Team Swans have again been out around Sydney visiting schools and promoting healthy choices to primary school students.

On Wednesday, 14 Swans players visited Oakhill Drive Primary School in Castle Hill and talked to more than 200 students about making healthy choices as they begin the transition to high school.

Team Swans Manager Craig Holden said the Healthy Choices program helps children as they enter the teenage years.

“It help them make choices that are in their best interests and also avoid some of the pitfalls of what might happen,” Holden said

“The guys go out to schools and take a class through an hour-long lesson which will have some exercises looking at issues like leadership, the environment, bullying and behaviours that can help the school community.”

Holden said the children love seeing Swans players at their school and the program helps the students find role models.

“The Swans brand is a very strong brand in schools.  Even if the kids might prefer soccer, rugby league or rugby union, they’re still excited to have an elite sportsman at their school.

“We put an elite sportsman in front of a group of year 5 and 6 kids and he can articulate the challenges he might have had in making certain choices and his experiences. For any year 5 and 6 group they are going to get various things out of the visit, but ultimately schools want role models from their sportsmen.”

Holden said that as well as the students enjoying the Team Swans program, the Swans players also benefit.

“What we found is that not only does the program help promote the club but it also helps the players develop as young men. It’s quite confronting being in front of a classroom of kids. It fast tracks players’ sense of self worth and their confidence,” Holden said.

Teams Swans has been running since 1995 with most of the current Swans list participating in the program.

“Brett Kirk, Adam Goodes and Jude Bolton were some of the pioneers of the program. A lot of our modelling is based on their experiences,’’ Holden said.

“The program is a different way of promoting the club. It’s not headline grabbing but it’s a different way of showing the community our values and what the club is about.”

Holden has no doubt the Team Swans program benefits the Sydney community.

“Player access and player involvement is very important. We’re absolutely convinced that our players can carry out their duties with care, responsibility, enthusiasm and a sense of understanding to what the program represents to the long term future of the club.”