Future Fitness (August 09) by Script Media

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Sport and fitness for today’s youth

August 2009 £2.75

PE teachers urged to take radical action By Louise Cordell PE TEACHERS need to take radical action to move the subject back into the heart of education, according to AfPE chief executive Professor Margaret Talbot. In her keynote speech at the organisation’s National PESS Conference, she called for those in the industry to do everything they could to raise its profile. She said: “We must begin to position ourselves back into educational policy – we have been led by sport for too long – and we need to take radical action and go back to the roots of physical education to do it. “PE has so much to offer to children’s education and development, but its place in the curriculum demonstrates the need to argue its case – we have lost our educational roots. We expect children to employ maths and linguistic skills in everyday life, but we need to think about what we expect them to take away from school in terms of physical competence.” She pointed out that currently PE within the curriculum receives only a tiny fraction of the money that is set aside for school sports and that this disparity has increased as 2012 and the Olympic Games draw closer. She also claimed that, if this doesn’t

change, physical education will not be in a position to develop and change, and will simply maintain the current, unsatisfactory standards. Margaret added: “The first challenge is clarity and we need to define exactly what we mean by physical competence and its effect on children. It is important to remember that physical skills are not currently in the curriculum and if we are trying to put them there, we need to be much better language users. At the moment we balk at articulating what it is about PE that makes it so special.” According to AfPE the key for physical education is delivering two hours of high quality PE effectively and consistently. However, Margaret pointed out that this is often not the case, with poor primary subject knowledge due to the ‘systemic weakness’ in initial training and the onoing problem of the primary/secondary transition. She added: “Not all schools are demonstrating high quality PE, despite all the resources allocated to them. We have got to redefine PE, its distinctive contribution to learning and its place and role within the curriculum – we shouldn’t be happy to live with physical eduation merely as a handmaiden for sport. Instead we need to talk ourselves back into educational policy.”

‘Unhappy memories of PE lessons’

Olympic champion Lord Sebastian Coe visited sports venues on Merseyside to see how 2012 is inspiring a generation of young people to take part in sport. His tour began at the annual Merseyside Primary Games at Wavertree Sports Park and included stops at Halewood Learning Centre and St. Helens Community Fire Station, where he spoke to children about how the Olympics are helping them be more active. More on the visits, Page 9

PE LESSONS are the cause of our unhappiest school day memories, according to a new survey released by the Cricket Foundation. Nearly a third of people claimed it was their unhappiest experience of junior and secondary school – outranking exams, bullying, teachers and school dinners. The research also found that it was women in particular who had negative memories of the lessons with 34 per cent choosing sport, compared to 21 per cent of men. The national survey was commissioned to mark National Cricket day – part of its Chance to Shine sports education programme. The scheme brings in professional coaches from local cricket clubs to work with PE teachers in schools, developing programmes of coaching and competition. Wasim Khan, director of operations and development for the Cricket Foundation said: “It’s sad that so many people have negative memories of their school days and of PE in particular. We hope that our Chance to Shine initiative is inspiring thousands of youngsters and that special school events will leave a lasting positive impression on children for many years to come.”

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Youth clubs are ‘best placed to tackle obesity’ – new report By Louise Cordell YOUTH clubs rather than schools are the best place to tackle the problems of obesity and inactivity in young people, according to a new report from children’s charity 4Children. It has completed a year-long pilot study of youth health and fitness scheme ‘Make Space for Health’ and has now presented its conclusions and recommendations to the Government, calling for the model to be taken up as a national programme. The campaign’s aim was to motivate young people to improve their health by running new activities in their youth clubs, including dance, yoga and creative cookery. Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said: “We started the scheme after talking to over 16,000 young people who felt that they had little help or inspiration to improve their fitness. “They said that they were not at ease talking to teachers in schools and that the selection of sport available was limited – so we wanted to provide an alter-

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native. Our scheme is all about taking activities directly to young people and giving them access to people that they feel comfortable talking to about the issues involved. “We found that the kids responded very positively and that the programmes had a significant impact.” The charity has combined its own findings with current academic research to put together a series of recommendations, asking the government to step up the national priority for young people’s health. It suggests that children should become the central focus of the ongoing Change4Life campaign, backed up by a health promotion programme and local PCT initiatives. Other ideas include establishing local strategic partnerships to deliver the scheme and improve ongoing work with schools and other youth settings. Anne added: “We have become aware of the urgent need for intervention for some time – but

this has really shown us what the solution is. “We have come up with a wide range of accessible activities and there is a strong indication that they can nudge young people’s behaviour and get them to change their habits. Results showed that, after the year long pilot, 62 per cent of young people felt they wanted to do more about getting fit and 52 per cent felt that being healthy was an important issue for them. Levels of self esteem were also boosted, with 30 per cent of the kids involved feeling happy with their appearance, compared with 20 per cent before the scheme began. Anne added: “There is a network of youth clubs out there but they are not being utilised to help address health and fitness issues. However, we believe that with a little help and support they will be able to provide a network that is better than many of the more expensive measures being funded in schools.”

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British diver Tom Daley leads a youth lobby campaign outside the Treasury to support the new Make Space for Health initiative. He joined forces with Britain’s Got Talent dance troupe Nemesis and a group of young campaigners – handing out fruit to passersby to promote a new report, calling on the Government to take up the scheme nationwide. Full interview with Tom in the next issue of Future Fitness.

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Primary debut for Pilates ... By Louise Cordell PRIMARY pupils across Stockton will be taking up Pilates from September thanks to a new School Sports Partnership initiative. Six weekly, hour-long sessions will be offered to 63 schools across the region to give children from reception to year six the chance to participate. Lyndsey Davis, Stockton SSP community sports coach, said: “We thought introducing Pilates would be a great idea because it is something new and different for the kids and it has been very successful in America – research has shown it can help with many things including concentration, coordination and posture. When we trialled the sessions many of the kids had heard of it and most had mums or older siblings who attended classes, so they were really interested to see what is was all about.

“They were very enthusiastic, requesting another session the following week and going home and practising the Pilates programmes on their Wii Fits.” The aim is to use the classes as a fun way of teaching children correct posture, so that they stand, sit and lay correctly, as well as improving their coordination, balance, strength and flexibility, which will help their sports performance. Studies have also shown that children can gain coping and concentration skills through the discipline and its techniques can be used to calm them in stressful or hyperactive situations. Lyndsey added: “Teachers and parents are noticing that many kids have poor posture from working on computers or sitting in front of the television. Pilates can really give them an idea of what adults mean when we tell them to ‘sit up straight’ – it is never really explained,

but it needs to be done properly for them to get the benefits. “It can also be very good for transferring skills – pupils will be able to perform better when they go on to other sports because they will have the fundamental skills and strength needed to succeed.” Schools in the area have been very keen to get involved in the scheme and several have already signed up for a full set of classes in September. If it is successful, the programme will be rolled out across more schools, providing a higher level for those children who have already

taken part as well as more basic courses for the new year’s intake. Lyndsey added: “Lots of schools have told us that they have been looking for something new and different like this to help get the kids active. “Teachers have also been very interested in the desk based Pilates option, which gives them an opportunity to do a few exercises in the morning to get the pupils focussed, or even during a lesson, if behaviour is deteriorating, to calm them down and get their attention back on track.”

Crime proceeds fund sports activities

Leeds youngsters attend fun day at Headingley OVER 2,000 schoolchildren from across Leeds have been involved in the first Be Sporty Fun Day at Headingley Carnegie Stadium. The event was organised by Leeds Rugby Foundation in response to the Government’s Change 4 Life campaign and aimed to engage secondary school pupils from across Leeds and Bradford in new sports and physical activities. The day gave kids the chance to take part in a range of events including rugby, basketball, cheerleading, football, netball, golf, cricket, mountain biking, athletics and racquet sports. They were also able to meet famous sporting personalities and speak to education providers about different career possibilities in sport. Chris Rostron, Leeds Rugby Foundation general manager, said:

“Getting more children active, enjoying sport and leading healthy and happy lives is what the Leeds Rugby Foundation is all about. “The Be Sporty Fun Day epitomises this aim and delivered a fantastic day for the thousands of youngsters attending. To have so many sports available to try, at a world class sporting facility really is a unique opportunity for the children and one which they thoroughly enjoyed and benefitted from. If we are to successfully readdress the negative trend of poor health and low participation in sport and physical activity, strong partnerships like this will be key.” Thanks to its success, the Fun Day is now set to become an annual event and will be expanding to offer even more activities in 2010.

OVER 20,000 young people throughout Scotland are benefitting from sports activities funded by the proceeds of crime. The Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities scheme has provided over £2.2m of criminals’ money to fund groups including Street Football, Soccer One and Schools of Football since it started in January 2008. The Schools of Football programme has been designed to identify young people who would benefit socially and academically from daily football activities. Cumnock Academy School of Football currently has a squad of 16 boys participating in the two year programme. Coaching takes place during one school lesson on Mondays to Fridays during term time and, since they began the programme in August 2008, teachers have reported a significant improvement in the pupils’ attitude and behaviour. Scotland's national team manager

and former pupil of the school, George Burley, said: “Going back to your old school always makes you think about what it was like when you were a pupil. “My time at Cumnock Academy revolved around football and that it why I am so proud the school is playing its part in the future of our game by becoming a School of Football. “I have been lucky to make it in the game, but I know just how good it is to be involved with football at any level. “It makes you fitter, more confident and more disciplined. Giving kids the chance to burn off their energy playing football keeps them from getting into mischief or worse. “Who knows in a few years some of these youngsters could be playing for Scotland's men's or women’s national football squad. Cashback is giving kids across the country the chance to be better players and also to become better people. It has my full support.”

Three-year sponsorship deal agreed FOOTBALL manufacturer Molten has announced its sponsorship of the Charlton Athletic Valley Express Kent Youth Football League for three years. The deal will start in September 2009 at the start of the season and will run through until 2012. Molten will be providing every team with balls each season, as well as match balls for all the

League’s cup finals. Colin Boswell, chief executive of the league said: “We are really thrilled Molten has agreed to become our official ball sponsor for the next three years. “Having an international brand supporting youth football is a real boost and it gives our young players the chance to play with a top class ball.”

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Club making football fun for tots By Louise Cordell A PRE-SCHOOL football club is getting kids as young as 18 months excited about sport and activity. Little Kickers, based in Plymouth, aims to give children their first taste of football in a fun environment while helping them keep healthy and fight obesity. The company was started in 2002 by Christine Stanchus who was concerned about the shortage of energetic activities around for her two year old son. She said: “I initially set up some classes for my son and his friends as they were all football mad, but there wasn’t anything that catered for their age group. “It became so popular that I decided to turn it into a business and within a year we were running 35 classes a week. “Soon after that we started getting contacted by people who wanted to set up their own sessions further afield, so we decided to franchise the concept.” The clubs provide approved football training with kids divided into three groups: from 18 months to two years, from two to five year olds and from five to seven year olds. The children start out with fun games that include specific exercises for body control, balance and

coordination, as well as learning to strike stationary and moving footballs. As they move through the classes they progress to dribbling and striking, overall team play and improving dexterity, particularly in the legs and feet through ball-balancing games. Christine added: “When we first started the classes it was clear that the traditional football coaching model wouldn’t fit, as the kids were too young to get much out of it. “Instead we knew we needed an early learning slant that was focussed on football. “So we brought in a nursery leader to work alongside the coaches and they worked on incorporating learning involving colours, numbers and teamwork as well as the football based skills and exercises.” The clubs have a retention rate of over 80 per cent and the majority of those that leave before they turn eight only do so because they are moving out of the area. The aim is to get kids engaged in sports for life and one of the first young boys to join up has now gone on to play at Chelsea’s Football Academy Christine added: “We also always aim to team up with local clubs, so when our kids get too old they have somewhere to go where they can

Coach Ryan with young club member Diego keep playing and improving. “I think school provision for things like this depends on the area, so it is important that there are extras like us that give as many children as possible access to activity.” Over the next year the franchise will be expanding internationally with new clubs in Canada joining those already open in Australia,

Ireland and South Africa. The company has also developed a rugby programme for two to five year olds which is due to launch in September. It will be focussing on the more specific skills needed for the game, like running backwards and handeye coordination, and is already receiving an enthusiastic response from parents.

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Participation on the rise with project Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe

Sports charity praised for fresh approach NATIONAL sports charity StreetGames has been praised by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe for its ‘fresh approach’ to fitness and for changing young lives and communities. Speaking at the StreetGames Annual Conference, he said: “I am delighted and encouraged that the charity has been included in a number of Whole Sport Plans for National Governing Bodies of Sport. “Organisations such as StreetGames are essential to meeting the objective of getting one million people doing more sport by 2012.” The conference was held to mark the start of StreetGames’ summer season events, a range of community festivals providing opportunities for disadvantaged young people to access sport and try new activities. Jane Ashworth, StreetGames chief executive, said: “This was an important conference for us as it not only marked how far we have come, but

also mapped out the direction StreetGames is heading in becoming a major national force for linking sport for good with mainstream sport. “We’ve helped establish and develop over 90 projects in disadvantaged communities that between them have generated over half a million youth sport attendances. “The impact this is having on young people’s lives is not going un-noticed, our network has already made such a difference in youth sport - it now looks set to help others grow that same capacity.” As well as hearing from keynote speakers, over 130 delegates from across the country were also given the opportunity to attend workshops covering a wide range of subjects including engaging ethnic minorities, training, volunteering, funding, child protection, event management and working with disabled children.

Teams sought for Liverpool league LIVERPOOL County FA is searching for football teams to join a new under 18s’ league. The association is supporting the creation and launch of a brand new league in Liverpool, with the aim of providing a high quality, safe and enjoyable football experience. It is hoped that the scheme will give A new outdoor fitness range has been launched at this year’s PlayFair exhibition. The units from Record RSS are based on popular gym apparatus but have been designed to be permanently installed outdoors. There are ten stations, all created to exercise individual muscle groups and can be used by all ages. Doug Belfield of Record RSS said: “Increasing activity for all people, regardless of age, has to be encouraged if we are to raise our levels of fitness and enjoy the benefits it ultimately brings. Outdoor fitness makes training and informal workouts accessible to all.”

local teams and players the opportunity to improve their football experience within the city. Clubs wanting to enter the League must have achieved or submitted an FA Charter Standard Application and preference will be given to teams with exemplary discipline records and club administration.

PARTICIPATION in Tiverton’s sports activities is on the rise thanks to a new project from the Exeter Schools Sport Partnership. Students from Tiverton High School and East Devon College have taken part in weekly visits to a local skate part with a specialist rollerblading and skateboarding instructor, then joining up with other clubs as a result. The project, funded by the Big Lottery, aims to encourage the use of alternative sports and facilities for healthy lifestyles. Kealey Sherwood, director of community for Exeter SSP, said: “We decided to source a mobile skate park as a way of getting those children who don’t usually take part in sports involved in different kinds of activities. We thought it was important to remember that not all pupils like the more traditional sports, but will jump at the chance to take part in something more unusual. “Skating is a great way to teach kids balance and coordination skills, but it is also about building confidence and self esteem – it gives them a boost and encourages them to try other new things as well. “It has been very successful so far and we have had great feedback from the schools and the pupils taking part.”

The scheme has been rotating around secondary schools in the Partnership, with teachers being asked to target those kids they think will gain the most benefit. The team has also invested in a local coach who, as well as being able to teach new skills and show the pupils how to take part safely, acts as a mentor to many of those involved. The aim is that once they have taken part in the lessons, the pupils will make use of the other skate parks in the area, and lead a more active lifestyle. Kealey added: “It has really worked well to improve participation - we have had kids who have not been involved in school activities before start skating and then go on to join in other things like our mountain biking club. “Overall the mobile park has proved to be a great resource, and we are keen to see it continue being used. “So once this funding is over we would like to keep the success going and carry on for as long as we can.” The Partnership now plan to hold a celebration demonstration event at the end of the year where all the pupils who have taken part can show off what they have learned and take part in some inter-school competitions.

Free online assessment for teens A FREE online assessment service to help teenagers improve their health and wellbeing is being rolled out by the Department of Health. The Teen LifeCheck uses a confidential, multiple choice, interactive quiz to offer information to 12 to 15 year olds and gives advice on setting lifestyle goals. Gillian Merron, Public Health Minister, said: “Teenage years can be a difficult enough time without having to worry about your health. “NHS Teen LifeCheck is a quick and easy way of assessing your lifestyle

as well as simple advice on how to be healthier. “We have worked with young people to develop an effective and accessible service which is completely confidential.” The online tool offers information on a range of issues including physical activity, nutrition, illegal drugs, sexual health, alcohol and smoking. The advice given includes ‘how to’ videos with lifestyle tips from other teenagers who have taken an NHS LifeCheck themselves.

Mobiles to prompt obese youths RESEARCHERS in California are investigating a new way of helping overweight teens lose weight using mobile phones. Scientists at the University of Southern California plan to connect 50 obese youths to a series of sensors which detect inactivity – so if they sit still for too long a text message will arrive reminding them to take some exercise. Each child will be hooked up to a “mobile body area network” that includes a heart-rate monitor, accelerometer, GPS satellite navigation unit, blood glucose

meter and a device to measure the electrical conductivity of their skin. The sensors are then linked to a smartphone that sends the data to the university’s computers, where software decides what all the data means. For example, if the heart-rate monitor and accelerometer show motion but the GPS is stationary, the system might decide that the teenager is dancing. Ttoo much relaxation will trigger a stream of text messages either telling the teenager to get exercising.

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Kids trade in sport for computers By Louise Cordell NEW research has revealed that teenagers are spending more than 20 times longer each week in front of the TV and computers rather than playing sport. The findings of the survey of families across Britain, carried out by Aviva, show a noticeable drop in sporting participation among 12 to 16 year olds. This has led to Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu, UK Athletics chief Niels de Vos and Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe speaking up to support the new Aviva UKA Academy Initiative. The Academy involves six different schemes, indoor and outdoor com-

petition and awards structures, and its aim is to attract children to get involved with athletics, regardless of age or ability. Initiatives included in the programme range from teacher training tools to interschool competitions, disability sport recruitment and after school and holiday programmes. Christine Ohuruogu said: “The first steps to me winning Olympic and World gold medals were taken as a youngster when I tried out different sports. “Just having a go at a few different things helped me discover my ability as an athlete. “The encouragement I got both at home and the inspiration I received

from my school PE teacher ended up changing my life. “Of course playing computer games can be fun, but nothing replaces the lessons you learn and the sense of achievement you get by playing sport with friends.” According to the report, teenage schoolchildren now spend just two hours playing sport per week compared to 45 hours in front of a television or computer and two-thirds of Britain's teenagers are not receiving any encouragement from their parents to play sport. Girls in particular are losing interest in sport at a rapid rate, with participation having dropped from their fourth rated activity in 2005 to sev-

enth favourite in 2008. The report also revealed that parents are not assuming responsibility and guiding their children into physical activities, but instead allowing computers and television to dominate their daily lives. Niels de Vos said: “Since athletics was dropped from the school curriculum we have relied heavily on the support of Aviva to drive athletics in schools and provide children with the opportunity to take part in the number one Olympic sport. “The Aviva UKA Academy will help us to continue developing talented athletes, increase participation and create a legacy for the sport up to and beyond 2012.”

Passing out parade for lifeguards A PASSING out parade has been held for newly qualified young lifeguards at Brixton Recreation Centre. The group had successfully completed the Recreation Assistant Apprenticeship, a free training scheme for young people run by GLL and the London Leisure College. The lifeguards will now go on to work at leisure centres across the capital, in new roles created as a result of demand for ‘Swim4Life’ – the Government’s free swimming initiative. Since the scheme launched on 1st

April, GLL has seen more than 50,000 additional swims from the under 16s and the over 60s. Junior memberships have also swollen to over 80,000 in the three months since the scheme started. Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport and guest of honour, said: “In a difficult economic climate, it is great to see new jobs being created, with the prospect of people, young and old, gaining new skills from working in an increasingly important sector of the economy as well as helping establish free swimming across London.”

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Safeguard seminar organised A NEW seminar tackling the problems of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in sport has been organised by the ISRM. The event is being held at Loughborough University on 11 September and will be addressing the recently announced changes to the new vetting and barring scheme. Expert speakers will be discussing what the scheme involves, how it will work, what the implications are for various sporting organisations and its impact on employers and voluntary organisations. There will also be presentations to demonstrate how the current Criminal Records Bureau and the Independent Safeguarding Authority will work together to deliver the new initiative. Attending the seminar is recommended for all those involved in the development and delivery of sport and recreation in the community, particularly those involved with young people or vulnerable adults. These include sport and recreation facility managers, sports development officers and health and fitness managers.

Martial arts gym is teaching kids respect By Mary Ferguson A GYM in St. Helens is attracting children as young as three to its junior exercise classes that include Thai boxing, wrestling and judo. Golden Glory UK, a mixed martial arts gym with a fighting cage, has been running the sessions since it opened a year ago and manager Kevin Roberts told Future Fitness they are booming in popularity. He said: “The kids get so much out of the classes and we are having a lot of interest in the Muay Thai boxing sessions from young girls. “Some people think that because we are a fighting gym they are coming here to learn to be violent but it’s all about fitness and building confidence. “And it also teaches them respect – some of the kids were really cheeky when they first started coming and wouldn’t say please or thank you but their manners have really improved.” Children receive a branded Golden Glory T-shirt when they

sign up to the classes and a Playstation has been installed in the reception area to help them feel at home. Instructors include Neil Woods, a Thai Boxing world champion and the gym’s co-owner Paul Cahoon, who has over 12 years’ experience cage fighting. Kevin said: “When we first opened a lot of the adults working out here started requesting that we put on kids classes so they could train while they were being looked after and since then they have really grown in popularity.” Kevin added that the wrestling classes are most in demand, especially with the younger children, some of whom are just three. And due to the growth in popularity, classes will now be held at the weekend too. To celebrate being open for a year and to promote the kids classes, the gym is holding an open day with a bouncy castle and BBQ, for families to attend and find out more about the sessions.

Kevin Roberts

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news 9 Youth fitness initiatives on Merseyside had a chance to showcase their work when Olympic hero Seb Coe paid a visit to the area. Mary Ferguson was there. Lord Coe at St. Helen’s fire station

Lord Coe speaking to rugby players from St Helen’s at Wavertree Sports Centre

2012: inspiring a generation ... LORD Sebastian Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, stopped by the north west to see how 2012 is inspiring a generation of young people to take part in sport. Beginning his visit at the annual Merseyside Primary Games at Wavertree Sports Park, he watched 1,500 youngsters take part in competitions including swimming, hockey, rugby and basketball. The event also marked the Merseyside launch of the ‘Playground to Podium’ initiative, which identifies, develops and supports talented young disabled athletes. Seb’s visit also included a tour of

Halewood Learning Centre, developed as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme, which is helping to transform secondary school sporting facilities in Knowsley. The day rounded off with a stop at St Helen’s Community Fire Station, which has developed a series of programmes to use sport as a way of improving the health of young people in the area. Speaking exclusively to Future Fitness at the event, Seb said: “The Olympic games have some very clear values and we are encouraging schools to apply those by getting involved. “I went to the Midlands recently where two schools had come

Lord Coe with competitors at Wavertree Aquatics Centre

together by using the programme and were learning not just about sport, but about local Olympic heroes and the history of the games. 2012 is an extraordinary way of attracting youngsters to sport and it also helps them engage with other subjects as they can learn about the science of exercise and the history of the games. And what I’ve seen today is a really good example of initiatives that can be rolled out across the country.” Jean Stephens, director of Merseyside Sports Partnership, said: “Merseyside has a great traditional of producing talented sports people. And the sheer presence of Lord Coe will bring inspiration to the young people of Merseyside in a

way that if young people ‘believe it’, they can achieve it.” A ‘Get Set’ programme has been launched to help schools get involved with the run-up to 2012 – with resources targeted at 3-19 years olds – and one in ten schools and colleges are already registered. Lord Coe added: “Just because the games are taking place in London, it shouldn’t stop youngsters benefitting from all over the UK, no matter where they live. “I want lots more children not just to get involved with sport, but to get excited about the games. So my message to schools is to make the most of the Olympics in whatever way they can – and I’ve seen so many do a really great job so far.”

Youngsters chat with Lord Coe at Wavertree Sports park

Firing youngsters up for sporting success

Mandy Langworth

VISITING St.Helen’s Fire Station, Lord Coe was able to see first hand the work the station does to encourage youth sport in the area. From soccer initiatives to healthy eating programmes, the firefighters themselves team up with partners including the Primary Care Trust (PCT) to target troubled young people from deprived areas who need intervention. Mandy Langworth, station locality manager, is responsible for the coordination of sporting activities. She said: “From a fire service point of view if we can encourage people to exercise and eat healthily it stops them getting ill and becoming more vulnerable to getting caught in a fire. “The activities are about giving people a positive focus and because

it’s delivered through the fire services they find it more interesting and the firefighters provide good role models.” Some of the firefighters coach children at a local boxing club and they work with all ages up to early twenties. “Kids with social problems are our primary focus, as well as young offenders and we get a lot of referrals from areas of high deprivation.” As part of a partnership with the PCT, a Healthy Living Team based at the station encourages overweight children to use the gym there, trained by firefighters who gain the youngsters’ respect. And to help the high numbers of teenage single mothers in the area, a netball team is being set up to help them get some physical activi-

ty, while their children are looked after by firefighters. Street Cage Soccer, run by the Fire Support Network and funded by the council, has been operating in St.Helens for a year and according to Mandy, has been a big success. A collapsible sports pitch with high sides for safety can be transported by trailer to any area and erected to provide a safe place for troubled youngsters to play sport and interact in a controlled environment. Mandy added: “The kids love it and sometimes we have up to 80 of them getting involved at any one time. It gives the coaches chance to identify sporting potential and encourage them to join clubs and we have really noticed the difference it has been making.”

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A race designed by teens, for teens is taking place in London this October in an attempt to get the country’s kids active. Future Fitness found out more.

Youth run to take place in London By Louise Cordell

Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun

Sprinter’s route to take him to 3k event AN UP and coming British sprinter who was talent-spotted while running for a bus will be attending this year’s Pulse 3K event. Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun started running competitively after his natural speed was noticed on the street by a coach from the local athletics club. She approached him and put him in touch with Clarence Callender, one of Britain’s leading sprinting coaches. Three years later, Jeffrey is running for Great Britain, is ranked fourth in the country and hopes to qualify to compete at the London 2012 Olympics. He said: “I couldn’t believe it when I was spotted – I had never really done any running or organised sport before, just playing football and basketball in the park with my friends – but it is great to have this opportunity now.” Jeffrey will be an ambassador at the Pulse 3K race, promoting the day to young people around the country and taking part alongside the com-

petitors. He is hoping that the opportunity to train and compete in a high profile event will get kids excited about running and encourage them to lead a more active lifestyle. He added: “I think Pulse 3K is a great opportunity for kids and will hopefully get them involved in something they wouldn’t have tried before. My one regret is that I didn’t start training and competing earlier – I had thought about running when I was younger, but didn’t really know how to get into it and didn’t know who to ask – so hopefully this event will encourage others. “They can also get involved with their friends which I think will appeal to anyone who might feel shy about trying something new. “Even if they don’t end up taking up running, it might get them into another sport that they will enjoy because it will show them how good it feels to keep active.”

A NEW youth run created using ideas from school pupils is set to take place in London this year. Pulse 3K is a new three kilometre race through the city’s Royal Parks aimed at getting 11 to 16 year olds involved in outdoor sports. The event has been organised by the Royal Parks Foundation which carried out research at several London schools to find out what could get teens taking part in a major running event. Sara Lom, chief executive of the Royal Parks Foundation, said: “Our aim has always been to get people involved in sport while they are young so that they can have a lifetime of fitness. “We know the teenage years are a time when many kids drop out of sport, especially girls, so we wanted to do something to help prevent that. We approached three schools so that we could talk to pupils about what they thought of running, why it was so low on their list of favourite activities and what we could do to make the event a success. “The vast majority told us that they thought running was boring! “However, we also found that they were swayed when we told them the running could help them improve in their more preferred sports – for example by pointing out that Ronaldo runs 13 km every game and how far the Williams sisters run during a tennis match.” Other requests from the kids included prizes and freebies, Facebook and Bebo exposure, a course with a winding start and a dramatic straight-line finish and no words such as ‘youth’ or ‘junior’ in the title. They also liked the idea of holding the race on the same day and using the same finish line as the 2009 Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon, so a huge, cheering crowd on the finish line would be guaranteed. Sara added: “Everyone who completes the race will get a medal, which will be made from a surprise, sustainable material, and they will also get a race shirt. “We worked with a colour therapist to design these, working out what the most motivational colours for running were – it turned out deep violet and raspberry were the best.

‘We worked with a colour therapist to design these, working out what the most motivational colours for running were – it turned out deep violet and raspberry were the best’ “So we had the fashion duo Anthony and Alison turn these colours into a graffiti design which is printed on the back of all the bamboo shirts.” The event is aiming to attract 1,000 runners initially and many have already started signing up. Although the idea is that any young person should be able to complete the distance without too much difficulty, the Foundation will also be providing a training pack to encourage those taking part to get prepared with the right exercise and nutrition as part of a long term healthy lifestyle. A food and fitness festival is also being laid on for runners and their families where they will be able to try out lots of different activities, including climbing and parkour, to help keep them active after the event. Sara added: “The kids said they wanted a challenge but also something that was welcoming and accessible and that is what we have tried to provide. “Success for us would be attracting a mix of first time runners as well as those who hope to win. “We would like to make next year’s event even bigger and are applying to carry out a year long programme of activities leading up to the run. We also plan to install permanent timing chips in Hyde Park so that young runners can have their practice times automatically uploaded and ‘virtually’ race against each other using online networking. Hopefully, it will be another great way of getting even more kids involved.” More information and entry forms are available at www.pulse3k.com

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news 11

Bodybuilding PE teacher inspires her pupils By Louise Cordell A FITNESS instructor turned PE teacher has been inspiring her pupils after representing Great Britain in a bodybuilding competition. Caroline OIiver has taught at Henry Mellish School in Nottingham for the past six years and aims to constantly introduce new health and fitness ideas to get pupils more involved. She is also enthusiastic about raising the profile of women in sport and it was this that encouraged her to take up body building a year ago. In that time she has been placed in every competition she has entered, recently came fourth at the European Championships representing Great Britain and now aims to win the NPA British title in October. She said: “I have always enjoyed training at the gym but have never done it competitively – so when I felt like I needed a new challenge I decided on body building. “My pupils thought I was a bit mad at first – but there were all keen to see how much muscle I had built up and ask how I had done it. “I also get a lot of attention from the girls at the school, because succeeding as a female body builder is still something that’s quite unusual. “It shows them that you don’t necessarily need to be good at the traditional team sports to be successful you just need to choose something

Caroline OIiver that suits you and work hard at it. “I think it is really important to practice what you preach – and for a PE teacher to commit to something like this shows the kids what can be achieved with the right focus, atti-

tude and work.” Caroline worked as a fitness instructor for 12 years before moving into schools and has used her experience of teaching more unconventional classes to get the usually non sporty pupils motivated. Activities run at the school now include step aerobics, cheerleading, street cheer, rebounding and x-biking. In September the school is also set to introduce basic level fitness qualifications at KS4 which will allow the pupils to leave with vocational exams beyond their GCSEs. Caroline is expecting this to be a popular option for kids at the school, as several have already gone on to train as fitness instructors after leaving. She added: “I think the important thing is to give kids lots of choice within PE, so there is something that appeals to everyone and they won’t pass it over for other subjects. “I think this is a particularly good way of getting teenage girls engaged in long term fitness. “They might leave school and never play a game of netball or rounders again, but it is pretty likely that they will be going to the gym. “It is about tapping into the market they we know they will use and latching on to what will get them motivated.”

New bid to tackle youth crimes on estates A NEW multisports programme has been launched to tackle anti-social behaviour and youth crime on housing estates. The scheme has been developed by Greenhouse, an organisation that aims to help young people in deprived communities through sports and arts. The aim of the programme is to reengage young people in the estates surrounding Bishopsford School in Merton and help them to develop life skills through multisports and mentoring. Previous research has shown that a lack of provision and facilities are the

main cause of anti-social behaviour and crime in the area, so it is hoped that providing access to a wide range of activities will help to tackle the problem. The multisports programme will make use of coaches trained in a wide variety of sports including football, basketball, swimming, trampolining, gymnastics, dance, cycling, tag-rugby, cricket, dodgeball, badminton, tennis and athletics. Disabled young people will also be able to get involved with activities like rebound therapy, hydrotherapy, boccia and polybat. The range of sports have been selected to help

local kids recognise their strengths, challenge their preconceptions and to develop skills to help them achieve in sport and other areas of life. Greenhouse will also be including young people who have previously been involved in their programmes as volunteers and coaches during the scheme, and any participants who want to remain involved will be provided with exit strategies for their area. Pathways have been created to club and competitive opportunities for young people to keep up their chosen sports and weekend and holiday programmes are also run by Greenhouse throughout the year.

Teens get Rooney chance

Wayne Rooney with some teenagers keen to show off their skills.

HOLIDAY park Haven is looking for young people to show off their football skills for the chance to appear on Wayne Rooney’s Sky One show, Street Striker. Any 14 to 18 year olds can attend pre-trials at one of ten parks and take part in a series of key skills, competing against each other and against the clock. The top ten winners will get the chance to take part in the main trials for the TV show. Marcus van der Gaag, Haven sports and leisure coordinator, said: “We’re always on the look out for new sports and activities for our holiday guests – especially notoriously hard-to-please teenagers. “As part of this scheme we’ll be demonstrating and teaching street football skills to help youngsters reach their full potential in the sport. “We’ve seen a lot of excellent young players in our football coaching sessions on the parks and this is a great opportunity for some of them to really prove themselves with Wayne Rooney.”

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12 news

‘Fit kids more likely to do well in school’ By Louise Cordell

Athletics network launched A NEW network to develop grassroots athletics has been launched at a leisure centre in London. The Newham Athletics Network was launched at GLL’s Newham Leisure Centre as part of a drive to promote athletics and nurture talented athletes in the borough. Working in partnership with UK Athletics, England Athletics is rolling out a series of networks across England in 2009 through to 2013. To help improve the quality of coaching and boost performance, funding is given to networks of clubs and organisations working together to develop athletics in their area. With the aim of building a strategic framework, the Newham Athletics Network combines local athletics partners including GLL, Newham

Sports Academy, The University of East London, Newham School Sports and Newvic College. Rhian Horlock, athletics development officer at Newham Council said: “As the host borough we will be setting examples for others in the sport, establishing models that can be used nationally. The Newham Athletics Network programme has maximum benefits for schools, colleges, clubs, coaches and universities.” Krissy Monaghan, athletics development manager at GLL added: “We're very excited to be part of this new initiative. The network will provide consistent support and quality coaching for all our athletes – everything from building links with local schools through to helping local clubs grow the next generation of athletes.”

PHYSICALLY fit students are more likely to do well in school according to a new study of pupils in Texas. Nearly 2.5m children were tested and those who were fitter were more likely to do well in tests, have good school attendance and be less likely to have disciplinary referrals. The research was based on the results of six FitnessGram tests, created by The Cooper Institute of Dallas, which measure five areas - body composition, aerobic capacity, muscular strength, endurance and flexibility. The tests were carried out on students in grades three to 12 to find out whether they were in a ‘healthy fitness zone’ for their age and gender. The study analysed data from 6,532 schools, representing about 75 per cent of the schools in Texas and about 84 per cent of the school districts. It found that higher levels of fitness were associated with better academic performance – at high performing schools, about 80 per cent of the students had healthy levels of cardiovascular fitness. However, in comparison, at schools that received low academic ratings, just over 40 per cent of pupils achieved the recommended fitness levels.

Better fitness levels also correlated with better school attendance and fewer disciplinary incidents including drugs, alcohol, violence and truancy. Tracy Berg, an elementary physical activity teacher from Tyler School in Texas, said: “Children need to move, it is a fact of life and in my experience if you ensure children have an opportunity to engage in regular physical activity, whether it is running or playing ball, they are much calmer, better behaved and more responsive. “I try to give my younger children an opportunity to ‘get the wiggles out’ before each class. “If they are active for a short while before a lesson, they are much more likely to settle down, concentrate and interact with the teachers and each other in a positive manner.” The research also found that 78 percent of fourth grade students were in the healthy fitness zone for cardiovascular fitness, but only 20 percent of high school seniors – showing that cardiovascular fitness levels declined with each passing grade. Kenneth Cooper, chairman of The Cooper Institute, said: “The impact exercise has on the growing brain is unparalleled. “Increased exercise improves cardiovascular health and that helps the brain function more efficiently and enhances its ability to learn.”

Skills boost for sports coaches SPORTS coaches from around Derbyshire are being offered financial support to help them gain new skills and qualifications. This year the Derbyshire Coach Bursary Fund will be awarding more than £5,000 to 67 paid and volunteer coaches. The bursary fund aims to support the professional development of coaches working in the area by helping them to meet the costs of education. Those involved work across 18 sports including athletics, boxing, canoeing, cricket, football, golf, rugby league and table tennis. The money will allow them to work towards assistant coach qualifications, level 2 and 3 qualifications and other coaching education. Clive Moesby, chair of Derbyshire Sport, said: “We want

to see young people taking part in sport regularly, achieving the highest level they can, and having more opportunities open to them. “The Coach Bursary Fund is one way we hope to achieve this. “By supporting coaches to gain accredited qualifications and improve their knowledge and skills, we hope more young people will get a better, more positive experience of sport.” Applications are now being accepted for the bursary’s next round of funding and anyone who coaches through schools or community clubs, on a paid or voluntary basis, is eligible to apply for cash help. Money can be used to pay for training, or other associated costs such as travel and accommodation, to gain new qualifications or skills through observation and mentoring.

Foundation develops activity pack THE Tennis Foundation has developed a new ‘Tennis Activity Week Pack’ aimed at primary school pupils. It includes a ready-prepared week of cross-curricular lessons on a tennis theme and has been tried and tested with year three and four children. The pack includes lesson

plans, with worksheets and answers, covering literacy, numeracy, science, history, geography, PHSE, music, art, DT and PE. It is part of the Foundation’s offering for National School Sport Week and a pack has been sent to all 450 PDMs as well as being available to download www.tennisfoundation.org.uk.

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London gym in membership for teenagers By Dominic Musgrave A WOMEN’S only gym in London has launched a new membership for teenagers. Shelley White, who runs Sunstone health and leisure club in Stoke Newington, told Future Fitness the gym had decided to put together the package in a bid to get more youngsters active. She said: “There is so much on the television and in the newspapers about the number of obese children rising that the staff here decided at a meeting that we should try and do our bit. “We want to get more teenage girls active, and it also gets them off the streets. We have been around all the local schools and colleges trying to spread the word about the scheme and telling the youngsters that health and fitness is for everybody. So far it has proved to be very successful.” The gym, which is based in a former synagogue, has been open 16 years and has more than 1,600 members, with 200 new ones joining over recent months thanks to a marketing campaign. Shelley added: “We decided to drop the joining fee of £125 in a bid to attract more new members, and that has mas-

sively boosted our membership numbers. “The credit crunch has been really good for us because I think women are wanting to get more for the spare money they may have so are coming to us to get fit and healthy rather than going out. “They tell us they prefer coming to us rather than going to one of the bigger gyms because of the atmosphere here. As soon as they walk through the door they feel relaxed and know they can walk around and please themselves.” The facility boasts a gym over four floors, a swimming pool, studios offering a wide variety of classes – everything from salsa dancing to Pilates and various combat sessions which Shelley says are proving increasingly popular. She added: “We run 65 classes a week and one of the biggest changes I have seen since taking over here four years ago has been the move towards the body combat, body pump and body conditioning type of classes. “I think this is because they are fun and change every three months so the members never get bored. Boredom is one of the key things you have to be mindful of when putting on any class.”

A group of youngsters have teamed up to help find premises for a new children’s gym struggling to find a suitable site in South Buckinghamshire. The Little Gym has seven centres throughout the UK but, having searched for nearly two years, new franchisee Adrian Huntley still cannot find the right venue. He said: “I heard about The Little Gym through a need to find a motor skills activity that involved gymnastics for my own three sons. There’s a real need for quality programmes yet, despite children’s health being at the forefront of everyone’s minds, we just can’t find a site.”

Chain boosts family profile TOTAL Fitness Health Clubs have introduced new training courses to help their staff run child and family friendly activities. The chain have teamed up with Fit For Sport who will provide the training, knowledge and practical ideas to help improve their family profile. Fiona Pearson, group families manager at Total Fitness, said: “We have always been a business which realises the importance of

families being able to spend time together in an environment which promotes health, fitness and sporting activity within its clubs. “Family classes and junior classes for children of all ages timetabled to suit all our members are key to us offering families a great experience whilst in our clubs, the partnership we have with Fit For Sport will ensure we continue to lead the industry in this area.”

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14 news

Teachers must be willing to take obesity action By Louise Cordell

Dr Jeanne Keay, AfPE Chair, Liz Dawson, Steve Kibble and Keith Spencer

Conference recognises PE commitment A SERIES of awards were handed out at the AfPE National PESS Conference to recognise good practice and commitment to promoting physical education. Three people received an award for Leadership and Influence, in recognition of the difference they have made in the field at a regional or national level. Liz Dawson was originally employed as an SSCo in Preston and has been committed to making a real difference for every child in the partnership and allowing all children to realise their potential. In her attempt to develop a more inclusive approach to PE she has also created many new opportunities for staff from mainstream and special schools to work more collaboratively. Steve Kibble was instrumental in bringing the two Physical Education

Associations together to create the single association of AfPE. He is behind the set up of a regional AfPE structure in the south west and has initiated a consortium of 11 LDAs across the area, aimed at improving teaching quality. Steve has also produced a nationally recognised resource to support the development of physical literacy at Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Keith Spencer’s work as an LEA officer helped him to establish a role that is now embedded into the local authority’s Primary and Secondary Strategies. He has also provided support for schools at secondary and special level and developed the role of a primary school advisory teacher for PE. Finally, his work on the Sportsmark and Activemark awards paved the way to current and ongoing data gathering in PE and sport.

Visit the Future Fitness website at www.futurefitness.uk.net for links to the conference’s keynote presentations

TEACHERS are on the front line of the battle against childhood obesity and must be willing to take action according to industry expert Professor Paul Gately. Paul is director of Carnegie Weight Management at Leeds Metropolitan University and believes that schools should be doing more to tackle the growing problem. In his keynote speech at the AfPE National PESS Conference he said: “Tackling the problem on the front line of the children’s workforce is the way to make progress. “Of course more training is required, but a willingness to learn is key.” Paul’s primary research interest is childhood obesity treatment strategies and his PhD evaluated and redeveloped an American residential weight loss camp as an intervention for the treatment of overweight and obese children. He has found that teachers in particular face many different barriers to addressing the obesity issue, from not having the knowledge or training available to recognise the problem, to insufficient resources to deliver consistent help. He added: “Initiatives like Healthy Schools are great – but they are not having any impact on the obesity problem and neither is anything we have done in the last 50 years. “The problem is that it only takes a couple of hundred extra calories a day to cause ongoing weight gain, but the degree of effort required to burn this is significant - and despite increases being made in provision and participation the exercise children are getting is nowhere near this level.” Paul believes that a big part of the problem is the unintentional misinformation that is passed on to young people.

He points out that although they are told that exercise is fun, and makes you feel good, this is not their experience - so those in the fitness field need to be very precise with the information and advice that is given, if it is going to be trusted. He added: “PE can make a significant contribution to tackling obesity early, but we need to think about the messages we are putting out, their accuracy and how they are transmitted. We needed to remember that obese kids are not going to find running pleasurable – and because of that they are missing out on an intrinsic motivator. “Instead they will exercise just to lose weight or look better, and these motivations will not work long term. “So our job is difficult - to engage them and help them find sport fun, but also to get them working hard and frequently enough to tackle the underlying weight gain.” Paul claims that while schools currently have the potential to make a difference in the fight against obesity, more support and research from the government is needed because it is such a difficult challenge . He believes that more training and CPD would help teachers become more confident in assessment, anti discrimination practices and behaviour modification. He added: “I have never found an obese child that we couldn’t engage in physical activity if it is done correctly and tailored to their needs. “We need to let kids know that they can make big differences with small changes – they do not have to become super healthy or ‘super human’, which they see as unachievable and discouraging. “We need to spark their interest and give them confidence, as this is the only thing that will keep them active in their independent future years.”

Physical literacy at the forefront of thinking By Jonathan Williams IT has taken a long time but, after over a decade, the underpinning theory I based my business on is finally being accepted in the public domain. Two key concepts have really moved up the agenda, helping to drive our sector forward. From an educational perspective, physical literacy is something at the forefront in much educational thinking. Secondly the concept of underpinning athletic development; athlete first and sports person second, has been driven to the forefront of the sporting industry. Even in football we are now seeing a more professional athletic development approach to youth football. I had the opportunity to deliver these concepts at ground level this month during two youth specific

activity events. I discussed the physical literacy message during my presentation to The British Council for Schools Environment at the ‘Connecting Parallel Worlds’ conference. The opportunity to portray this message to architects and governors will increase the chances of future schools which create flexible, inclusive learning atmospheres, where the teachers want to teach and pupils want to learn. Athletic development was also the main discussion point during my question and answer session at the Grassroots Football show. Having been involved in these types of events for the past ten years I was expecting the usual negative views on the subject. However, during this conference I experienced the complete opposite. Trainers and coaches were interested in the aspects of youth train-

ing and supported the benefits. However, unfortunately this popularity does have certain down points; principally the introduction of short cuts into our sector of the industry. A perfect example of this is the proposed NVQ Level Two gym award which now enables fitness professionals to train people as young as 14 instead of 16 years. The course has not been changed or adjusted to meet the specific requirements of this younger demographic; just one single sentence has been added. This doesn’t provide the amount of knowledge required to work with young people and I can only imagine this change has resulted from extensive pressure from adult suppliers – desperate to jump on the band wagon of ‘youth activity’. However youth elements that play at effectiveness on adult equipment

are not well considered offerings that provide young people with the support and guidance they need. They are simply extensions of the adult provisions, which inevitably will cause problems and most probably push the views of youth activity back to the dark ages of boredom and potential injury. Jonathan Williams is CEO of Shokk

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16 Refit for the future

New dance studio proves a positive step for college By Louise Cordell A BRAND new dance studio and fitness suite is getting pupils and the wider community involved at Claverham Sports College. The college has access to a joint use facility with Battle Area Sports Centre and has been funding a series of redevelopments aimed at benefitting young people in the town. An area that was previously used as a bar has been transformed into a air-conditioned fitness suite with new cardio and strength equipment and an old squash court has become a dance studio with sound proofing, wall to wall mirrors and sprung floors. Phillipa Dixon, community sports liaison coordinator, said: “We have dual use facilities which means that the pupils have exclusive use from Monday to Friday until 5pm and after that they are open for the

‘The dance studio in particular is great because we provide GCSE dance at the school and have a strong dance following, but it will also be able to cater for a community activities including aerobics and yoga’ community to use. “This is popular because we are in quite a rural area and transport can be a problem and it is also great for bringing local people together. “The dance studio in particular is great because we provide GCSE dance at the school and have a strong dance following, but it will also be able to cater for a community activities including aerobics and yoga – and hopefully this will help our aim to provide more activities that appeal to younger girls. “Catering for both audiences has been very much taken into

account in all of our development plans.” Pupils at the college use the new fitness suite in PE lessons as part of the curriculum and are also able to attend after school for a small membership fee. This has been a big success for the school, with many more pupils than expected getting involved. Phillipa added: “The regeneration has really brought the area back to life, and this has made the kids very enthusiastic. “The old suite was not a very appealing environment, but making the effort to modernise it for

the pupils’ benefit has really encouraged them. “I think all schools should have a fitness suite – because it provides the option for an individual workout, so if a pupils is not confident with team games then they are still able to work at their own level.” The College has also recently received funding from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport towards a floodlit Astroturf pitch which is currently awaiting planning permission. Phillipa added: “We are very optimistic about the new pitch plans – because while we have other pitches they are not great in all weathers and some have drainage problems. “Some are also far from the school and unlit, which means they can’t be used in the winter. “We are expecting the Astroturf to give college and community sports a new lease of life.”

Grants allow facility upgrade PARK Campus in Lambeth has improved its range of sports facilities after being awarded a range of funding grants. The school is a specialist site for 80 pupils, aged 11 to 16, who have been diagnosed wih social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Pictured, from left,Tony Gale, two Fulham FC team numbers and head teacher Richard Leonard

It was the first special educational needs school to be constructed under the Building Schools for the Future programme and, as part of this development, had been allocated funds to create a floodlit hard court area, basketball court and

small sports hall. The campus headteacher also employed Sports Solutions GB to secure further external grants, as well as to help in creating a five year sports development and delivery plan. The money has allowed the school to upgrade the hard court area into a third generaltion artificial grass pitch as well as helping it to empoy a community sports development officer to work with the pupils and other local young people.

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Refit for the future 17

‘We are expecting a big influx of pupils once the new facilities are open. Before were were getting in a maximum of around 40 per session – but when it is done we will be expecting at least 100 per session’ One of the new gym at Radley College in Abingdon

Gym bid to get pupils into peak condition TWO new gyms are being created at Radley College in Abingdon to get pupils into peak condition for their sports competitions. Students at the private boys school compete in sports ranging from football and rugby to lacrosse and ultimate frisby, so keeping fit and healthy is a priority. Ollie Campbell, gym manager, said: “The school had had the same gym for the last 12 years and there were only strength machines, no cardio equipment or free weights, so it was really time for a change. “We completely gutted what was there for a full renovation and made sure we got in stations that would tick everything on our wish list. “The gym will now be used in PE lessons to help the boys get fit for their chosen sport and we will be able to create specific programmes for them to help them improve.” The redevelopment consists of two rooms, an upstairs gym overlooking the swimming pool and sports hall, containing cardio equipment and fixed path resistance machines, treadmills, cross trainers, bicycles and rowers, all supplied by Pulse.

The downstairs area is a free weights room with dumbbells, lifting rack and Olympic lifting platform, bench press, technique bars, plyometric boxes, chains, bumper plates and kettlebells. Ollie added: “The downstairs gym is important as it is most beneficial for the boys to learn to use free weights properly rather than sitting on machines. “We have tried to keep the appeal as wide as possible, and also take into account what the pupils would most want. We are expecting a big influx of pupils once the new facilities are open. Before were were getting in a maximum of around 40 per session - but when it is done we will be expecting at least 100 per session. “Before long we expect at least 50 per cent of the student population to be using the facilities on a regular basis.” The fitness suites are mainly aimed at the pupils and they will have exclusive use of the facilities at set times during the day and in the evening. However, outside of those times they will also be open to members of

Before the new facilities were installed the public. Ollie added: “We are planning to cap the membership at around 150 members, as we don’t want it to get too busy, and the last thing we want is for the pupils’ access to be affected in any way.

“As long as the gym pays for itself then the college is happy so the motivation is not about making a lot of money. “What we want to do is give the pupils as much support as we can, through time and facilities.”

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18 365 directory

Training & Qualifications YMCA FIT 111 Great Russell St London WC1B 3NP T: 0207 343 1855 W: www.ymcafit.org.uk E: info@ymcafit.org.uk Central YMCA Qualifications 111 Great Russell St London WC1B 3NP T: 0207 343 1800 W: www.cyq.org.uk E: info@cyq.org.uk Jump Rope Uk Ltd 16 Riverside Park Wimborne Dorset BH21 1QU tel: 01202 840590 fax: 01202 840577 jumpropes@ntjr.co.uk www.ntjr.co.uk National Extension College The Michael Young Centre Purbeck Road Cambridge CB2 8HN T: 0800 389 2839 W: www.nec.ac.uk E: info@nec.ac.uk National Extension College National Extension College, The Michael Young Centre, Purbeck Road, Cambridge CB2 8HN T: 0800 389 2839 F: 01223 400391 E: info@nec.ac.uk W: www.nec.ac.uk

Sport Facility Development Sports Solutions GB Suite One Copse Farm South Marston Park Swindon SN3 4UQ T: 01793 833456 W: www.sportssolutionsgb.co.uk E: chris.bevan@sportssolutionsgb.co.uk

Interactive Equipment/ Dance Mats Pulse Dance Machine The Bromley Centre Bromley Rd Congleton Cheshire CW12 1PT T: 01260 294600 W: www.pulsefitness.com E: info@pulsefitness.com Cyber Coach Unit 1a Britannia Business Park Union Rd The Valley Bolton BL2 2HP T: 0845 869 2848 W: www.cyber-coach.co.uk E: info@cyber-coach.co.uk

Fitness Equipment Pulse Fitness The Bromley Centre Bromley Rd Congleton Cheshire CW12 1PT T: 01260 294600 W: www.pulsefitness.com E: info@pulsefitness.com SportsArt Fitness 2 Dean Court Unit 10 Shuttleworth Mead Bus Park Padiham Lancs BB12 7NG T: 01282 779234 W: www.sportsartfitness.com E: mark.turner@sportsartfitness.com Hexa Sports Ltd New Bond Street Birmingham B9 4EJ tel: 0121 7720724 sales@hexasports.co.uk www.hexasports.co.uk

Design & Build Pulse Select The Bromley Centre Bromley Rd Congleton Cheshire CW12 1PT T: 01260 294600 W: www.pulsefitness.com E: info@pulsefitness.com

Training Equipment

Football Facility Build

Crazy Catch Wall Tree House Farm Steane Brackley NN13 5NS T: 01295 816765 W: www.flicx.com E: ricx@flicx.com

Goals Soccer Centres plc Orbital House Peel Park East Kilbride G74 5PR T: 01355 234800 W: www.goalsfootball.co.uk E: keithm@goalsfootball.co.uk

Pulse Soccer Centres The Bromley Centre Bromley Rd Congleton Cheshire CW12 1PT T: 01260 294600 W: www.pulsefitness.com E: info@pulsefitness.com

Professional Associations Association for Physical Education Building 25 London Road Reading Berkshire RG1 5AQ T: 0118 378 2440 W: www.afpe.org.uk E: enquiries@afpe.org.uk British Colleges Sport 2/3 North Street Workshops North St Stoke-Sub-Hamdon Somerset TA14 6QR T: 01935 823444 W: www.britishcollegessport.org E: kate.paul@britishcollegessport.org

Climbing Walls Freedom Climber Cherry Cottage Guildford Rd Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8LS T: 07554 016220 W: www.revolutionaryproducts.co.uk E: andrew@revolutionaryproducts.co.uk Entre Prises Eden Works Colne Rd Kelbrook Lancs BB18 6SH T: 01282 444800 W: www.ep-uk.com E: info@ep-uk.com

Audio Equipment Sound Dynamics 51 Bridge St Belper Derbyshire DE56 1AY T: 01773 828486 F: 01773 828475 W: www.sound-dynamics.co.uk E: support@sound-dynamics.co.uk

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Future Fitness has launched its very own e-newsletter. The monthly letter will contain breaking news from the industry as well as information about forthcoming features and events. Like the magazine, the e-newsletter is completely free to receive. All we need you to do is register your e-mail address by visiting our website, www.futurefitness.uk.net, calling 01226 734695 or complete the registration form that arrives with your copy of Future Fitness. Any companies wishing to take advantage of the sponsorship opportunities available on the e-newsletter should contact 01226 734672 or e-mail sales@futurefitness.uk.net.

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