Sport in South Australia facts for kids

Australian rules football at the AAMI Stadium

Sport is super important in South Australia! It's a big part of how people live, work, and have fun. Lots of people in South Australia love watching sports. In fact, almost half of all adults go to a sporting event every year!

Sport helps communities all over South Australia, especially in country areas. There are special programs to make sure everyone can play. This includes Indigenous people, older adults, young kids, people with disabilities, and women.

South Australia hosts many big sports events. These include the Tour Down Under (cycling), Clipsal 500 (car racing), and international cricket matches. These events bring lots of visitors and money to the state.

Teams from South Australia play in almost all of Australia's top sports leagues. These include:

• Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power in AFL (Aussie Rules)
• Redbacks, Scorpions, and Adelaide Strikers in cricket
• Adelaide United in A-League (soccer)
• Adelaide 36ers in NBL (men's basketball)
• Adelaide Lightning in WNBL (women's basketball)
• Adelaide Thunderbirds in Suncorp Super Netball (netball)

The most popular sports to watch in South Australia are Australian Rules football, motor sports, horse racing, cricket, and soccer. South Australia has many great sports venues. These include Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Super-Drome, Netball SA Stadium, and Hindmarsh Stadium. South Australia's official sports colours are red, blue, and gold.

Sport SA

Sport SA is a group that helps all sports in South Australia. It started in 1991. In 2009, Sport SA created the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame. This hall celebrates amazing athletes from South Australia. The first athletes were added in 2010.

Getting Involved in Sport

Did you know that two out of three South Australians play sport or do recreation? About 40% of them play in organised sports teams. People in country areas often join sports clubs more than those in Adelaide. They also volunteer and watch more sports. About one-third of adults in regional areas play sport through a club. Almost a quarter help out as coaches, officials, or helpers.

Boys and girls play sports at similar rates. As people get older, fewer men play sports. But women keep playing at a steady rate until they are over 65.

The most popular sports for both men and women in South Australia are walking, running, swimming, fitness classes, golf, lawn bowls, weight training, and cycling. In the past, some sports were not open to women. But now, laws help make sure everyone has equal chances to play.

Top Athletes from South Australia

South Australia has produced many amazing athletes. They have won medals at the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, and Commonwealth Games. Many are world and national champions.

Famous tennis players like Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Woodforde are from South Australia. Golfers like Jane Crafter also come from here. Other world champions include squash player Vicki Cardwell.

The South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) started in 1982. It helps top athletes and teams get better. SASI has programs for sports like rowing, netball, swimming, and cycling. They also look for new talent across the state. A new building for SASI is being built in Mile End, South Australia.

Major Sports

Australian Rules Football

Andrew McLeod (left) and Kane Cornes (right) battling for the ball in a Showdown.

Australian Rules football is the most popular sport to watch in South Australia. About 31% of people go to at least one game each year. This is much higher than the national average.

Two South Australian teams play in the Australian Football League (AFL):

• The Adelaide Crows joined in 1991.
• The Port Adelaide Power joined in 1997.

When these two teams play, it's called the Showdown. It's the most-watched football game in South Australia. Both clubs also have women's teams in the AFL Women's league. The Crows joined in 2017, and Port Adelaide joined in 2022.

South Australia also has a ten-team league called the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). It started in 1877 and is the oldest league in Australia. Before the Crows joined the AFL, the SANFL was the top competition. Both AFL teams have reserve teams that play in the SANFL. The SANFL also has a women's league called SANFLW.

Beyond these, there are 30 local leagues in South Australia. In 2018, over 200,000 South Australians played Australian Rules football. More than 50,000 of these play in club competitions. This makes Aussie Rules the most popular club sport in the state.

Cricket

A 2015 Cricket World Cup match at the re-developed Adelaide Oval.

Cricket is a popular summer sport in South Australia. More than 100,000 people play it. The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) manages the sport. SACA runs three professional teams:

• The South Australian Redbacks (men's team)
• The South Australian Scorpions (women's team)
• The Adelaide Strikers (men's and women's teams in the Big Bash League)

South Australia hosts international cricket matches, mostly at Adelaide Oval. The first Test match there was in 1884. Adelaide Oval also hosted the first ever day-night Test match in 2015. Many international cricketers are from South Australia. This includes brothers Ian Chappell and Greg Chappell, who both captained Australia.

Soccer

Adelaide United playing soccer at Hindmarsh Stadium.

South Australia's main team in the national A-League is Adelaide United FC. They won the 2016 A-League Grand Final. They have also won two pre-season cups. Adelaide United has often done well in the A-League. They have played in the AFC Champions League four times, more than any other Australian club. Their home ground is Hindmarsh Stadium, which can hold 16,500 people. Hindmarsh Stadium hosted soccer matches during the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.

Adelaide City FC was a very strong soccer club in the 1990s.

Adelaide City is South Australia's most successful soccer club. They won three National Soccer League titles. They also won the 1987 Oceania Club Championship. Adelaide City plays against its rival West Adelaide in the Adelaide derby. West Adelaide was the first South Australian club to win the national league in 1978.

The SASi Pirates won national women's soccer championships in 1997 and 1998. The Adelaide United 'Lady Reds' play in the current national league, the W-League. South Australia has produced Australian players like Sharon Black and Dianne Alagich. They helped the Matildas succeed internationally.

Netball

Netball is a very popular sport in South Australia. Many people play it in cities, towns, and country areas.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds play in Australia's top netball league. They won championships in 1998, 1999, and 2010. Many South Australian players have played for Australia. These include Australian captain Natalie von Bertouch.

South Australia also has a team in the Australian Netball League. In 2012, the Southern Force won the title. Netball has strong competitions across South Australia. About 70,000 women and men play netball in the state.

Basketball

Titanium Security Arena, the home of basketball in South Australia.

South Australia has a long history of creating amazing basketball players and coaches. They have helped Australia do well in basketball around the world. Famous players include Olympians Lindsay Gaze and Phil Smyth. NBA players like Luke Schenscher and Joe Ingles are also from Adelaide.

The Adelaide 36ers men's team has won the NBL Championship four times. The West Adelaide Bearcats also won the NBL Championship in 1982.

In women's basketball, South Australia has produced Olympians like Rachael Sporn and Erin Phillips. South Australian teams have won many national championships. The North Adelaide Rockets won in 1990. The Adelaide Lightning had a great run, winning four WNBL championships between 1994 and 1998, and again in 2007-08.

Rugby League

The South Australian Rugby League is the main group for rugby league in the state. The sport started in South Australia in the 1940s.

South Australia had a professional rugby league team called the Adelaide Rams. They played in the Super League in 1997. Then they joined the National Rugby League in 1998. The Rams were later removed from the league. Today, the South Australian Rugby League still runs local competitions for kids and adults.

Adelaide Oval has hosted big State of Origin series games in 2020 and 2023. The 2023 game had a record crowd of 48,613 people.

Other Sports

Baseball

South Australia has a baseball league with 12 clubs in Adelaide. Adelaide also has a team called the Adelaide Bite in the new Australian Baseball League. They used to play at Norwood Oval, but now play at the Diamond Sports Stadium. The Adelaide Giants won the 2023 ABL Claxton Shield, ending a 43-year wait!

Lacrosse

South Australia has been very successful in women's lacrosse. They have won 32 out of 51 National Championships since 1961. From 1985, they won 11 championships in a row! This success was helped by the South Australian Sports Institute's program. Amazing players like Jenny Williams and Jen Adams have come from South Australia. They have won World Championships for Australia.

In men's lacrosse, South Australia has won 12 National Championships. This includes three in a row from 2001 to 2003. They won again in 2012. In 2003, Peter Inge was the first Australian to play in Major League Lacrosse in the USA.

Lacrosse SA is the main group for lacrosse in South Australia. They run competitions for all ages, all year round.

Hockey

State Hockey Centre, the home of Field hockey in South Australia.

South Australia has produced many great hockey players for Australia. They have won Olympic medals. Famous men's players include Robert Haigh and Craig Victory.

South Australian women have also been very important in the Hockeyroos (Australia's women's team). In the very first Australian women's test match in 1914, five players and the coach were from SA. In the 1980s and 1990s, players like Sandra Pisani and Juliet Haslam won Olympic medals. The SASI Suns won the National Championship in 1995.

Softball

South Australia last won the national softball championship in 1956. But it has produced players who have played for Australia in international and Olympic games. These include Tracey Moseley and Simmone Morrow.

Rugby Union

The South Australian Rugby Union is the main group for rugby union in the state. Adelaide also hosts a rugby sevens tournament. This event brings national teams of seven players to compete.

American Football

American football is played in the South Australian Gridiron Association. Teams include the Southern District Oilers and Port Adelaide Spartans. South Australia also has a state team called the SA Swarm.

Other Teams

• Adelaide Adrenaline - ice hockey
• Adelaide Jets - water polo