Tap into Water for sport and recreation is a Nelson Marlborough Health initiative based on the simple, yet powerful fact that water is the best drink available. It’s the best choice of drink and helps develop healthy young athletes.

Nelson Marlborough Health is encouraging local coaches and trainers to promote water as the first choice of drink for young sports people, and to adopt water only guidelines.

Tap into water top 5 tips for sports teams or clubs:

  • Make sure water bottles are part of your team’s gear
  • Encourage parents to supply water instead of sports drinks
  • Be a role model for young sports people by drinking only water at practice and at games
  • Provide water rich snacks like melon and cucumber
  • In summer freeze a bottle of water the night before it is needed.

Why are we doing this?

Did you know that one in three kiwi kids today are overweight or obese? Childhood obesity is linked to a range of health issues including type-2 diabetes. Tooth decay is a major health issue and every year Nelson Marlborough Health has to remove teeth from 250 kids under general anaesthesia.

Sugar is a leading contributor to these health issues and ‘junk drinks’ like soft drinks, cordials and fruit juice (which naturally contains high sugar) are a major source of sugar in the diet. While diet drinks may be free of calories, they are not free of consequences and contribute to tooth decay.

Tapping into water is about drinking health for positive health outcomes. Water is the best choice and helps develop healthy young sports people with healthy minds and bodies.

Helpful resources

Interesting websites

Tap into water top 5 tips for sports teams or clubs:

  • Make sure water bottles are part of your teams gear
  • Encourage parents to supply water instead of sports drinks 
  • Be a role model for young sports people by drinking only water at practice and at games
  • Provide water rich snacks like melon and cucumber
  • In summer freeze a bottle of water the night before it is needed.