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Footy stars kick off with MIND.BODY.PEDAL

Bicycle Network was joined by AFLW players for an inspiring MIND.BODY.PEDAL session at Hampton Park Secondary College this week.

AFLW North Melbourne players Sarah Wright and Tahlia Randall visited the college as part of the program to speak about the experiences of being a woman in sport and overcoming barriers to achieve their goals.

“I was amazed at how many (female-identifying) students have had to overcome barriers when getting involved in sports. Parents often discourage their participation,” Sarah Wright reflected.

Bicycle Network’s MIND.BODY.PEDAL program addresses issues that are unique to young people identifying as female, such as social equality, mental wellbeing, and physical health. The program comprises a combination of motivational group sessions, yoga and group bike rides.

In this week’s session at Hampton Park Secondary College, 103 female identifying students learned about self-esteem and emotional intelligence, practiced mindfulness and techniques, rode bikes whilst learning road safety skills.

Other guest facilitators included Kate Rizzo from Grow Club, and yoga instructor Julia Graziani.

“It was surprising to hear so many (female-identifying) students say ‘I’m not good enough’ when referring to their involvement in team sports,” said North Melbourne player Tahlia Randall, “after the session we noticed students show interest in wanting to study sport”.

In 2020, MIND.BODY.PEDAL worked with 128 students in Victoria, which found a 29 per cent increase in students being physically active. In its seventh year, the program continues to expand its reach, motivating more students to get physically active with confidence.

“Give it a go,” says Sarah Wright, “I’m so glad I gave footy a go, it sounds corny, but it really is the best thing that’s happened to me.”  

You can learn more about Bicycle Network’s program below:

MIND.BODY.PEDAL

This article was made possible by the support of Bicycle Network's members who enable us to make bike riding better in Australia.

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