Inflatable football pitch brings joy of sport to NZ school

An inflatable football pitch made its New Zealand debut recently as part of a pioneering after school programme being run at Glenview School in Porirua.

The programme – known as the Homework Club – sees volunteers from the community and local businesses visit the decile 1 school twice a week to talk about their work and help out with activities such as reading, cooking, crafts and sport.

​​Last week’s Homework Club focused on sport and saw around 20 Glenview students don the footballing colours of Germany, Netherlands, Portugal and France for an afternoon of football fun.

The inflatable Packapitch was provided by New Zealand-based sports equipment provider Packaworld International, and the company’s chief executive Peter Roberts was on hand to referee the event. 

Glenview School principal Lynda Knight-de Blois said the afternoon of sport was a great way to promote healthy lifestyles and inclusion in a fun and enjoyable way.

“We were thrilled and the children absolutely loved it. It was a beautiful spring evening and we hadn’t told them the inflatable football pitch was coming so they were all very excited when they saw it being set up.

“It was a great addition to the programme. The volunteers that help come from all sorts of different professions. For our kids it’s a good chance to try new things, interact with a diverse set of people and to find out about their lives and backgrounds.”

She said the idea of using a Packapitch came out of a conversation with Parliamentary Services, which supports the Homework Club with by providing volunteer helpers each week. Parliamentary Services was aware of Packaworld and contacted Mr Roberts, who was happy to volunteer his support.

Mr Roberts said the Glenview School event was the first time the new Packapitch has been used in New Zealand.

“It was humbling to be able to debut the new pitch with such a great and deserving group of children. Their enthusiasm was infectious and they loved the novelty and non-stop action provided by a pitch with walled sides that keeps the ball in play and the game flowing.” 

The Homework Club was set up by registered charity Who Did you Help Today. The programme aims to partner businesses and other organisations with local low decile primary schools to introduce school children to different perspectives, inspiring ideas and interesting people from within their communities. 

At Glenview School, the support of Parliamentary Services has also led to an annual visit to Parliament. Last year’s visit included a chance to meet Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, just months after the 2017 election.
​
Other Homework Club programmes have been established at low decile schools around New Zealand, including Russell School and Holy Family School in Porirua.

VIDEO: Inflatable football pitch brings the beautiful game to Glenview

​For more information about the Packapitch, visit the product page >>