Registrations are opening for junior and senior clubs across the local area.

Some of you will know where you’re playing – grand final winners, and wooden spooners alike will return to their club of choice, faithful and eager to better themselves in 2019.

Others will be agonising over which code to play and which club to play for.

The benefits of playing a team sport are undeniable, whether you aim to learn new skills, polish skills acquired over many competitive seasons, shed weight gained over Christmas, make new friends or keep up with old mates.

If you love your rugby league, there are three Group Seven Clubs vying for your loyalty – Kiama Knights, Gerringong Lions and Jamberoo Superoos. Juniors will start training this week. Senior teams started training in January. Superoos women and men train on Tuesdays and Thursday at 6pm. Lions train on Monday and Thursday at 6pm until the touch footy comp comes to a close. Knights have been training on Tuesday and Friday at 6pm. Last week they mixed it up with a swim at Kendalls Beach. They will be back to their home ground in March once Rugby Sevens finishes.

Does Australian Rules footy appeal to you? Kiama Power teams are training at Bonaira Oval on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6.15pm. “Training sessions are open to men, women, anyone who wants a run,” club registrar Tom Williams said. 

Join Kiama Rugby Club training sessions on Tuesday nights at 6.30pm. The club will again field a first, second, third-grade and under 17’s team. On a particularly hot night, they trained at the Minnamurra River last week.

Contact sports are not for everyone; fortunately there are a couple of soccer clubs worth playing for. The Gerringong Breakers have joined Football South Coast association, meaning the Kiama Quarriers will no longer be the southernmost club in the competition. At Gerry Emery Reserve, Breakers’ men train on Wednesday at 6pm and women train on Thursday at 6pm. The Quarriers train at the Quarry on Tuesday nights at 6.30pm.

All seven clubs in the Kiama Netball Association are welcoming players aged five and up. Registration has opened for the Beachettes and Kiama Central, contact individual clubs for registration details. The competition starts on March 30.

Parents of school-aged children can again access the NSW Government’s Active Kids Rebate, making sport more affordable by $100 per child each year.