By Russell Bennett
What started as a simple idea for a group of club-mates to stay connected during the Covid pandemic could have a lasting impact on the broader landscape of community sport.
In this instalment of the Gazette’s ‘It’s more than a game’ series, Clyde Cricket Club president Paul Duyvestyn explains what the Cougars are doing to stay in touch, socially, when they can’t communicate face-to-face.
“I got put on to this idea by one of our players,” Duyvestyn said.
“I put up a social media post about just reaching out and being there for each other while we’re in lockdown, and one of our past players touched base with me and asked if I’d thought about doing this phone check.”
From there, Duyvestyn formed the idea of putting the names of those interested at the club into a random list generator website, and wherever a player, committee member, or club person finished up in the list, that person would call the person directly above and below them to touch base over the phone.
“We knew the best way of going about it was having it as an opt-in type of thing,” he explained.
“You can’t force people to do it, but it’s just so easy – a couple of times a week we shuffle the order and touch base with the people above and below us on the list. It’s as simple as that.”
Duyvestyn coined the concept ‘CougarConnect’, and more players are joining in each week.
“It’s not about forcing anyone to open up to you if they struggle to do that – it’s about touching base on anything you’re comfortable talking about,” Duyvestyn said.
“It can be utter nonsense if you like, but if someone who’s involved is struggling and doesn’t want to open up, you might get them on the right day and ask them the right questions to encourage them.
“They might open up and it might just be that right moment when they’re down in the dumps and get a lift from a message by someone they might not even know that well at the club.
“That’s the other positive with it – we’ve got a range of people doing it now across all grades, so it’s connecting the club on another level as well as just the mental health aspect.”
From Duyvestyn as the president, to coaches and captains, to junior players – there are people involved right throughout the grades at the club, of all ability and experience levels.
“We’re always looking for ideas on how to catch up and stay together as a group. This is just another simple option – it’s the simplest idea around, just about,” Duyvestyn said, adding he’d communicated with the WGCA about the concept in case any other clubs were interested in implementing it.
“Of the guys I’ve spoken with already, all of them have started off with asking each other how they’re going through Covid.
“There are a couple of guys in there new to the club, and now I know more about them, too.
“It’s basically about getting to know each other better, first and foremost. If blokes decide they want to open up and get things off their chest, that’s a bonus.”
CougarConnect will also have its own Movember team up and running later this year, to raise as much money as possible for men’s health initiatives.
Those seeking help should contact: Lifeline on 13 11 14 or by visiting www.lifeline.org.au; Beyond Blue at 1300 22 46 36 or beyondblue. org.au; Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelpline.com.au; or MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78.
