A youth-led mental health initiative from the Game Changers Leadership Program. Click through the tabs below for the full run-down, all your downloadable resources, and how to lock in your date.
About the initiative
The Game Changers Colour Run is a youth-led mental health initiative developed by participants in the Read the Play Game Changers Leadership Program. It's a fun, visible way to start conversations about mental health inside the places young people already feel connected: their sporting clubs.
Bring together players, families, volunteers, supporters and the broader club community.
Create positive, visible conversations about mental health within sporting communities.
Give Game Changers participants a chance to lead a meaningful initiative in their own club.
Raise awareness of Read the Play and its mission to build mentally strong sporting communities.
Who's behind it
The Colour Run was designed by Game Changers, a group of young leaders aged 14 to 20 from Read the Play partnered clubs across the region. They've shaped the concept, the colour station activities, and the mental health messaging you'll find throughout this hub.
2026 Game Changers leadership group
Representing clubs across the Geelong region, including:
How it works
Every club runs its own Colour Run event. We've designed it so you have flexibility in how you deliver it, while keeping a consistent message and look across all participating clubs.
Grab the Club Information Pack, Colour Station Activity Guide and Oval Setup diagram from the Downloads tab, everything you need is right here.
There's no fixed date. Pick whatever works for your club calendar. Popular options include:
Follow the Colour Run Team Challenge layout: one lap of the oval with six colour stations, finishing at a central Start/Finish arch. Full setup diagram in the Oval & Colour Stations tab.
Each station needs at least two volunteers. Use the key messages and prompts in this guide (and the full Colour Station Activity Guide) so every station delivers the same consistent experience.
Let the Game Changers team know when you're on so we can help promote it, then deliver the opening, the colour run, and a finish festival.
Event format
Teams complete one lap of the oval, stopping at all six colour stations to finish each activity together before crossing the finish line as a team.
Teams work together to reach the finish line. Football age groups: U9–U12 and U14–U18. Netball age groups: U11–U13 and U15–U19.
The heart of the event
Each station represents a mental health and wellbeing value identified by the Game Changers Leadership Team. Participants complete a simple activity before receiving their colour powder.
Kindness can make a bigger difference than we realise. A small act can brighten someone's day and strengthen a community.
Activity: Kindness Wall. Write a kind message on a sticky note and add it to the display board.
Equipment: table, sticky notes, pens, display board/banner, pink colour powder.
Moving our bodies and staying active can help boost our mood and wellbeing.
Activity: 30-second challenge, star jumps, high knees, skipping or a mini obstacle challenge.
Equipment: cones, marker area, orange colour powder.
Positivity is about looking for the good, even when life feels challenging, and it's contagious.
Activity: Create and perform a team cheer or chant, unique to the Colour Run.
Equipment: yellow colour powder.
Every challenge helps us learn, improve and grow.
Activity: Name three ways you want to grow this year, and share with the group or a friend.
Equipment: green colour powder.
We all need support and people we can rely on.
Activity: Link Arms Challenge (link arms to the next marker) or the Human Knot Challenge.
Equipment: blue colour powder.
Courage isn't about being fearless, it's about taking the next step even when something feels difficult.
Activity: Share something brave, plus a Slip and Slide (or substitute courage challenge if unavailable).
Equipment: purple colour powder, slip and slide (optional), hose/water supply, volunteer marshal.
Closing message at the finish line: Kindness. Energy. Positivity. Growth. Support. Courage. Together we colour our community. The full Colour Station Activity Guide (Downloads tab) has extra detail for volunteers running each station.
Planning essentials
Based on a six-colour event split evenly across stations. Cost is approximately $80 per 10kg. Clubs can also make their own using cornflour and food-grade colouring, tested ahead of the event.
| Club event size | Powder needed (100g/person) | Recommended (150g/person) |
|---|---|---|
| Small club event, 50-100 people | 5–10kg | 7.5–15kg |
| Medium club event, 100-200 people | 10–20kg | 15–30kg |
| Large club event, 200-300 people | 20–30kg | 30–45kg |
Who does what
Each club is responsible for first aid support, emergency procedures, appropriate insurance coverage, briefing volunteers and managing participant safety on the day.
Keeping the message consistent
All Colour Run events should carry consistent, community-appropriate mental health messaging. These aren't scripts to read verbatim, use them to shape your welcome, signage and volunteer prompts.
Being part of a sporting club helps create friendships, support networks and a sense of belonging.
Everyone experiences challenges from time to time. Seeking help is a sign of strength.
Checking in with a friend can make a significant difference.
Players, parents, coaches, volunteers and supporters all contribute to mentally healthy sporting communities.
Everything in one place
Grab the full documents below, no need to email anyone to ask, they're ready to save straight to your club's shared drive.
The complete overview: event objectives, format, roles, colour powder guidance, fundraising and branding rules.
⬇ Download .docx