What is the Here For The Game Community Program?
The Here for the Game Community Program provides free awareness and education for local sports clubs to tackle the growing presence of sports betting – and its harms.
Even if sports betting isn’t an obvious problem at your club, it’s a great way to be proactive. Raise awareness among your members and set a good example for young people, supporters and the whole community.
The program has easy steps, support from our friendly team, and access to helpful resources.
And best of all, there’s no cost – it’s free for all South Australian community sports clubs.
What are the benefits for my club?
- Makes it easy for your club to create a safer environment for players, volunteers, supporters and officials.
- Designed for busy volunteers with easy-to-use resources.
- Your own dedicated Here For The Game team member to help you through the program.
- Demonstrates leadership and shows that your club values the wellbeing of members, supporters and families.
Who’s eligible to join?
To join, clubs must meet these criteria:
- have a committee of management and be run by volunteers
- be open for members of the local community to join
- be affiliated with or involved in a non-professional sporting competition
- be not-for-profit with all funds going back in to the club
- not currently be sponsored by a sports betting or gambling company
- not own or operate electronic gaming machines
How does it work?
1 - Register your club
Get your committee on board, then register your club here. Our friendly team will be in touch to talk you through the program.
2 - Complete the checklist
It’s not a test — it’s a way for you to work out what your club is already doing well, and what else your club can do to reduce the risks of sports betting and gambling.
3 - Create an action plan
A team member will help you create a simple action plan, and you’ll clearly see what steps to take to get accredited. You can find more information on the actions below.
4 - Become an Accredited Community Club
With help from our team, develop a Here For The Game club policy, work with your committee to endorse it and share your achievement with your members!
5 - Earn Gold Accreditation
If you want to, you can continue through the checklist to become a Gold Accredited club, the highest level in the program.
What will my club do in the program?
Key actions include:
- letting your members know that you’ve joined the program and why it’s important. We’ll provide you with social media images so you can get loud and proud
- identifying if your club might be unknowingly supporting the link between sport and gambling. Review things like your sponsorship arrangements, events and functions, fundraising activities, social media rules, and codes of conduct for club leaders
- offering your committee, members and parents of junior players opportunities to find out more about the risks of sports betting, the tactics the gambling industry use, and how to be a role model
- sharing where to get help and support if members are experiencing gambling-related harm.
Take it to the next level
After signing your Here For The Game policy, you can choose to keep going in the program to get your Gold Accreditation.
Key actions for Gold Accreditation include:
- supporting older teenagers who are transitioning to or playing sport with adults, so they don’t feel pressure to start sports betting or other gambling
- hosting a Here For The Game themed round or event
- embedding sports betting and gambling harm support in your club’s mental health and wellbeing plan and activities.
Are you ready to make a difference in your club?
