Future Fitness (November 09) by Script Media

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Sport and fitness for today’s youth November 2009 £2.75

Call for schools to overcome rugby fears By Louise Cordell PRIMARY schools are being urged to overcome health and safety fears and introduce contact rugby for pupils. A Wakefield partnership development manager has been working to bring in the game throughout the 80 schools in the Five Towns SSCo Partnership but has found that many head teachers are reluctant to take the risk. Paul Ogilvie believes that playing the full version of the sport can be very beneficial for kids but that people’s prejudices need to be addressed before they get the chance to take part. He said: “Many head teachers will reject the idea without really thinking about it, there is just an immediate negative response and I think this is down to a lack of knowledge. “We do everything necessary to make the games safe – we have qualified referees and first aiders on hand and have sought advice from the Rugby League on the best protective gear for pupils. We actually have more injuries occur during tag rugby than we do when they are playing contact. “There are collisions, but the children just bounce back up, and the first aiders are very rarely needed.” Paul believes that while tag rugby is a

great way to introduce the sport into schools, if pupils want to progress and take their game to regional and national levels they need to be playing the real game. He is convinced that if more schools take the first step into bringing in contact rugby it will soon be the norm in primaries around the country. He added: “20 years ago there was mass participation in real rugby for kids of all ages, but this was before all the health and safety regulations and claim culture. To produce great players it is important for them to start early and for kids to progress they need to be given the opportunity. “I think it is the schools being overly cautious, because I have had many parents call me directly, asking how their kids can get involved – they don’t have any concerns.” Paul has already held two contact rugby competitions in a bid to get partnership schools on board, but just three attended the first and only five attended the second. He is now organising another event for November, which he has opened up to every school in Wakefield in an attempt to increase numbers. Bid to tackle rugby parents, Page 5

Sport Week date change confirmed

Gladiators star ‘Enigma’, aka Jenny Pacey, is doing her bit to get young people active. Jenny, together with her partner and co-star on the Sky One show, Wayne ‘Doom’ Gordon, have been visiting schools around the UK and providing advice on health and fitness. Her aim is to get kids excited about working out and show them what can be achieved with enthusiasm and commitment. She said: “I want young people to realise that getting involved in sport and activity can lead to many other things and that a determination to succeed will spill over into every area of life.” Full story, Page 6

THE Youth Sport Trust has confirmed that the date for National School Sport Week has been changed to June 28-July 2 2010. The change has been made following feedback from schools and other partners and to ensure that as many young people as possible will be able to take part. It has now been organised to avoid any potential clashes in the school curriculum around exams, work placements and other end of year activities. Baroness Sue Campbell, Youth Sport Trust chair, said: “This year more than 10,000 schools and three million children took part in Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week demonstrating how the excitement and passion for the Olympic Games can be a powerful driver to increase participation. “It was a tremendous week and we are extremely excited about building on this even further in 2010.”

02 Physique

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Tories ready to bring back competition By Louise Cordell THE Conservatives have announced plans for an annual School Olympics to bring back competition in school sport. Jeremy Hunt, the shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport, confirmed the party’s plans to back Dame Kelly Holmes’ proposal for a national sports competition, to be run every year with finals held at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. In a recent speech he accused Labour of failing to take advantage of the ‘golden opportunity’ provided by the Olympics to inspire a generation of young people to take part in sport and also tackle the growing problem of obesity. He said: “This initiative will allow us to use 2012 to bring competitive sport and sporting values within the grasp of all young people. “Labour claims to support school sport, but their obsession with political correctness, their continual raids on National Lottery sports funding and their suffocating health and safety regulations means that there are millions of children not taking part in

Contacts Group editor: Andrew Harrod – ah@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734639 Reporters: Louise Cordell – lcordell@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734694 Mary Ferguson – mf@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734712 Christina Eccles – ce@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734463 Dominic Musgrave – dm@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734407 Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry Sales and product manager: James Dickson jd@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734672

competitive sport.” As well as introducing the annual under 18s competition, Mr Hunt has also stated that, under a Tory government, schools would be forced to publish information about their facilities, and every child would have the opportunity to compete. He said: “Let’s democratise the Olympics. Let’s not just have them in the stadium in London for three weeks only. “Let’s have them in every school, in every town, in every city and every county not just in 2012 but every year from then on.” Dame Kelly’s school games proposal is based on a recommendation she made last year after her Olympic Legacy Taskforce looked into ways to expand sports opportunities for all children. She said: “We need to give our young people opportunities, we need to give them direction, we need to give them a chance to be inspired. “And with the Olympic Games coming, we're going to host the best games ever – we need to now make sure that we maximise what we're doing as a nation.”

www.futurefitness.uk.net Studio manager: Stewart Holt sth@whpl.net Deputy group editor: Judith Halkerston jhalkerston@whpl.net Circulation enquiries to: Kelly Tarff kt@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734695

2 Dash member Niall Hunt, coach Keith Newton and new recruit Gemma Smalley

Athletics club celebrates national excellence award A DERBYSHIRE athletics club is celebrating after picking up a national excellence award. 2 Dash, which is based at Mount St Mary’s College, Spinkhill, has achieved Clubmark status, the national standard for high quality sports provision for young people. The club was set up in 2007 to cater for under 17s from the school and the wider community and now has more than 100 members from the South Yorkshire and Derbyshire areas who meet twice a week to take part in a range of track and field events.

2 Dash also has satellite clubs at four local schools, which run 12week training programmes and competitions for students and feed into the main club. Keith Newton, a level four coach who runs 2 Dash, said: “The satellite clubs are a way of bringing athletics to the community. “We welcome members of all abilities from these clubs to our weekly sessions – they are hugely popular and a great way for us to develop positive links with the community and ensure that physical activity is accessible to all.”

04 Urban Rebounding

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New dance craze goes to school By Louise Cordell PUPILS at a primary school in South Yorkshire have become the first in the area to take up Zumba, a new dance craze all the way from Miami. Kelda Evans, a teacher at West Meadows School decided to introduce the after-school class after attending some Zumba sessions herself. She thought that the aerobic fitness routines, with dance steps inspired by styles including salsa, hip hop, mambo and flamenco, would be ideal for getting the kids involved. She said: “I have always been sporty so I know how important it is to keep kids active and really wanted to introduce something new that would get the children excited. “After attending classes myself I knew that Zumba would be ideal, so invited our instructor Nikki to come into school and do a taster session. “The kids absolutely loved it so we suggested starting up a regular club and had a fantastic response.” Over 30 pupils from years two to six have now signed up for the first six week course, including five boys, and the aim is for them to learn some routines that can then be performed to parents at the Christmas

West Meadows School pupils at their after-school Zumba class show. They will all also be rewarded with Zumba wristband when they successfully complete the course and the school will be providing a trophy to present to the best dancer of the term. Kelda added: “It is just so much fun, its a great way to help the kids get fit and they have all responded really well. We are always looking

for new ideas and ways to introduce the pupils to different things – because not everyone enjoys taking part in the same activities. “This is fun and cheap and ties in with a lot of popular culture at the moment - I think it is attracting a lot of kids because it has something for everyone.” The aim now is to continue to run the classes for the rest of the year,

Paralympian Ben Quilter was among the guests at an activity day marking the countdown to London 2012. Olympicinspired activities, including a giant tennis game and slug racing, were some of the highlights at the open day – which attracted about 500 visitors to Olympos Burgess Hill. The event was organised in

culminating in a big show to demonstrate the routines, helping the school to link up with the community and get parents involved in spreading the fitness message. Kelda is also exploring a range of new ideas for the pupils, including the possibility of introducing pilates to help relax year six pupils who are approaching their SATs.

partnership with Freedomleisure, Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC), Participate Mid Sussex and West Sussex-‘Ahead of the Game’, the county’s 2012 initiative. Visitors participated in the games, watched fitness class demonstrations and took tours of the facilities, including newly installed gym equipment.

Pupils limber up for finals SCHOOLS across Kirklees are taking part in heats in an attempt to qualify for the upcoming Cross Country Championship Finals. The four Kirklees Schools Sports Partnerships; Newsome, Pennine, Spen Valley and St John Fisher, will each be represented by three teams of girls and three teams of boys, who will compete for individual and team honours in the finals. Talented individuals, whose

school team may not qualify, will also be invited to take part, to ensure that all the best runners get the opportunity to compete at the event. The event is part of Kirklees Council’s ‘Getting fit for 2010’ initiative, which aims to provide young people with the opportunity to take part in a wide range of competitive sports, as part of enjoying a healthier lifestyle.

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Parents tackled over calls By Louise Cordell OVER enthusiastic parents could be banned from the touchline for causing trouble at school rugby matches. Paul Ogilvie, partnership development manager for Wakefield’s Five Towns SSCo Partnership, has threatened to stop pupils’ mums and dads attending games because of their bad behaviour. He claims that the parents have become too competitive, shouting advice to players including ‘take the little one down’ and ‘knock his head off’. Paul said: “I can’t believe some of the things I hear yelled out at matches. “I have had to have words with many parents who have caused a problem – it really doesn’t set a good example for the children. “They go completely over the line – as adults they needed to remember where they are and act appropriately. “If it gets much worse I am prepared to ban them from games altogether – it has become that bad.” Paul, who coordinates PE and sports for 80 schools in the area, has resorted to desperate measures in a bid to keep the crowds under control. A uniformed steward from a local rugby club has been brought in to

A Knottingley High School rugby match police the spectators and a ‘Code of Conduct’ for parents, based on the Rugby League’s Respect campaign, has been printed on the back of programmes – but with little effect. Paul added: “We have asked them repeatedly to address their behaviour but it doesn’t seem to make any difference. “I am sure it is just because they are passionate about the game, but

they take things too far. “The kids don’t appreciate it either, and they will often shout back to their parents from the pitch, asking them to be quiet. “It’s not demonstrating the kind of sportsmanship we want to encourage in our young people. “We are hoping that things will get better because we want parents to be able to come along and sup-

port their children – but if not, under these circumstances, what choice do we have?” What do you think? Are your school matches attended by over enthusiastic parents or would you welcome more passionate supporters? Write to Future Fitness Magazine, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS or e-mail: lcordell@whpl.net.

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Jenny Pacey has gone from international athlete in the 2006 Olympics to media star in her new role as gladiator ‘Enigma’ on Sky One’s hit show. Now, she and her partner, fellow gladiator Wayne ‘Doom’ Gordon’, are working in schools around the UK to teach kids about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

Why gladiator couple have gone back to school JENNY Pacey had a sporty childhood and, after growing too tall to pursue her childhood dreams of becoming a jockey, developed a love of athletics. She went on to compete internationally in the long jump and pentathlon and then represented the UK in the bobsleigh in the 2006 Olympics. After completing a sports science degree, Jenny and Wayne set up Pace and Go, a personal training business working with everyone from TV executive to working mums. However, once she had joined the Gladiators team, she wanted to use her new role to spread the healthy living message to young people and started giving motivational speeches in schools. Jenny said: “I found that I really enjoyed working with kids and the pupils really seemed to connect to me. “I think they responded to a combination of my my sporting achievements and the fact that I have appeared on TV in Gladiators and also on Spooks and Eastenders. “Once kids have seen something on TV they really relate to it - it immediately gets their attention.” She and Wayne decided to put their experience to good use and created the Fit Workshops for Schools concept. The pair spend a day in a school, and put on an assembly and a question and answer session for all the pupils. They then take a groups of 16 to 32 kids who have been specially chosen by the school for a variety of reasons, either because they are high achievers, or having trouble with their weight, or are from disadvantaged backgrounds, or are talented athletes. Jenny and Wayne work with them for the day, putting on a series of training sessions including pliometrics, pilates, weight training and

drills, as well as talks and practical advice on nutrition and diet for sport and training. Finally, there is a full school boot camp at the end of the day for all pupils, parents and teachers, to get them involved in a fun workout. Jenny added: “It seems to work really well and the kids love it. I think it is nice for them to have positive, tangible role models. “Obesity is such a big problem, kids are falling short of their exercise targets and it is something that needs to be addressed. “I try to get them to look at different ways of hitting those targets – it doesn’t just have to be traditional sports or activities, they can try new things like pilates, dance mats, or young people’s gyms. “We need a shift in what we see as

exercise – as long as they are raising their heart rates and having fun then it’s great.” Jenny points out that many young people get turned off exercise because they haven’t found something that they really enjoy and her aim is to help schools provide something that everyone can engage with. She also wants to address the other barriers to activity that still exists, for example, girls believing that certain sports are too masculine, or that exercise will cause them to bulk up.

She added: “The most important thing for me is a holistic approach. “I also want to show kids that sport and activity can lead to many other things – if you have that determination to succeed then it will spill over into many different areas of life. “I encourage young people to look at their whole lifestyle and broaden their horizons as much as they can. “I want them to know that anything is possible and empower them to fulfill their potential.”

Jenny and Wayne recently took a sofa to Westfield Shopping Centre for their ‘Don’t Be a Loafer on Your Sofa’ campaign. They were there to give free health and fitness advice to young people – and show them exercises that they could do in their own living room. Jenny said: “We had hundreds of young people come up to us, boys asking Wayne how he got his big muscles and girls asking me how they could tone up. “I think things like this are important because we are going out into the community and reaching kids that might not get involved otherwise.”

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More champs heading to county schools SOUTH Yorkshire Sport has been selected to receive more visits from ‘sporting champions’ over the next six months. The county sports partnership is one of only 18 organisations throughout the country chosen to be a part of the Sport England sporting champions scheme. This will allow the partnership to organise a package of visits by a local sporting champion to projects that aim to encourage young people to try different sports and become active on a regular basis. The champion will make four visits to local projects over a school term, building up a relationship with the young people taking part, providing encouragement, getting involved with the sports sessions and helping young people to move into a local sports club to continue to take part in sports. Bruce Kelsey, partnership director of South Yorkshire Sport, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for South Yorkshire to benefit from the encouragement and motivation of local sporting champions. We hope that the champions will help to attract more young people into trying different sports and finding an activity to continue with into their adult life.”

Mike urges schools to introduce rugby into curriculum RISING Welsh rugby union star, Mike Phillips, is urging more primary schools to introduce the sport to help pupils pick up essential skills early.

around and many regional spotters working to keep an eye on the best young talent.

Mike plays at scrum-half for the Ospreys as well as representing his country and believes that if children can get excited about sport when they are young, they are more likely to keep playing in the future.

He added: “This is great for the game because there is a constant supply of great new players. But it’s also great for young people, because more of them are getting their chance to learn more and maybe take their talent all the way to the top.”

He said: “I don’t think that primary pupils are too young to play rugby, even the lowest years love it, and it is good for them to start as soon as possible so that they can develop and improve. I got into the sport because it was very big at our primary school.

Mike also advises schools to consider the option of tag rugby, which develops many of the skills needed, but in a non contact setting, and can also be a good way of getting younger children or pupils who think of themselves as ‘less sporty’ into the game.

“A lot of professional players had been pupils there at some point and their pictures were hanging up everywhere to inspire the kids. We played in local tournaments and our teachers encouraged us all the way.”

Mike added: “Rugby is all about working hard and working as a team, but also about having a lot of fun at the same time. It teaches respect and discipline, which are great lessons for kids of any age. I work with young people whenever I can now, because I remember what an amazing experience it was for me to meet professional players when I was younger.

Mike points out that the game uses many different elements of fitness, with players developing agility, speed, stamina and good hand-eye coordination. He also believes it can be a sport with a professional future for many kids with a growing number of rugby academies and training schools

“Now I know how they feel, and what a boost it can be to have a role model and see what you could achieve in the future.”

Mike Phillips

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Job charity secures funding A CHARITY that helps young people find work in the fitness industry has partnered with the National Skills Academy (NSA) and secured £11.7m of funding. Transforming A Generation (TAG) specialises in training 18-24 year olds who are not in education, employment or training and their goal is to help 1800 young people achieve a Level 2 REPs recognised qualification and find work in the industry. TAG, whose supporters include David Lloyd Leisure, DC Leisure, Fitness First, GLL, LA Fitness and Virgin Active, runs six-month programmes which combine academic and work placement training. The programme was developed in partnership with Lifetime, who have secured the contract to deliver it nationwide. TAG chairman Fred Turok said: “Club managers have found that the students’ gregarious street confidence is infectious in gyms – walking up and talking to and gently advising members is almost second nature to them. “This funding is great news for TAG, great news for our industry and great news for all the communities we will be working in.”

Exercise gaming in schools ‘can act as valuable teaching tool’ EXERCISE gaming in schools should become more widespread to help balance the curriculum according to industry expert Duncan Black. He claims that the technology available has now reached the point where it is able to act as a valuable teaching tool as well as engaging young people. Duncan, director at Fitness Gaming, said: “While the exercise gaming industry is still very much in its infancy – there is a lot more to come – people are now bringing out products based on detailed feedback and are developing a more educated approach to what kids actually want. “It is important to realise that children don’t necessarily want to just take part in scaled down versions of what adults are doing. “Their attitude is that it has to be fun above everything else – but this doesn’t mean it can’t be worthwhile.” He believes that gaming is one of the best ways to involve those children who have fallen out with mainstream PE, because it works to bring elements of their own lives into schools, meaning there are far fewer barriers to them getting involved.

Duncan also recommends using the technology to break down the traditions of boys and girls and different age groups exercising separately. He added: “The great thing about gaming is that most kids have already used consoles at home and with friends, so it is something they are comfortable with and can feel confident taking part in – which is not the case with a lot of traditional sports. “Teachers are sometimes surprised when they see how easily kids engage with the equipment and have to be educated in the benefits. “However, they soon see the high impact activity and coordination needed and also the improved concentration, which they often do not expect.” Duncan also points out that technology is beginning to enter every area of the curriculum, from art and design to maths and English, so it would not make sense for physical education to be the one part of school life that is not involved. He added: “It is important to acknowledge that children are going to play computer games regardless of adults’ perception of them.

Duncan Black “What we need to do is use that desire to help them become enthusiastic about education and self development too. “There has to be balance – there will always be kids who will be mainstream sports oriented, so it is essential to keep those within the curriculum – but schools also need to take things that step further, so that they can engage every child in something they enjoy and want to take part in.”

Natalie Haythornthwaite and Adam Greenwood

Lancashire students become young ambassadors TWO students from Nelson and Colne College in Lancashire have been appointed as Young Ambassadors for the Youth Sports Trust. They will join the group of over 5,000 young people who are set to participate in the programme leading up to the 2012 Olympics. The aim of the scheme is to help increase participation and learning through the Games and to provide inspiration for other young people to choose sport. Natalie Haythornthwaite, who is a member in the UK Netball squad and Adam Greenwood, an all-round sportsman, were put forward for the

posts by their Pendle High School Sport Tutors. Neil Stuart, partnership development manager for Pendle, said: “Amongst other things, Natalie and Adam will be going into schools to take assemblies, attend tournaments and sports festivals and will have an opportunity to volunteer to coach in schools as part of the National Step into Sport Volunteer Programme. “They will also attend a Young Ambassadors’ Conference at Old Trafford where they will learn about their role, meet Olympic Athletes and be given a range of tasks to complete within Pendle over the next year.”

09 Woodway

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AfPE to push for more training By Christina Eccles THE Association for Physical Education will continue pushing for more training to prepare newly-qualified teachers to deliver primary school PE, according to its chief executive Margaret Talbot. Speaking at this year’s Leisure Industry Week, she told delegates that although there is a lot of positive work going on in some primary schools, the amount of preparation which NQT’s have received before they start work is not consistent. She said: “There is some amazing work in PE going on in primary schools. This is nearly always the result of good leadership. But it is patchy. “We estimate that at least 40 per cent of primary NQT’s have six hours or less preparation for teaching PE. “If it is a systematic weakness, it can be fixed. Some initial training

providers do make sure that it happens, therefore all of them can. There is no excuse. “We are not letting go of this and we will continue to make a fuss about it.” Margaret also revealed other areas where AfPE is striving to see improvements – which include delivering the five hour offer to all children. She added that although the majority of children are receiving two hours of good quality PE in schools, there are still some who aren’t and the three hours of out of curriculum activity is still a long way off target. She added: “The five hour offer is a huge mountain to climb. “91 per cent of five to 16 year olds are now receiving two hours but 87 per cent of that achievement is based on curriculum time delivery. “We need to look at how the five hour offer can be adapted to consider different needs for the inclusion of everyone.”

Bid to inspire table tennis interest A CENTRE of excellence for table tennis in Sheffield is helping to inspire a new generation of budding young players at grass roots level in the city. The English Institute of Sport (EIS) allows novices to compete alongside the likes of British number one Paul Drinkhall, his doubles partner Darius Knight and Paralympian

Farrell Anthony. Sheffield International Venues, who operate EIS, recently secured an extension to table tennis world class performance programme in the city. The two-year deal with the British Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) will see the 2012 squad continue to train and develop at the facility.

Activity provider targets teens with new initiative By Louise Cordell BRITISH Military Fitness has launched a new membership initiative in an attempt to get teenagers involved in physical activity. The activity provider has decided to drop its prices for kids to help them get fit without costing too much money. Barney Larkin, marketing manager, said: “When we heard that the single biggest drop off in physical activity is among school leavers aged 16, we decided to introduce a membership rate for under 21s, allowing more young people to take part in our classes.” The move had led to a 75 per cent increase in under 21s attending,

including many members who can’t afford the more highly priced gym memberships in and around London. The classes for teens involve 60 minutes of running, circuit activities such as press ups, sit ups, squat thrusts and team challenges. Barney added: “With the growing issue of obesity, it is essential that we encourage everyone to adopt a healthier lifestyle. “Tackling unhealthy food is one way of addressing the issue, but exercising must also be part of our daily routine. “I want our sessions to help educate teenagers about the benefits of exercising outdoors in a socially interactive manner.”

Swimming development manager Eddie Lim with Craig Gent, 19, who has passed his 25m and 50m badges through the initiative

Free swim initiative launched A FREE swimming lessons initiative for non-swimmers between the ages of 11 and 19 has been set up in Barnsley. Barnsley Premier Leisure is encouraging all young people who cannot swim to take advantage of the free swimming lessons that are now available at five venues in the town. The initiative is being funded through the Amateur Swimming Association and the local borough council in partnership with BPL to

encourage young people to improve their confidence in the water. Dave Redfern, BPL’s operations manager said: “Learning to swim is a valuable skill that all young people should learn. “Over half of our primary school children leave school without being able to swim, so this new initiative is designed to encourage young people to access swimming lessons, which will help them enjoy being in the water and enhance their safety.”

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‘Biggest Loser’ Aaron helps Sally A PRIMARY school teacher aiming to inspire her pupils to get involved with sport is being trained by ‘Biggest Loser’ winner Aaron Howlett. Sally Bennett teaches at St. Andrews Primary School in Hull and is one of 20 people being coached by Aaron in preparation for the London Marathon in April next year. Aaron, who lost over ten stones on the ITV show four years ago, is also planning to visit the school to talk to pupils about his weight loss, and show them the Olympic torch he was asked to carry in Beijing. Sally said: “I’ve told my class and the staff but my pupils will be doing a big

Aaron Howlett

Countdown to Sport Relief THE countdown to Sport Relief 2010 has started with the launch of free learning resources for primary and secondary schools. The packs span the PE, English and citizenship curriculums and aim to provide teachers with all the tools needed to get their students active for charity. Dame Kelly Holmes, Sport Relief ambassador, said: “Sport Relief 2010 can be a great first step for schools, bringing pupils and teachers together to have fun, do sport and do good. “My interest in sport started with a teacher who encouraged me, so teachers taking part next

year could even inspire a future Olympic champion.” The resources available range from lessons and assembly plans to photos, videos and stories about the children and young people supported by Sport Relief funded projects. Schools will also be able to raise money by selling Sport Relief stripy socks and earn Active Kids vouchers at the same time. Is your schools planning something special for Sport Relief 2010? If so, let Future Fitness know by e-mailing: lcordell@whpl.net or write to Future Fitness Magazine, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS.

Over a third of boys overweight MORE than a third of boys are now overweight, while a majority of adults in Scotland weigh too much, including more than twothirds of men. A Scottish health survey found that 36.1 per cent of boys aged between two and 15 were overweight last year, up from 32.4 per cent five years ago and 27.8 per

cent ten years ago. However, no significant changes occurred in girls in the same age group. Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon insisted that more action was needed. She said: “While it is encouraging that the rate of increase in obesity among children is slowing, tackling obesity remains a top priority.”

assembly on what I’m doing in November as part of our school sports week. “I never thought I could run so I want them to see there is no such word as ‘can’t’ and inspire them to take up more after-school exercise.” Aaron added: “I was bullied at school for my weight so I know how some of these kids may be feeling and I want them to see that they can achieve things too. “Because she is young the pupils really look up to Sally and I think that by doing this, she will become a figure-head for primary schools in the area.”

PE should be valued as much as 3Rs – Black By Louise Cordell PHYSICAL education in primary schools should be valued as much as reading, writing and arithmetic if the UK is to make a serious impact on childhood obesity, according to Olympic Silver medallist, Roger Black. The Association for Physical Education has estimated that around 40 per cent of trainee primary school teachers receive less than six hours training before they start teaching sport. As a result, they claim pupils are suffering from an inconsistent, apathetic approach to PE lessons and often don’t receive the encouragement or expertise needed to develop a healthy attitude towards sport and fitness. Roger Black, who is an ambassador for

Roger Black Fit For Sport’s Fitter Schools’ challenge, said: “Sport is about inspiring people. “Children are motivated by sports teachers who love sport and are passionate about it. “My football teacher was a great inspiration to me and I still remember how his zeal encouraged me to love sport. “The only solution is to take PE more seriously at primary school level and those schools that don’t have in-house expertise should have access to external resources. “If a child can be inspired at this young age they will develop lifetime habits and desires to stay healthy.” Fit For Sport is now calling on the Training and Development agency to ensure that all primary school trainees get at least 30 hours preparation before they start teaching, and are fully supported by teachers who are experienced in physical education. Dean Horridge, company CEO, said: “This is the single most serious systematic weakness in the primary school education system, but it could easily be fixed if there was the political will to do so. “The Training and Development Agency should be taking responsibility for this in schools to ensure that children leaving primary schools have all had the same levels of experience.”

11 ZZ

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Search for tennis aces of the future By Louise Cordell THE UK’s leading tennis experts are joining forces to find the professional players of the future. A new junior coaching programme, Tennis All Stars, has been launched by David Lloyd Leisure and the Lawn Tennis Association. The programme has been designed to recognise and nurture talent, and aims to get over 20,000 kids active and improving their tennis nationwide. It will be used to introduce kids between the ages of three and 17 to the game and help them to join in a series of coaching sessions and competitions, regardless of their

level. The aim is to help them play and improve at a steady pace, as well as providing the high level education needed if their goal is to compete at a higher level. Ross Matheson, group racquets manager said: “We are very excited to be introducing a tennis programme that focuses on developing junior players as they grow. “Tennis is a fantastic sport, which can be played and enjoyed for a lifetime and the physical and psychological benefits for kids, particularly those who start playing at an early age are immense. “There is already a hotbed of young, tennis talent in the UK and

we aim to take this to whole new level. “All Stars will not only ensure they can take this multi-faceted skill where ever they go but help them strive to be the next Andy Murray.” Once children join the All Star scheme they start to progress through a colour-coded system of red, orange, green and yellow, based on age and level, competing at each stage. The initiative is also supported by the Aegon Mini Tennis Ratings, which are designed to reward players for competing, inspire them to develop their game, offer the opportunity to compete more regularly and to reach their full potential.

Andy Murray

Scientists explore support for young athletes By Mary Ferguson SCIENTISTS have been exploring how bioscience could be used to support Britain’s young athletes. Meetings between some of the country’s top bioscientists and sports scientists have been looking into how the sector’s research can be used to solve the challenges faced by the high performance sport community. Dr Scott Drawer, UK Sport head of research and innovation, said: “Elite athletes train incredibly hard and maintain a very high level of fitness over a long time. “While this makes them healthier than average, it can also expose them to more physical stresses and they can be prone to certain injuries and conditions. “In some cases it almost seems that while they are operating at an incredibly high level, they can easily topple and fall from that height.” The workshops have been organised by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and UK Sport, with the aim of bringing together experts in neuroscience and musculoskeleal research with sports scientists. It is hoped that together they will be

able to establish collaborative projects that will boost the chances of the top young athletes in future competitions. Professor Janet Allen, BBSRC director of research, said: “The bioscience community in the UK has knowledge and skills that could address many major challenges facing high performance athletes. “The translation of fundamental bioscience, including the physiology of the nerve to muscle to tendon system, into strategies to fulfill physical potential could help give British athletes an edge as they prepare for a home Olympic Games in three years time.” The workshops have been specifically designed to introduce bioscientists to the practical challenges that are faced by athletes and their coaches and trainers, in order to make new research and development as relevant as possible. Professor Allen added: “High performance sport provides a unique model for investigating factors related to healthy physiology and so the projects that are taken on following this workshop are also likely to tell us something about increasing healthy life span for everyone.”

Milk shakes up sports drinks YOUNG athletes could benefit more from drinking milk after exercise than sports drinks or water according to new research. A study carried out by Loughborough and Northumbria Universities has shown that milk can enhance athletic performance, rehydrate and repair exercise induced muscle damage. However, the Dairy Council conducted a survey of 70 young athletes from the English Schools’ Athletic Association and found that the vast majority of them used water and sports drinks after exer-

cise but were unaware of the qualities of milk. The council is now teaming up with SportsAid to support for aspiring athletes, who compete in football, rugby, athletics and gymnastics, in an attempt to raise awareness of the benefits. Dr Susan Shirreffs, from Loughborough University, said: “The results of the study suggest that milk is more effective at replacing sweat losses and maintaining a normal state of body water than plain water or a commercially available sports drink.”

Sports development charity StreetGames have teamed up with Stoke-on-Trent council to launch a new training scheme that will increase provision of youth sport across the city. Ten new positions on the council’s Sport and Leisure Services team are to be created through the government’s Future Jobs scheme and those hired will receive

training in sports coaching, delivery and leadership. Jane Ashworth, StreetGames chief executive, said: “Improving training provision is crucial to the development of sport at grassroots level, which is why we are working on partnerships such as this to support the Future Jobs training initiative across the country.”

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Big rise in anti-obesity drugs use By Louise Cordell

Fitness professional Rachel Holmes has developed the UK’s first on-line qualification to teach physical activity to children under the age of five. The Active IQ level 2 certificate in teaching physical activity to children under five is nationally recognised and aimed at nursery, play group and SureStart staff and is available through Rachel’s website. The on-line learning element of the course

provides the most practical and accessible way to gain the qualification, which can be completed at any time and to suit any pace, with course tutors on hand to monitor students’ progress. Rachel said: “The demand for pre-school fitness classes is high, and this qualification will enable nurseries learn at their own pace and meet that demand.”

THERE has been a big rise in the number of children taking anti-obesity drugs, but most stop before they have any benefit, according to new research. A study has shown that up to 1,300 young people could now be being prescribed the medicines each year – a number that has increased 15-fold since 1999. However, the drugs are only licensed for adult use, meaning that they are being prescribed off-licence to under 18s by family doctors. More than three quarters of those included in the study received prescriptions for Orlistat, also known as Xenical or Alli. Orlistat has been approved for children as young as 12 in the US, but only for adults in the UK. Most patients given Orlistat stopped using it very quickly, on average after just three months, and therefore would have been unlikely to see any benefit. Russell Viner is one of the authors of the study, which was based at the General and Adolescent Paediatrics Unit at University College London. He said: “It's possible that the drugs are being given inappropriately, or that they have excessive side effects

that make young people discontinue their use. “On the other hand, they could be expecting the drugs to deliver a miracle ‘quick fix’ and stop using them when sudden, rapid weight loss does not occur.” The researchers claim that it is highly unlikely that the drugs could do any damage, citing short term clinical trials which did not report life threatening side effects in young people. However, they conclude that further research into the safety and efficacy of these drugs in children and young people is need – especially considering the dramatic increase in prescriptions due to growing childhood obesity. Study author Ian Wong points out that children who are prescribed orlistat may need more support and should be made fully aware of the potential side effects He said: “You have to tell them that, yes, it is healthier not to absorb the fat, but if they continue to eat as much as they used to then it will be really unpleasant. “The key thing is that the drug itself is not the answer. Kids should only be using it as part of a comprehensive weight-loss programme.”

Call for clearer guidelines to safeguard kids By Christina Eccles THE Institute for Sport and Recreation Management is calling for clearer guidelines to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. The ISRM wants to ensure that the new Independent Safeguarding Authority regulations are clear and effective for use by sports and leisure centre operators. Industry representatives have been voicing their concerns about the new vetting and barring procedures that will be introduced by the ISA from October. Ralph Riley, ISRM chief executive, said: “The ISRM wholeheartedly welcomes the Independent Safeguarding Authority’s guidelines and we have worked closely with them and other experts to be ready for the introduction. “We do feel, however, that it is important that everyone working in the sports and leisure industry has a

clear understanding of the guidelines and the implications for their application in our sector. “Vetting and barring procedures have to be implemented professionally and quickly without causing too much disruption.” Due to the complicated nature of the scheme and the many different ways in which workers can interact with children and vulnerable young adults, ISRM feels that the new safeguards may become inconsistent and intentionally misinterpreted by some operators trying to gain a competitive advantage and by those wanting to minimise the cost of checking all existing and prospective workers. This could result in children and vulnerable adults being put at risk and the organisation of sports activities being delayed or cancelled due to lack of registered ISA staff.

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news 13 A high-energy salsa class is being tried out by schools as the best new way to get unhealthy pupils active. Dance teacher Ivan Garcia has been visiting classes around Sheffield to liven up the PE curriculum.

How Ivan is spicing up PE with his salsa beat ... By Louise Cordell IVAN Garcia launched the dance school Salsa Beat in 2007 as a way of bringing diverse communities together. The classes were so popular he was looking for a way to expand and, after teaching his own three children to dance, he knew how much young people could benefit from the hobby. Setting up courses for kids was the next step and over the last 18 months he has taken his classes into 15 primary and secondary schools in the Sheffield area. Ivan said: “When we first started out people didn’t really know what to expect – they know salsa is a popular dance but aren’t sure how it will work in children’s classes. “But at every school the response from kids has been fantastic, always even better than expected, and at the end of every session they ask us when we are coming again.

“Teachers have also been very enthusiastic, recommending us to other schools and asking us back term after term – because they see the benefits for the kids immediately.” He points out that the lessons are something completely new for the pupils, which encourages those who are not interested in the traditional sports to take part, and gives boys a new opportunity to take part in dance. It also increases fitness levels, helping to tackle obesity and improves teamwork, concentration and therefore behaviour. Ivan added: “Teaching children is different to teaching adults – I make it simpler and straight to the point as well as using fun games, like a salsa version of musical statues, to help them pick up the steps. Children enjoy learning something new together as a team and it really binds them together as a group. “It is also very good exercise

and a great way to tackle the growing obesity problem, because the kids are having so much fun they don’t even realise they are exercising. “I think it is very important for kids to have a lot of choices of exercise activity in order to make sure everyone can get involved in something they enjoy – even if they are not interested in the traditional sports. “We teach children from as young as four – using different techniques depending on their ages – and they all enjoy it.” At the moment Ivan runs a sixweek course of lessons which take place during school time, at after-school clubs, or as a holiday activity. However, he now aims to get salsa into school as part of the PE curriculum and is currently developing a longer, more indepth programme, that could be used in school lessons throughout the year.

New Fit for Free incentive aiming to motivate teens HALO Leisure have launched a new Fit for Free incentive to help more young people get involved in positive physical activity. Nine centres have opened their doors to 600 12 to 16 year olds in a bid to get them active this summer. Shokk have joined forces with the company to provide centre staff with the skills needed to adapt gym instruction and teaching styles for young people. This included the physiological and psychological issues, safe kit usage,

training methods and a wide range of ideas on how to run motivational youth orientated gyms sessions. Tamara Bailey, health and fitness manager, said: “We are constantly reviewing our youth programme and are keen to explore new ways of getting more teenagers to become and stay active. “As a social enterprise we are keen to invest in our community and our Fit for Free initiative was an opportunity to remove barriers to access experienced by some teenagers.”

Ivan Garcia

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Promoting sport and the Olympic spirit YOUNG people around the UK are being given a new way to celebrate the 2012 Olympic Games, with a new free training tool from Sports Leaders. The new module will provide teaching resources including activities, worksheets and game cards which aim to promote the spirit of the Games through developing values such as positive attitude, respect, tolerance, integrity and determination.

Michaela Hutchings, Sports Leaders head of operations, said: “We use sport to help young people develop leadership skills and wanted to link this in with Olympic values in the lead up to 2012. “We hope that it will help kids feel involved and will allow children from all over the country, and not just in London, to get involved. “It is also something that can be used in the future in the run up to

any big sporting event to help get young people excited.” It is hoped that the courses will be a sustainable way of getting young people involved in sport, as they are carried out through volunteering hours. This means pupils have to go out into the community and get involved in sport on a regular basis, creating a habit that will continue after the scheme has finished. Michaela added: “Schools see the

value in what we are trying to achieve. “Young people relate more to their peers because they have that rapport and we have found it is a very effective way to work. “It attracts kids who don’t usually like PE because they see it as something different but also those who are traditionally sporty because it gives them a chance to hone their skills and pass them on to others.”

‘Sport and fitness are at the heart of education and the BSF programme’ A response to an article by Ian Cotgrave in the September issue of Future Fitness

Stuart Lindeman, strategic director, Education Partnerships for Schools: Readers of Ian Cotgrave’s article might be under the impression that Building Schools for the Future is not a catalyst for improving PE and sport provision in schools. However, as an education professional working for the organisation responsible for the delivery of the BSF programme, I can categorically state that the health and wellbeing of pupils who will benefit from BSF is integral to the programme. Since 2007, BSF has implemented a strategic approach to health, fitness and sport, playing a role in raising self esteem, supporting social inclusion, improving health, behaviour and discipline in schools and raising attainment levels. As part of the BSF process there are a number of project milestones which a local authority must pass to prove their suitability for the

programme. One such milestone is the Strategy for Change document which outlines how a local authority intends to transform its education estate including its sport and PE provision. So important is PE and Sport to the programme that Sport England, the Youth Sport Trust and Partnerships for Schools fund three dedicated sports advisers whose job is to raise the profile of PE and Sport within the programme. The requirement for an up to date Playing Field Strategy has been introduced for the latest round of local authorities joining the BSF programme, ensuring a strategic approach to playing field provision. Support days have also been set up for local authorities to gain guidance on specific areas, and we share advice and best practice through conferences, published guidance and case studies. I trust this makes it clear that work is being undertaken to ensure PE, sport and fitness are at the heart of education and indeed the BSF programme.

If you’d like to comment on a Future Fitness story call reporter Louise Cordell on 01226 734694 or email: lcordell@whpl.net. You can write to us: Future Fitness newsroom, Wharncliffe Publishing, 47, Church Street, Barnsley S70 2AS

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‘Quick fix’ mentality must go By Dean Horridge, CEO Fit for Sport IT is my belief that if we are serious about changing the nation’s health we must eliminate our ‘quick fix’ mentality. It is all too often we hear someone say they are on another diet or have started an intensive fitness regime. Our nation’s fitness levels and obesity statistics are at an alarming 23rd in the world and this has taken many years of families living unhealthy lifestyles and schools not giving PE the importance it deserves. Therefore we must not expect to halt the rise in obesity overnight – it will take many years to correct the bad habits our families have adopted. After 18 years experience working with families and schools, I believe an SAS (Simple, Achievable and Sustainable) approach is the answer - incorporating daily lifestyle habit changes. The education of families, children and communities is absolutely vital in facilitating changes to the health of our nation. Through the media and socalled ‘expert’ advice we have confused and over complicated what is needed to improve our nation’s health. SAS advice on daily habit changes for both families and

Dean Horridge children is the first step plus helping them understand what is required to make a difference – whether it’s to lose weight or just get fitter – that is both achievable and most importantly sustainable. We do not need to eat salads for the rest of our lives, or have to go to the gym seven days a week, but we must educate all on the simple, achievable and sustainable changes to daily activity levels and sensible eating habits. If we are serious about halting the rise of obesity and improving our current alarming statistics, we need to go back to basics. We do not need to overcomplicate but to assist in keeping the future fit.

Only one in eight getting recommended daily exercise ONLY one in eight young people are getting the recommended daily amount of exercise according to a new survey by the British Heart Foundation. Children are advised to take part in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day but the study revealed that most are nowhere near this target – with a third doing under an hour of exercise a week. It also showed that 78 per cent of young people were unaware of the recommended amounts and 30 per cent admitted that they ‘can’t be bothered’ to exercise on a daily basis. Of the children surveyed, one in five considered exercise to be ‘a chore' and think you only need to do it if you're overweight. However, 50 per cent of them claimed to spend 60 minutes a day or more on their computers and mobile

phones, texting their friends and visiting social networking websites. Dr Mike Knapton, BHF director of prevention and care, said: “We have a generation of kids growing up who have a shockingly blasé attitude towards exercise and being active. “Young people need to switch off their square eyes and get in the habit of exercising now.” The survey has been released as part of the Foundation’s Food4Thought campaign, which is backed by former British Olympic champion Sally Gunnell. She said: “Children’s sluggish attitude towards daily exercise is worrying. “As a mum, I know how children can benefit from being active, it is something that all kids should enjoy as a healthy lifestyle and is also a great way to socialise with friends.”

Ellesmere College is offering students and their families the chance to play Sunday morning golf on its 9-hole golf course free of charge during October and November. The school aims to encourage players of all abilities to take part and maybe take up the sport on a regular basis, as well as encourage community participation.

Play England calls for protection for play time SCHOOLS are being called on to protect play time and give children more opportunity to be active during the day. Play England has released research revealing that time to play at school is seen by both children and their parents as very important if they are to get the most out of their education. Over 90 per cent of parents and 79 per cent of children agreed that having time to play helped the kids concentrate in their lessons and 88 per cent of parents thought their children were better behaved in lessons if they were active at break time. Over 1,000 children were interviewed for the study and 73 per

cent said that school is the main chance they have to play with their friends and 55 per cent claimed that they regularly rushed their lunch so that they had time to play. Adrian Voce, director of Play England, said: “The opportunity for children to play at school is all too easily regarded as a luxury. “But children, as well as their parents, are telling us how crucial it is. “We know that playing is an essential part of enjoying childhood and that it contributes hugely to children’s informal learning and development. “Families are now telling us that it is important in helping children to get the most from their formal learning too.”

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Former PE teacher Gary Marlow set up his own business in order to bring a wider range of activities to kids. He opens his classes to children as soon as they can walk to kick off a life-long relationship with fitness.

How Gary believes even toddlers can gain from fitness programme BUBBLES and Balloons is the latest fitness programme created by Gary Marlow and aims to help children as young as 15 months develop movement and coordination skills through sport. Kids take part in activities ranging from football, tennis and basketball to golf and cricket as well as games like catching bubbles and balloons to improve balance and hand-eye coordination. Gary said: “The programme is about a multisport and multiskill approach. “It gives kids the opportunity to try lots of different activities in a fun way that keeps them engaged and running around and prevents them from getting bored. “I find that classes that only allow children to take part in one activity can be too rigid – kids like to move from one thing to another very quickly. “I actively encourage parents to get involved – because if they can keep up the activities at home, then the learning can be sustainable.” As well as these sessions for under fives, Gary also runs sports

classes in primary, secondary and special schools in the area. He aims to make use of whatever equipment and space is available in the schools he visits in order to give teachers ideas on how to deliver new and effective lessons in a familiar setting. He added: “When I go into school I try to make sure that the teachers are learning as much as the pupils, I like to try and give them new ideas that they will be able to use themselves in the future. “I also try to emphasise the fact that all skills are transferable, so what is learned while playing one sport can be used in another.” Gary worked as a PE teacher before setting up the company and so is aware of the challenges schools face when trying to provide varied, quality sessions. He added: “One of the main problems is that primary teachers are not given adequate PE training – I hear from new teachers all the time that only six hours of their course has been devoted to it – so how are they supposed to deliver high quality physical education. “If more emphasis was put on

New educational ranges distributed IDASS Fitness are now distributing two new ranges of functional fitness educational charts. A set of eight fitness assessment charts are available for download at only £2.00 each from www.idass.com. Once purchased online and downloaded, these can be distributed around colleges and schools and used as training notes within the copyright, provided they are not sold for profit. They are A4 colour and complement the PE curriculum or any fitness facilities training programmes. Newly-released at the Leisure Industry Week show was a set of six A2 encapsulated strength and conditioning charts.

These each include ten exercises, with the muscle groups used on each exercise, an anatomy chart and a ‘Personal Trainers’ tip. This advice box adds greatly to the use of the charts, rather than being a well drawn image with a quick descriptor, the exercise tip help ensure correct procedure and at the same time the muscle section help educate the user. For more information call: 0844 800 9310 or e-mail: info@idass.com.

this initial stage then the quality of teaching and learning would improve massively, and this would impact on other lessons too. “I think the level of enthusiasm young people have for sports comes down to the person delivering the lessons – if you can create the right atmosphere then the kids will be engaged and that culture will thrive. “ Gary is also introducing new Adventure Based Learning sessions and has recently carried out a pilot at a school which has been on the border of special measures. The classes are based around team building, cooperation and encouraging the kids to teach themselves. So far it has been very successful at improving behaviour in all areas of schools life, and plans are now being developed to extend the programme. Gary added: “I think that there are fundamental things that all schools should do but, depending on individual circumstances, different teachers need to look outside the box and allow kids more responsibility for their own learn-

ing and what they do. “If you give them choices they will be more engaged.”

Badminton coaching for stars of the future A SOUTH Derbyshire leisure centre has launched a new badminton club to provide coaching for the sport’s stars of the future. The club, at Etwall Leisure Centre, was opened by world-class player Donna Kellogg and will provide sporting opportunities for a variety of ages and abilities all under one roof. It will hold closed sessions for local school students as well as running a junior club for seven to 18 year olds and county age groups sessions for young people who have been

selected as the best in Derbyshire. The junior badminton sessions will be coached by national talent coach James Boxall, an ex-England International player. He said: “The opening of the new club has given us the perfect opportunity to increase the standard of badminton in the area and push up the participation numbers. “The aim is to make sure people enjoy the sessions at the club and hopefully we can attract new people week by week.”

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Sports stars back 2012 kids’ pledge By Louise Cordell CELEBRITY sports people including David Beckham, Chris Hoy, Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson have joined forces to support International Inspiration, London 2012’s international legacy programme for children and young people. With three years to go until the Games, the sports heroes are aiming to help deliver on the promise made by the London bid team in Singapore. They pledged to ‘reach children all around the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games and to see millions more young people across the world participating in sport and improving their lives as a result’. David Beckham said: “My involvement, both when London won the bid in Singapore and at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, made me realise the power of the Games. “Sport is a language that everyone

speaks and it can be used to change lives. “Through International Inspiration we have an opportunity to give millions of children the chance to experience the thrill and excitement that being involved in a sport brings. “We can use sport to teach them about trust and respect and we can boost their confidence. “It’s a chance for them to learn how to stay safe, keep healthy and in some cases stay alive.” The initiative is already working with young people in Azerbaijan, Brazil, India, Palau and Zambia and more projects are beginning in Bangladesh, Jordan, Ghana, Mozambique and Trinidad and Tobago. The aim is to reach 12 million children in 20 countries by the 2012 Games, as well as benefitting children in the UK through a network of school links, providing opportunities for them to learn from each other’s cultures.

David Beckham

Table tennis cash boost for young Scots YOUNG people in Scotland are being encouraged to take up table tennis following an investment of over £144,000 in the sport. The money has been provided by SportScotland to support the country’s players, which include not only the Boys Primary Schools International Champions, but also the British Premier League Champions. It is hope the new funds will help to build on these foundations, encourage participation and make sure that the athletes have the resources they need to compete in

Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games in 2014. Louise Martin, chair of SportScotland, said: “The recent Commonwealth Games Table Tennis Championships gave us all a taste of what is to come in 2014. “For our athletes it was a fantastic opportunity to experience the excitement of playing in a major championship in front of a home crowd and make the most of the advantage that brings. “I am sure that the championships will have inspired many

FitKid teams up with Sportacus to take new classes to schools ACTIVITY provider FitKid have teamed up with Sportacus and LazyTown to offer new classes to schools. School Sport Partnerships will be able to deliver sessions which combine the movements, music and actions of the LazyTown TV shows. SSPs will receive training how how to run the LazyTown Sports Club

sessions as well as equipment and music to be used in the classes. The first session were launched in Bournemouth over the summer and so far feedback from parents and children has been very positive. Nicky Kay, FitKid director, said: “It is fantastic to see the kids moving to the music and have a great time being active.”

Have you got news for us? Call Louise Cordell on 01226 734694 or email her: lcordell@whpl.net

more young people to become involved in table tennis – and that is why it is so important that we invest in the sport now, to harness that enthusiasm and provide the support required to deliver our stars of the future.” Drumchapel, a table tennis club in Glasgow, has been particularly involved in development work for the sport – working to engage local children and improve their potential. SportScotland are now keen to support this approach and is providing funding to replicate this

model through local and regional partnerships – hopefully increasing participation across the country. Jonathan Whitaker, chairman of Table Tennis Scotland, said: “This is a major new investment in our sport which will enable us to appoint a full time national development manager to help us grow the participation in table tennis at all levels. “It is also through development that we find the stars of the future and we have the capability now of taking them all the way.”

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Junior triathlon event attracts over 650 kids A RECORD breaking number of pupils from Teesside have taken part in the region’s biggest junior triathlon event. Over 650 kids took part in the day, which was run by Tees Valley Leisure to build on the success of Corus Kids of Steel 2008. The aim was to encourage children to experience the sport of triathlon in a fun and safe environment and the event saw young people aged eight to 13 complete a 25m swim, a one km cycle and a 400m run. Kov Bahadori, Tees Valley leisure manager, said: “The event was a great success and treat fun for all the children who were involved. “They really enjoyed the challenge and hopefully Cleveland Triathlon Club, who helped out on the day, will pick up some new recruits in the future.”

New programme kicks off YOUNG people in Barnsley are getting involved in ‘Soccer Stars’ a new programme designed for boys and girls of all abilities. Barnsley Football Club has teamed up with Barnsley Premier Leisure to put together the eight week initiative across two different venues, with hour-long sessions for separate age groups. Neil Mills, programme coordinator, said: “This new initiative is for young people who enjoy playing football, whatever their ability. “It’s all about fun and fitness as much as perfecting their skills to become the next Wayne Rooney.” The training sessions will be taken by FA approved and qualified coaches and all participants will receive two football tickets to watch an upcoming home game for free. Pictured right: Youngsters meet Barnsley FC mascot Toby Tyke.

New phase of Healthy Schools ten years on GILLIAN Merron, minister of public health, has announced the introduction of a new phase of Healthy Schools. Ten years after it was first created, the organisation will now also be aiming to support schools to work with specific groups of children and young people. The idea is to work with them to help them make healthier choices surrounding a range of particular issues. The interventions will be based on PCT operational plan and local area agreements, as well as individual school priorities. It is hoped that the scheme will build on the work currently being done by schools to improve health

and well being, and help them to create environments which promote health. A Healthy Schools spokesperson said: “The options for how this can be used are endless, for example schools might put interventions in place for a group of young carers struggling with obesity, to work more closely with the travelling community, or to target a group of year eight boys who are starting to experiment with smoking. “We are not asking teachers to become health specialists, but recognising that schools have an important role to play. “Many are chomping at the bit to deliver more specialist interventions and support all their children and young people’s academic potential.”

Non-motorised treadmill is introduced into UK A NEW non-motorised treadmill has been introduced into the UK by manufacturer Woodway. The SpeedBoard allows users of any size or weight to run at their chosen speed instantly without the use of elevation or a motor. Eric Weber, Woodway sales

director, said: “The SpeedBoard is going to change the way people approach performance training. “We are thrilled to achieve this advancement while completely eliminating the need for electricity – making the product even greener.”

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School creates exclusion zone to boost fitness By Louise Cordell A MIDDLESBROUGH primary school has created a parking exclusion zone around its gates to help improve its pupils’ fitness. A five minute walking zone has been mapped out around Green Lane Primary School at Acklam and parents are being asked to park their cars outside the restricted area and walk the rest of the way. It is hoped that the scheme, set up by the school and Middlesbrough Council, will help the children reach their daily exercise targets in a quick and easy way. The zone is the first of its kind in the Tees Valley and is part of the council’s Healthy Town initiative – a £9m programme to tackle obesity through increasing physical activity and promoting healthy eating. Councillor Charlie Rooney said: “We hope that the introduction of the zone will help reduce the number of cars outside the school gates at the beginning and end of the school day making it a safer environment for all pupils. “There will of course also be health

benefits for the children from regularly walking this short distance and during the journey children can enjoy chatting with their friends. “Walking to school is also an excellent time for parents to help their children to develop the essential road safety skills that could one day save their lives. “We hope pupils, and especially parents, will give the scheme their full support.” The school teamed up with the local Middlesbrough Cricket and Rugby Club to use its car park, giving parents a safe place to leave that car, just outside the Five Minute Walking Zone. Pupils also worked together to produce a leaflet for parents with a map detailing the zone, which is marked by lamppost signs featuring different animals. To celebrate the launch of the scheme, the first 50 children to arrive at school on foot received a road safety bag and t-shirt and every pupil that takes part throughout the term will be given a sticker to thank them for taking part.

One of the displays by Dako's Flying Angels organised by British Gymnastics at Leisure Industry Week. Crowds visited the display area to watch boys aged 12 to 19 performing their dynamic routines, which aimed to demonstrate just how appealing gymnastics can be for boys.

Olympic judo hopes for Max A SIXTH form student from Epsom College in Surrey is hoping to take his judo career to the London 2012 Olympics. Max Denning has recently returned from a six week training programme in Mitaka, Japan after becoming one of only eight pupils in the UK to be selected. The aim of the initiative is to improve the judo skills of the participants as well as developing cultural understanding between British and Japanese students.

During his time in Japan, Max trained with senior boys from the Tokai Education System, learning the skills of traditional Japanese judo and met famous players including Koshino-sensei, the ex-world judo champion, and Yamashita-sensei, who is generally accepted as the best judoka in the history of the sport. He said: “Every athlete dreams of competing in the Olympics. I would love to be given the opportunity to represent Great Britain at London 2012.”

A personal trainer has revealed how working with schools is expanding his business and sharpening his expertise. Matt Sutton, who runs Lifestyle PT in Northampton, hadn’t thought of branching out from his regular clients until he was approached by a member in the hotel gym he works at, looking for a trainer to work with children at her school. Matt now visits Danetre School a few times each term to take fitness classes with pupils aged 11 to 16 during PHSE lessons. They include core work and boxing for fit-

ness and he is planning to start doing boot camps, following the success of the ones he has run over the summer with groups of personal training clients. He said: “The kids want to do something different so I try and do stuff they don’t normally get to do in PE. “They respond really well, and the overwhelming response I get from teachers is they are amazed at how many of them take part. And a lot are the ones that make excuses to get out of sport, so it’s great to see them getting involved.”

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Analyser used by school to boost attendance By Louise Cordell

Pupils from Westborough High School

Sports centre bids to get youngsters more active A NEW project to encourage young people to become more active has been launched at Dewsbury Sports Centre. NHS Kirklees has contributed £250,000 to the activity area, which contains a range of interactive fitness equipment to help kids have fun while exercising. The new facility has been delivered by Kirklees Active Leisure and Kirklees Council and the equipment, including dance mats, a climbing

wall, a target wall, a martial arts tower and balance boards, has been provided by Shokk. Alasdair Brown, Kirklees Active Leisure chief executive, said: “We are very excited about this thoroughly new project which takes a proactive approach towards getting young people participating in fun group exercise. We are keen to get everyone interested in something which will affect the futures of so many young people in Kirklees.”

A TYNE and Wear school is using realtime body composition analysis to increase fitness participation and improve attendance and exam results. Monkseaton High School is one of the first in the country to use the InBody Analyser and the aim is to identify the physical needs of students that may otherwise go undetected. The school has used the equipment, which provides whole body statistics for health and fitness, to create a range of programmes and interventions to reshape attitudes towards exercise and nutrition. Headteacher Paul Kelly said: “The first time we used the analyser it showed us that around ten per cent of our students were malnourished and that obviously sparked major concern. “We put our students first and are constantly seeking new ways to improve our students welfare, on a physical, psychological and

social level. “The results provided a real catalyst for change, helping us to implement successful programmes to improve our students’ lives.” Once the level of malnutrition was revealed, health advisors and a dedicated team of tutors were brought together to set up a cooking club and events involving local chefs to help educate pupils about healthier eating. The school also worked with the local health authority to improve the quality of the school’s food and have developed educational literature on the importance of fitness and nutrition for both students and parents. Mr Kelly added: “Since introducing the analyser, not only have we increased fitness participation, but we have also noticed an improvement in examination results and attendance levels. “While first and foremost this is a health tool, the results we have seen have demonstrated the profound connection between wellbeing and performance.”

AfPE chief stepping down MARGARET Talbot, the Association for Physical Education’s chief executive, has announced that she will be stepping down at the end of this year. Margaret has held the AfPE post since 2006 and now plans to concentrate on freelance work, as well as her role as President of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education.

Dr Jeanne Keay, AfPE Chair, said: “I would like to thank Margaret for her leadership in establishing a very successful and influential subject association, and for the tireless work she has undertaken as advocate for physical education and for the Association. “We will certainly miss her strategic vision and her determination and we wish her well for the future.”

A junior Sheffield athletics squad is celebrating after a successful season bringing back a record number of medals. Don Valley Stadium’s Senior Academy Jump Squad’s four top athletes won a total of 21 medals throughout the summer, including 15 golds, four silver and two bronze.

Sophie Brown, Adam Khan, Alex MacDonald and Olivia Neal, all aged between 14 and 16, were winners within county, region and countrywide competitions. Pictured: Olivia Neal, Alex MacDonald, coach Stuart Adams, Adam Khan and Sophie Brown

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22 365 directory

Training & Qualifications

Interactive Equipment/ Dance Mats

YMCA FIT 111 Great Russell St London WC1B 3NP T: 0207 343 1855 W: www.ymcafit.org.uk E: info@ymcafit.org.uk

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

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 Central YMCA Qualifications 111 Great Russell St London WC1B 3NP T: 0207 343 1800 W: www.cyq.org.uk E: info@cyq.org.uk

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

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

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

Fitness Equipment

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

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

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

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

Sports Facility Development

Hexa Sports Ltd New Bond Street Birmingham B9 4EJ tel: 0121 7720724 sales@hexasports.co.uk www.hexasports.co.uk

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

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

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

Football Facility Build 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

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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