WORLD class Oztag player, Steve Barons has identified a gap in Beerwah’s range of sports and has become a venue manager to bring Oztag to the Beerwah Sportsground.
The venue’s social competition, expected to start on September 11, has already attracted 80 registrations from boys and girls aged six-15, and Steve predicts they will end up with 20 teams.
Steve discussed the many benefits of Oztag, while also allowing kids in the Glasshouse Country region to have a broader selection of low contact sports.
“One benefit is the sport is low contact so it’s popular with the girls, it requires running and lots of exercise,” he said.
“If players are struggling, there’s unlimited subs to come on and off, there’s hand eye coordination to grab tags too.”
He also highlighted how the sport can help kids fit in socially.
“It’s really about getting kids off their computers and outside and interacting and a bit of team work, sometimes at school some kids may not fit in but once they join a team they are all a part of a common cause,” he said.
“This allows them to bond with each other because they have things in common, so I’m hoping it makes a good morale for the area and for the kids to be pretty excited.”
“Some kids at my school Oztag clinics who didn’t see themselves as sporty but tried the sport anyway, got a tag and it gave them confidence, that what I love to see in the sport.”
Barons has been coaching his son and friends in the Maroochydore Oztag venue for the past five years, but has personally been playing since 2016, making it into the International Tag Federation (ITF) Tag World Cup playing for the Men’s 50s all stars ITF team.
The ITF Tag World Cup was in Ireland on August 2-6, and his team, which he captained, came fourth out of seven teams, with the Australian team placing first.
Throughout his coaching, Barons has seen many of his players make school and regular state cups, Queensland representative teams, and win Maroochydore venue competitions.
For enquiries or to register, you can contact Steve via the Facebook page BeerwahOztag or by calling him on 0414 600 088.