Rounders proving to be a big hit when it comes to keeping fit
Playing rounders is proving a hit with those who wish to remain active.
A growing number of adults in Swansea Bay are evoking memories of their childhood by taking up the sport they used to play on the school yard.
In recent years, rounders’ leagues, for females and mixed sexes, have popped up across the area offering a fun way to improve physical and mental health.
Katy Goss (pictured above), a 46-year-old Swansea Bay employee, is one of nearly 10,000 players who have joined the My Rounders social rounders league, which has 360 teams across south west Wales.
She said: “You may have seen a bit of a revival across Swansea Bay with many people reintroducing themselves to the game of rounders, which many of us probably haven’t played since we were in primary school.”
Katy has spoken up to support the health board’s Active August campaign, which encourages people to take up exercise in order to improve their health and wellbeing.
She said: “It's so important to keep fit, especially as we get older because we know that for our bone health, the more active we are, the stronger our bones are, the more muscle mass that we have, the better able we're able to deal with falls and trips and slips as we get older.
“It's good for our heart health. It's good for all aspects of our physical health.
“And most important of all, it's good for our mental health as well.
“Rounders is very much a social movement. There is room here for everybody and we welcome players from the ages of 16 plus, men and women, we would welcome you no matter what your background is, no matter what your fitness levels are.
“We make sure that no person is left behind when they are playing rounders.”
Professor Hugo Van Woerden, Interim Director of Public Health at Swansea Bay University Health Board, has lent his support to the Active August campaign stating recent national guidance emphasises that every movement counts and that even small increases in activity can make a difference.
He said: "Active August is not about running marathons. It is about finding simple ways to move more and sit less."
Katy has also helped produce a short video promoting rounders as a way of keeping fit. It’s one for four such videos that can be found on the health board’s Facebook page with the others promoting touch rugby, walking, and parkruns.
It is hoped the video will prompt others to share ideas on how to remain active.
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