Earlier this week (October 31), the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed new research into how Aussie kids are spending their time and which sports are getting them out exercising and having fun.

And it came as no surprise to us here at Strathfield Sports Club Sydney that soccer ranked as one of the most popular sports in the country!

According to ABS assistant director of the National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics Paul Pamment, 60 per cent of Australian kids aged between 5 and 14 participated in an organised sport between April 2011 and April 2012.

During that same period Mr Pamment says that almost a quarter of all boys across Australia played soccer, which is great to hear!

Playing soccer is a great way for kids of all ages to learn important life skills such as teamwork and sportsmanship – all while getting off the couch and having some great fun at the same time.

If you are considering getting your kids into Soccer, you may be interested to know that Strathfield Sports Club prides itself on being the friendliest football club in Sydney.

Our Golden Goal First Eleven Football Academy soccer camp offers a fantastic football training experience that will have your kids kicking with style.

The ABS Children’s Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities survey revealed that while NSW has a respectable rate of kids sports participation (60 per cent), we are still well behind the ACT (73 per cent) and WA (64 per cent).

Here at Strathfield Sports Club we believe that every kid should have the chance to participate in a sport that they love in order to learn the value of fitness and hard work.

So if you are looking for a fun activity for your little one this summer, why not grab a soccer ball and bring them down for a kick around? We'd love to have you!