sport
Sunshine Coast clubs thrive through community focus
Membership drives and local programs at clubs from Kawana to Buderim are lifting participation numbers while strengthening neighbourhood ties.
How we reported this
Clubs on the Sunshine Coast reported a 28 percent rise in junior and adult sign-ups during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
The increase comes as residents seek regular activity close to home after the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals wrapped in mid-July. Families and workers in coastal suburbs now favour weekly training sessions over longer travel for elite events.
Programs at Kawana and Buderim
The Kawana Sports Precinct runs a Tuesday night touch football league that draws 420 players across eight grades. At the same time the Buderim Warriors rugby league club added a walking netball group for residents over 55 that meets every Thursday morning on the fields behind Buderim Mountain State School. Both venues sit within a 15-minute drive for most Sunshine Coast households.
These sessions also include a community barbecue after training, funded by a $12,000 council grant that covers equipment and first-aid kits. Local businesses on Nicklin Way supply sausages and drinks at cost, keeping the events free for participants.
Numbers behind the growth
Club records show combined membership across the two sites reached 3,150 people by the end of June. That figure includes 890 juniors aged under 17, up from 710 in December 2025. Average weekly attendance at the walking netball group sits at 64, with a waiting list of 22 names.
Coordinators plan an open day on 26 July at Kawana to register new players before the spring season begins. Residents can sign up on site or through the clubs' websites for a $45 seasonal fee that covers insurance and match fees.