A group of Catholic College Bendigo students say a season spent court-side helping Bendigo’s balloon football league has given them lessons to last a lifetime.

Balloon football is a game for people in wheelchairs loosely based on AFL footy.​

The local league is organised by disability support service Scope and a group of volunteers.

Among the volunteers helping officiate most games are 15 students from CCB. 

Student Andrew Trantor said he and his classmates rotated through different roles each week, ranging from umpiring and score keeping to pushing player’s wheelchairs.

“As soon as we are in the door (Scope) clients are running up to us, hugging us and saying hello. They are so sad when we have to leave,” he said.

Sarah McGaffin said the work was incredibly satisfying, especially because her and her classmates had felt accepted as soon as they began volunteering at games.

“Balloon football is all about getting everyone involved, regardless of whether they have a disability. Everybody deserves the chance to be involved in something,” she said.

Eva White said it had also been a chance for some to break down stigmas.

“I think for a lot of us, when we first came here, we felt a bit intimidated because we had never had those experiences with people with disabilities,” she said.

But Ms McGaffin said students had quickly settled in, learning different communication skills so that they could understand, and be understood by, players.

“You have to make sure clients understand you. It’s about body language, using the right words, how loud you speak and the tone of your voice,” she said.

Scope Regional manager Mary Sullivan said the students brought enthusiasm and a youthful energy to the court.

“(Their involvement) means we have enough volunteers to provide the league for everyone who wants to play,” she said.

“In previous years we’ve had CCB volunteers who finished school and continued to volunteer with us.

“They are all just fantastic.”