YMCA Ballarat has released a program with a specific focus on encouraging young people across the region to try a new sport this month and make it count in the long run.

Basketball drop-in sessions, in partnership with Basketball Ballarat, at the Delacombe Stadium and a teen skate with Ballarat Roller Derby League are free for Active April in a bid to engage and age group known for dropping off in sports and exercise.

Ballarat ranked the second-most active region last April when it comes to Victorians of all ages and abilities committing to move 30 minutes each day in April. 

It it not too late to add to the city's efforts with registrations open all month with a string of incentives across the state, including discount entry to walk about Sovereign Hill and a free five-visit pass to Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre for use in the health club, pools, spa and steam room.

Drop-in basketball and teen skate sessions add to a string of free and low-cost activities at YMCA Ballarat and Ballarat Community Health for all ages and abilities.

Active April participants log their daily activity for inspiration and access to free recipes and work-out videos.

Exercise can be a range of activity from housework and gardening to walking the dog or team sports - YMCA Ballarat gardening club is open to all at the Delacombe hub on Tuesday mornings.

Ballarat Community Health's health promotion officer Catherine Kennedy said activity need not be scheduled work-out sessions. She said it was important to do activities you enjoyed and finding positives in incidental activity.

READ MORE: Greener active approach to April

"This is an opportunity to move your car park on work days, park a little further away and walk," Ms Kennedy said. "Gardening and walking are very popular activities people say they do in Ballarat for Active April."

Two in three adults in the Central Highlands region are overweight or obese and more than 50 per cent are not moving enough.

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MORE than half of Victorian women are shunning the gym because they find the centres too intimidating a place to work out.

Gyms were particularly daunting for mums and inactive women, according to new research from the state's health promotion foundation VicHealth.

Other barriers include the cost of gym memberships and time.

Previous VicHealth research showed Ballarat women move less than the average Victorian woman, with about seven in 10 Ballarat women failing to move for 30 minutes at least five days a week.

VicHealth is offering $500,000 in grants to help make council-owned facilities more inclusive for women and to make traditional sport feel more welcoming for less active, disadvantaged and culturally diverse women. The new Innovation Challenge is promoting creative ideas for people to get active in a flexible way.

VicHealth acting chief executive officer Lyn Roberts said the program is encourgaing simple changes to make a difference in the community.

"For example, featuring people of different genders, backgrounds and sizes in your marketing and posters, ensuring people know what to expect when they turn up for the first time, changing the positioning of your mirrors and equipment, and offering beginner friendly sessions can all have a real impact," Dr Roberts said.

"We know this isn't what sports organisations and councils want."

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