For Young People

Fun in sport

Everyone knows that sport can be fun and that you can learn many things through sport, such as, sticking up for your team mates, practising hard, and trying your best. Doing any of these things are in the true spirit of sport.

But sport can sometimes bring out the bad side of people. For example, when some players bend the rules, try to take unfair advantage by using performance enhancing drugs , or show a lack of respect for opponents and officials, they are not upholding the true spirit of sport.

While playing or practicing a sport, you can come up against many different situations that require on-the-spot reactions. Many situations test your skills, whether it is coordination or timing. Other situations may test your sense of what is right and wrong. For example, an opponent fouls you and isn't penalized. How will you react in those situations?

GSF youth camps

The Global Sport Fund (GSF) run one-week sport camps, during school holidays, for young people to have a terrific chance to meet players and coaches from different countries and to learn new skills and techniques in various sports. What makes the camps really special is that players also have a chance to learn more about making positive decisions, both on and off the playing field. The  values we emphasize among camp participants are:

  • Balanced competition - giving more attention to improving skills over that of scoring points
  • Respect for oneself and others (officials, team mates, opponents, coaches)
  • Maintaining self control at all times

An athlete who plays fair brings honour to him/herself, their team and community. We believe the ideas learned on the field will also help you in other part of your life - now and in the future.

Best of all, playing sport in the true spirit is fun. Everybody wins!

Selection criteria

To get selected as participants in any of the youth camps, you (boys and girls) must be between the ages of 11 and 17 years, in good health and can meet the following criteria:

  • proof of regular participation in an organized sport for at least the preceding 12 months
  • recommendation by a coach or NGO leader of standing in the sport in respect of:
    • demonstrated leadership potential
    • attestation of fair play practices and sportsmanship by peers
    • helping others in need
    • awareness and commitment to drug and substance abuse prevention
    • information on awards earned in sport and work in the community
  • commitment to pass on knowledge and skills learned at the camp to other youth

Since some camps may be held outside your country of residence, you will need to have a valid passport and be prepared to travel by air or train, depending on distance, to the camp venues. Details of up-coming camp arrangements will be posted on this website in due course.

Post-camp activities

Youngsters who complete any camp will be given the designation, GSF Youth Ambassadors. Youth Ambassadors (YAs) will be expected to help spread the word and knowledge of the GSF programme within their communities after they return home.

We will be in touch with all YAs and work with them, other non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, or national sports bodies to help carry the GSF philosophy forward and encourage more youth to take up sport.