Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

There’s a lot of sport going on at the moment – school sport I mean - and I’m always amazed at how dedicated and committed parents and volunteer coaches are to these school teams.  Having had kids as players, and later on as coaches, having seen how much work goes into it all, it’s very impressive.   Especially in terrible weather and especially in a cost of living crisis where things like sports gear, shoes and uniforms are not cheap.   Some families are paying a fortune for their kids to do sport – and I’m always amazed at how many prioritise it.   It takes up weekends and evenings too, so it’s very time and finance heavy.   But it’s those sports teams and club games which often spark real enthusiasm for kids, not to mention set them up with a lifetime of friendship or a good foundation for fitness. Both of which are crucial for mental health, so it’s got to be good for them, even if they’re pretty average at it.   I remember when my husband was the girls’ netball manager back in their primary school days,