London Lions head coach Vince Macaulay has discussed the importance of getting involved with sport from a young age.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, millions of people have taken up a new fitness regime and become more aware of their overall health and wellbeing.

Unable to go to the gym or participate in sport due to continuous lockdowns and restrictions, more and more people have taken advantage of the array of fitness tips and classes on social media from influencers all over the globe, inspiring many to get active and exercise.

This new fitness craze spawned during the pandemic over the past year has made the younger generation in the UK more fitness inclined than ever before, with kids as young as ten now making exercise a part of their daily routine.

And as the nation returns to sport, we may now see more youngsters than ever getting involved with the sports they love and the new ones they want to try as they head out of lockdown.

Sport has proven to play an impactful role in the lives of many, with clubs being right at the hearts of communities across the country.

Lions head coach Macaulay said: “One good thing to come out of the pandemic is the nation’s newfound love of sports and fitness. It is truly great to see that the younger generations are now more fitness inclined than ever and I do hope that this is something that stays with them as they grow older and something that becomes the new norm for kids and their relationship with their health.

“Here at the London Lions, this has always been something we have encouraged through our community outreach both and schools and with teenagers at college. If this can be implemented at a younger age, it is something that will grow with them and become a big part of their lives.

"It is now vital that grassroots sport here in the UK receives the support it needs to provide kids access to the sports they love and remain a platform for inclusion and community.

“We now hope to see more and more kids getting involved with the sports they love as we exit lockdown and want them to even other sports that they may not have had the chance to play before.

"As a team, we promote basketball as a sense of community and belonging and feel that it is crucial to help cope with the adversities that the past year has presented us with. Community outreach is something that we as a team have been doing for a long time and it has helped us connect with youth in the area and promote the sport here in the UK.

“This year alone, we have set out to engage and work with communities up and down the country with our Hooping Back to School Programme, in hopes of encouraging involvement with the sport and increase participation by educating the youth on the benefits and opportunities entwined with basketball.”