It all starts at grassroots and community level when it comes to any sport – a key idea the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union continues to pride itself on with its annual ‘Ball skills with the Steamers' initiative.

Twice a day, from today until Thursday, three of the freshly named 2015 ITM Cup Steamers squad will be on hand at Bayfair Shopping Centre to help drum up support for the upcoming season.

Kallay Mansell, 10, and Kallic Tahana, 11, with Bay of Plenty Steamers Dan Hollinshead, Joe Tupe and Tino Nemani. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Armed with rugby balls, agility ladders and speed cones, the players are also passing on their skills and knowledge to the next generation of players that could one day don the blue and gold hoops.

There will be free autograph books for fans to collect all the players' signatures and pose for photos.

Bay of Plenty Steamers first five Dan Hollinshead says interacting with the fans and the community is an important part of the team's culture and the four-day programme is a great initiative.

And he is already impressed with some of the skills on show.

'They [the children] seem to be going quite well,” admits Dan. 'There are some skilled kids out there.”

Hollinshead, one of 20 returning Steamers players, is confident that community support is growing as both players and loyal fans look to put a tough few years behind them after finishing dead last in the 2014 edition.

And they're buoyed by the hype and excitement building around the side's clash with Waikato at the Tauranga Domain on August 30 - the first time the venue will host a match since the fixture against Hawke's Bay back in July 2009.

'I think the supporters will get behind us quite well,” adds Dan, 'especially with the game at the Domain. There is already a lot of talk.

'A good win or two to start the season and I think they will get behind us.”

The Steamers' first match of the 2015 ITM Cup season is against North Harbour at ASB Baypark on August 15.

Ball skills with the Steamers runs from 10am - 12noon and 1pm - 3pm until Thursday at Bayfair Shopping Centre.

Bay of Plenty Steamers Tino Nemani, Dan Hollinshead, and Joe Tupe at Bayfair Shopping Centre.