12 minute read
All you need to know about boccia
ALL YOU NEED TO Boccia KNOW ABOUT
Have you ever heard of boccia? Do you know how to pronounce it? For lots of people the answer to both these questions is “no”. Boccia England is on a mission to change that and explains why boccia is a uniquely accessible sport.
Boccia is the most inclusive sport you’ll find and it provides fun for all the family. It can be played by anyone regardless of age, gender, ability or disability.
The game was originally designed for people with cerebral palsy and for many regular players it is the only sport they can participate in because of the severity of their disability. But it’s also enjoyed by people with a range of other physical and learning disabilities and many non-disabled people, too.
Louis Saunders, who recently represented Paralympics GB in Tokyo, said: “I wasn’t strong enough for wheelchair basketball, not fast enough for wheelchair racing and not agile enough for wheelchair tennis. I love sport, I want to be the best and sadly I didn’t really have that chance, that opportunity, because of the nature of my disability. But that was before boccia; now I’ve been given a chance and I’ve made the most of it.”
How to play
Boccia is a target ball sport, a bit like bowls. From a seated position (and therefore ideal for wheelchair users) players propel balls to land close to a white marker ball – the jack. If you’re unable to grasp and propel a ball, you can use a ramp. There’s also a specially adapted version of the game available for people with visual impairments.
Did you know?
It’s an indoor sport, played on a court roughly the same size as a badminton court. You can compete as an individual, in a Boccia balls are made pair, or as a team of three. A set of of leather and are boccia balls consists of one white jack ball, six red balls, and six blue filled with tiny plastic balls. The balls are made of leather pellets. They come in filled with tiny plastic pellets and different grades of softness come in different grades of softness and hardness. If you don’t have a set of boccia balls and/or you can’t find enough space to play a full game, don’t worry. There are lots of boccia skills challenges you can have a go at from the comfort of your own home and you can start off with general household items – you can even use a rolled-up pair of socks! If you want to take your involvement further, you’ll find boccia to be a game of skill, precision and strategy – this was clear to see for anyone who watched David Smith OBE win a boccia Gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics last year. Oh, and finally…it’s pronounced “bot-cha”. It rhymes with gotcha!
Why is boccia so beneficial for children?
Boccia provides a truly level playing field sport. Disabled children can enjoy playing, competing and winning alongside their non-disabled peers. As a seated sport, boccia provides a physical activity option for children who have perhaps been less active in the past or are less traditionally ‘sporty’.
Through its Skills Award programme, Boccia England has collected a wealth of evidence to show that involvement in boccia helps SEND children develop and improve essential life skills such as communication, responsibility and resilience. This helps them in the boccia sessions, the classroom and beyond. One Skills Award participant said it helped him to realise “it’s ok to get cross when you don’t get something right, but not ok to break things and storm off and quit. This will affect how people see me and will affect the team’s result.”
How to give boccia a try
If you’d like to start off by having a go at boccia at home, you can find lots of challenges and games on the Boccia England website (bocciaengland.org. uk), which you can play without having specialised equipment.
If your child would like to play boccia regularly then the best way is to join a local club. There’s a network of clubs across the country and most are open to all ages and abilities. Boccia clubs provide a safe space for people to get active, have fun and form life-long friendships. Boccia England’s website also has a club finder tool to help you find your nearest club.
Many schools run extra-curricular boccia sessions or even have their own boccia clubs. You’ll also find a nationwide programme of competitions run by Boccia England. The Heathcoat Cup, which will begin again in autumn 2022, is open to anyone including beginners.
Our sport is only possible because of the dedication of hundreds of volunteers who run clubs, coach players, referee at our competitions and much more. If you’re interested in volunteering, please get in touch.
About Boccia England
Boccia England is the charity responsible for the sport in England, supporting all levels – from beginners to elite. Our work includes developing and supporting around 60 boccia clubs across England; working with partners to reach disabled people and older people; engaging children through working with schools; organising competitions in a variety of formats to suit everyone; developing and supporting the different people within our sport, such as coaches and volunteers; and identifying and developing talented athletes through the England Talent Pathway.
For more information on Boccia England, visit: bocciaengland.org.uk, email: info@bocciaengland.org.uk or call 0115 967 8455.
If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can find out more about boccia here: Scottish Boccia (scottishdisabilitysport.com); Disability Sport Wales (disabilitysportwales. com); Disability Sport Northern Ireland (dsni.co.uk).
Photo: © Shutterstock.com/Dmitry Markov152
Travel
Embrace the warmer weather and head outside to explore the great outdoors. In this issue we give you tips for a successful camping break and explore the stunning scenery, culture and explore fun activities in the UK.
SUCCESSFUL FAMILY CAMPING WITH GO OUTDOORS
Camping is one of the best types of holiday for family bonding. It’s an activity everyone can get involved with and create memories for a lifetime. If it’s your first trip, you may have reservations and be worried about whether your kids will like it, whether other campers might complain, or how you’ll fill all that time so you don’t get the dreaded “I’m bored”. We’re here to help and have compiled a list of handy tips.
Are you ready?
Is camping right for your family? It’s worth checking before investing in a full holiday.
Stay in the back garden or near to home for your first try. You don’t want to travel the length of the country to find the kids are scared of sleeping in a tent. Practice pitching your tent. Practice makes perfect; not only is this the best way to check for issues (which are easier to rectify before a trip), but it also means that mum and dad can get in some vital practice. If you have young children, it may be best to try to pitch as much of the tent as possible solo, as one of you will need to tend to the young ones.
Your practice trip is a good chance to work out how cold the kids get at night. Check the season of your sleeping bags are correct for the weather you’ll likely have whilst you’re away, but it’s always worth having options to layer up and stay warm so take plenty of blankets. Everyone will enjoy the trip more after a good nights sleep. Do you have the car space? Large family tents can take up a lot of space, you may soon fill up a smaller car once you start adding in all your additional gear. Try to pack heavy items at the bottom and lighter things on the top – and make sure you maintain visibility out the back of your car. If you need extra space, a roof box might be a good option to boost your available space for lighter items.
Get as much info before your trip as possible. GO Outdoors have camping experts on hand to talk you through all aspects of camping, whether it’s type of tent, sleeping arrangements or cooking equipment. You’ll also be able to see the tents set up in store, so be sure to try them out!
Be prepared
It’s worth making a list of your gear before your trip so you can be sure you don’t arrive at the site and have forgotten a tin opener, or even worse – the tent.
Prepare some food for your arrival; the chances are that the whole family will be hungry after the trip and set up. A pre-cooked meal that is easy to get going is perfect, such as pizza, pasta or chilli – anything that can be eaten cold or is easy to warm up.
Make sure any devices you’re taking with you are fully charged before you set off, including any power banks to recharge whilst on the go.
Meals can take longer to cook while camping, so it’s worth having snacks and fruit on hand to tide over hungry bellies while the main meal is cooking.
Have a portable toilet option. It may not be a very nice subject, but whether it’s a simple bucket toilet or a full portable toilet, it’s best to have an option so that you don’t have to keep doing the middle-of-the-night run to the toilet block. Blankets are good for evenings outside the tent if kids want to stay awake with the adults.
A thin black sheet over the top of a bedroom pod can help with getting kids to sleep for longer, as it’ll block out some of the bright sunshine in the early morning. Many GO Outdoors tents have Nightfall® technology which blocks out daylight in the bedrooms, so check these out if you’re looking to buy a new tent for your trip.
Baby wipes and hand sanitiser will be needed and are ideal for when the sinks are too far away. A jerry can on its side can make for an ideal hand washing station.
Gazebos make for a great outdoor cooking space with a shelter, as well as being a good play area for when the tent starts to feel a little cramped. Some event shelters are inflatable too, which can save space in the car and are super easy to put up.
Get them involved
While travelling to the site, get the excitement going early with car games related to where you’re going, or to camping.
On arrival it’s worth getting the kids involved in the set up, to help them feel like part of the team. Holding tent pegs, helping to unroll the sleeping bags etc.
Let kids pack a small bag of their own with their favourite toys and books.
Look for hands-on camping recipes, such as corn on the cob, burgers and hot dogs on the barbecue. Make meal times fun – camping cooking needn’t be boring.
Fun desserts and snacks that kids can get hands-on with are great. It doesn’t get more campfire than toasted marshallows!
Get them involved in the campsite chores. It may seem silly, but the chores that are boring at home are often a lot more fun when in a tent.
Encourage kids to keep a scrap book of their holiday, things they’ve found, places they’ve been, photos you’ve taken etc.
Tire them out
Tired legs and minds make for a better night’s sleep and it is much easier to get them to drift off at night.
Camping is a great time for family games and there are plenty you can try, even without needing to buy equipment.
Picking a campsite with good facilities for kids is a great way for them to make friends. Look for sites with parks, pools, recreation centres or activities that can be booked onto - some you may need to book before you arrive.
Depending on where your campsite is, it’s worth exploring the local town to see what is on offer close by.
Nature walks with a scavenger hunt can be fun for everyone: create a list of items and head out into the outdoors to see what you can find.
Board games, card games or tablets are ideal for wet weather days and keeping the little ones occupied during a day inside the tent.
Invest in a picnic basket/cool bag or box for days out to keep your meals or snacks fresh.
Books, portable DVD players or tablets are ideal for the night time while tucked up inside their sleeping bag. Many sites have WiFi available or you can hotspot off your phone – be sure to check for additional charges beforehand.
Don’t worry...
If you’re worried about how much noise your kids make, don’t. There’s a degree of acceptance on family-friendly campsites; other camping parents have probably been through the same experience. Enjoy your holiday and just be respectful of other family living spaces.
GO Outdoors is proud to stock an unbeatable range of outdoor camping gear for everyone, so visit us online or in-store and stock up on everything you need for your summer staycation.
For more help and advice on planning for your staycation, check out the handy howto videos we’ve made by following the link below, or scanning this QR code:
