Heidi Kraak
Women between the ages of 18 and 25 are being invited to step into the ring and duke it out in free boxing classes beginning this weekend.
The classes are an initiative of Latrobe Steetgames, Make Your Move, Latrobe City Council and Living Well Latrobe which aims to engage a demographic sector in physical activity that may otherwise be disengaged.
Latrobe Streetgames program coordinator Den Lim said Latrobe Streetgames had been asking young people what activities they’d like to see available for them to do in their towns.
“Boxing came up repeatedly, especially amongst young women,” she said.
“We’ve also heard from our participants that especially in contact sports, women can, at times, feel mixed gender is a barrier to participation so we wanted to offer both a women’s and mixed session. It’s so our participants have the best chance of having fun, getting active and enjoying this program.
“This is a four-week taster, but we hope to see more offered in the future.”
Latrobe Streetgames head coach Bek McIntyre said the classes were designed to increase women’s participation in sport and physical activity.
“Statistics show that women in the Latrobe Valley often drop out of organised sports once they start leaving teenage-hood,” she said.
“We want to keep them active and participating and this is a good way to give women a test start to a non-traditional sport they might pick up and play through Latrobe Leisure.”
Ms McIntyre said boxing was a good cardio and strength-building activity.
“It’s free and classes are catered for all abilities and levels from beginners to experienced,” she said.
“Everyone is welcome.”
The first class of the four-week program will be held at Latrobe Leisure, Morwell on Saturday from 10am.
Open boxing classes, which are available to men, women and children of all skill levels, will also be held on Saturday from 11.15am.
