The Sydney Morning Herald logo

Kids’ sport

Advertisement
Jace says goodbye to Ben.

‘Well played, son’: Father’s heartbreaking tribute to Ben Austin at the cricket ground they loved

Mourners filed into packed stands at Junction Oval to mark the life of a cheeky teen who lived and breathed sport.

  • Sherryn Groch

Latest

Junior cricketer Ben Austin was struck by a ball in the cricket nets on Tuesday night.

‘Here we go, lads’: The radiant life and tragic death of a beloved Gully boy

Those who knew teen cricketer Ben Austin best are struggling to piece together those final, tragic moments: the usual banter at practice – then the ball that changed everything.

  • Sherryn Groch, Angus Delaney, Daniel Brettig and Andrew Wu
Photos provided by Football Victoria of the facilities in poor condition across the state.

Outside toilets, overgrown showers: Soccer boom pushes Victorian facilities to breaking point

Football Victoria is calling on governments to “level the playing field” with funding to match an unprecedented take-up of the sport.

  • Kieran Rooney
Vaughn (at left) and Alexander Dawson’s parents struggle to afford their swimming lessons.

‘A fundamental part of growing up’: Why Aussie kids can’t swim any more

Once a rite of passage, swimming lessons are becoming out of reach for many – with potentially deadly consequences.

  • Erin O'Dwyer
Research shows that the behaviour of parents on the sidelines is reflected by players on the field.

Can’t stay calm on the sidelines at your kid’s game? Here, have a lollipop

As parents behaving badly at children’s sporting events persists, clubs are turning to unusual methods to curb poor conduct.

  • Mercedes Maguire

Help! The kid next door is constantly kicking a ball against our shared fence

The annoyance can break your brain – but our Modern Guru has found a solution.

  • Danny Katz
Advertisement
Engadine

‘Treat it like royalty’: The trick Sydney councils are using to make the most of park space

It’s turning into a city of half-courts as councils look to answer the growing demands of an increasingly popular children’s sport.

  • Daniel Lo Surdo
Antonio Lo Iacono, right, died after a head injury during an Australian rules football match in South Australia. His mother, Wendy Smith, believes his death was a result of second impact syndrome.

Antonio loved the Swans. A little-known condition killed him on the football field

Families are being torn apart by a syndrome claiming the lives of young athletes. But almost no one has heard of it.

  • Riley Walter
The Coogee Seahorses under-eights rugby league team has specialist headgear thanks to their coach.

How the alarming science behind concussions is changing local sport

Research into the long-term effects of repetitive brain injuries has led grassroots volunteers such as Yann Gambin to find ways to protect young athletes.

  • Angus Thomson
Teens are dropping out of sport for reasons including an overly competitive environment.

By 15, one in four teens have quit sport. What can parents do?

While the Olympics inspire many people to take up a new sport, research shows it’s tough to get teenagers to stick with it.

  • Sarah Berry