….Smalltown Challenges
The tourist blurb calls it ‘Big Tree Country’. And if you like to climb mountains, canoe, mountain bike or fish there is no doubt this area is a paradise for lovers of outdoor pursuits. On the other hand if you want to play team sports …… well then that can be an adventure in itself!
First up you need to have a team. Easy done in the city ….. if you’re neighbourhood doesn’t boast a team you just go a mile or so down the road and there is sure to be another. In the small towns and villages of Highland Perthshire numbers can be the problem. Four or five good players may live in Pitlochry, the same in Aberfeldy and Dunkeld but not enough for each town to compete on their own against the city sides.
Secondly, you need opposition and they are many miles away. Perth is a sixty mile round trip, Dundee over a hundred. Playing football or rugby in the city may only take a couple of hours on a Sunday morning …. for young players up here it can mean a six or seven hour day trip. It is easy to see why some children never take part but we applaud the families that are so very committed in their support of their children
Our OWN Approach
By taking a Highland Perthshire approach – the Sports Trust has brought players together from each of the small towns.
Some of the practice sessions may still take place separately but they now have the chance to play together as one team. For example, now you see Breadalbane Strathtay girls playing Dundee United or Forfar girls. It’s a big step forward.
The other significant part of our strategy is to also link up our most talented players to teams in Perth so that particularly for rugby and cricket they can experience a higher level of competition.
