), a Soccer World Cup Tournament (Melbourne) and Beach Sports Parties (Canberra and Greater Western Sydney). Each of these events has its own unique personality and vibe, so you’re bound to find something that strikes your fancy, all while being active, having fun and feeling good about the fact that all proceeds will be donated to a selected charity partner.

For more information, please contact:

Madeleine Wilkie:

• Urban Rec Australia Pty Ltd
• 0406 669 500
• [email protected]

Urban Rec Australia Urban Rec Sports Club is a premier adult recreational sports organization that operates in major cities across Australia. They offer a variety of sports leagues and events for all adults and skill levels to participate in, including dodgeball, netball, flag football, football, volleyball, soccer, and more.

Access Social Sport Access Social Sport Inc advocates for positive change in the communities in which Urban Rec are embedded. We believe sport should be accessible to all Australians with added focus on minority groups. Accessibility issues in sport come in many forms depending on each persons individual situation, we aim to aid as many disadvantaged aussies as possible. We believe sport can provide endless enrichment to peoples lives and that this enrichment should be shared.

OTLR focuses on providing critical education for mental health and other social issues, while also providing education for communities to become leaders and inclusive for everyone. OTLR provides education to sporting clubs, schools and workplaces across Australia, looking to show that sport is more than just a game, that in schools the stigma stops here and provide workplaces the space to connect their community through conversation.

Todd Morgan

• OTLR
• [email protected]
• 0423118833

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