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Sport and fitness for today’s youth
September 2010 £2.75
Footballs help spread the sports message By Louise Cordell SCHOOLS around the UK are being given the chance to use sport to improve the lives of some of the world’s most disadvantaged children. UK charity, The Great Football Giveaway, are calling on teachers and pupils to get involved in providing much-needed sports equipment for African schools. The project involves not just raising funds, but getting involved in distributing footballs and netballs to schools, youth groups and orphanages and building long term partnerships. Volunteers have already headed out into some of the poorest areas of Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia handing out balls, and changing the lives of local children. Paul Clarke and his wife Sarah set up the charity after seeing the lack of facilities available for kids when they were travelling in Africa. He said: “We saw a football match that was attended by everyone from two villages, but they just had one old ball that deflated every time it was kicked. The younger kids had made their own balls out of rags, plastic and string, and we couldn’t
help thinking – wouldn’t it be great if we could come back with some real balls for them – and it all escalated from there.” The charity is looking for schools who have seen the benefits that sport brings to their own pupils and who want to help provide the same opportunities for others. A school in Gloucestershire has already got involved and is now working in partnership with a ‘twinned’ school in Rwanda. Paul added: “All the pupils in the Gloucestershire school drew pictures of life in England and each signed a football with a message to a Rwandan child; then, in Rwanda the pupils did the same thing for the English kids. It has given the school a great chance to build an ongoing relationship and, more importantly, one that is led by the children, not the teachers. “Sport is such a fantastic connector – most English children will have trouble understanding the hardships caused by HIV or lack of water, but they can imagine a school that is so poor it doesn’t even have a football – and they want to be a part of the solution.” Full story, Page 16
Scheme on track for 2010
Pupils at Beech Hill Primary School in Calderdale received a visit from Olympic mascot Wenlock after winning a nationwide competition. Beech Hill Primary was one of just 12 schools from across the UK chosen to receive a visit and a group of pupils performed a street dance routine with the mascot for the rest of the school Schools and colleges registered with Get Set, the 2012 education programme, were able to enter the competition to win the prize by telling Wenlock and Mandeville about how their pupils have benefited from sport. For more information see Page 9
THE London 2012 International Inspiration programme, which takes sport to young people worldwide, has now reached six million children in challenging situations. Three of Britain’s most famous Olympians, Sebastian Coe, Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Steve Redgrave, have visited a participating New Delhi school to celebrate the milestone. This means that the scheme is now on target to reach 12m young people in 20 countries by 2012. Seb Coe, chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: “International Inspiration –the programme we committed to in Singapore in 2005 when we presented to the IOC and were awarded the right to host the 2012 Games, is an inspiring reality, and is leaving a truly global legacy from the 2012 Games.”
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Bid to revive competitive school sport By Louise Cordell A NEW Olympic-style sports event for young people has been launched by the government to encourage more competition in schools. Up to £10m of lottery funding is to be used to create a new sports league structure for primary and secondary schools, culminating in a national final that will be held in the run up to the Games. The competition is a key part of plans for a lasting sporting legacy following the Olympics and to provide more sporting opportunities for all. Michael Gove, education secretary, said: “We need to revive competitive sport in our schools. “Fewer than a third of school pupils take part in regular competitive sport within schools and fewer than one in five take part in regular competition between schools – the School Olympics gives us a chance to change that for good.” Schools will compete against each
other in leagues at a local level from 2011, with winning athletes and teams qualifying for up to 60 county finals. The most talented young athletes will then be selected for the national finals and schools will also be encouraged to host ‘in-house’ sports days so that children of all abilities will have the chance to compete. There will also be a Paralympic element at every level of the competition to get young people with disabilities involved. Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for culture, Olympics, media and sport, said: “I want to give a real boost to competitive sport in schools using the power of the Games to encourage young people, whatever age or ability, to take part in this new competition. “Competitive sport, whether you win or lose, teaches young people great lessons for life. “It encourages teamwork, dedication and striving to be the best that you can be.”
New guidelines on artificial pitches SCHOOLS planning to install new artificial grass pitches are being urged to watch out for new advice from Sport England and the Football Foundation. Four sports have joined forces with the organisations to agree a new strategic approach to selecting artificial grass pitches. It is hoped that new guidance drawn up by the sports bodies will ensure that the right surfaces are installed in the right places, delivering maximum value for investment. The move has taken place as the last decade has seen an explosion in the number and type of artificial pitches, but as some surfaces are only suitable for certain sports, many are not appropriate to meet the needs of local sporting communities.
To address this, the national governing bodies for hockey, football, rugby union and rugby league have all committed to using the new guidance for selecting the most appropriate artificial pitches. Sport England is recommending that schools, universities, clubs and local authorities that are considering installing an artificial grass pitch, should follow the advice. Hugh Robertson, minister for sport and the Olympics, said: “Getting as many people as possible to give sport a try is one of my top priorities, so it is important that new facilities are multi-use and accessible. As a keen hockey player and a fan of football and rugby, I am pleased to see them all working together to ensure that, where appropriate, artificial pitches are more versatile.”
Gold medal pair help schoolkids celebrate school sport week OLYMPIC gold medallists Sir Chris Hoy and Jonathan Edwards joined schoolchildren at Eltham Green Specialist Sports College to celebrate this year’s National School Sport Week. The pupils took part in a Festival of Sport themed event and tried their hand at a range of Olympic and Paralymic sports, including tennis, handball and badminton, along with the Olympic Gold Medallists. Chris said: “Hosting the London 2012 Games in Britain provides us
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with all sorts of opportunities to introduce young people to new and exciting sports. “Events like National School Sport Week are great as they give school children the opportunity to take part in a new Olympic or Paralympic sport for the first time. “I tried various different sports at school before I found something I loved, and I hope that through events like these we can encourage more children to get involved in sport.”
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
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Denise teaching kids how to play By Louise Cordell A HEADTEACHER at a Newcastle primary has introduced a range of new activities for pupils after becoming concerned that they no longer know how to play. Denise Kendall, head at English Martyrs’ R.C Primary School in Fenham, said: “Today’s children don’t seem to have an intuitive ability to play games, nor are they natural games players. “But I believe that young children want to play and that they respond to play ideas – they just need to be inspired to get going.” In order to address the problem the school has introduced a raft of new lunchtime activities in the playground, allowing both key stage one and two pupils to enjoy sport and games. They are also being encouraged with the introduction of new equipment, provided by the Newcastle School Sport Partnership, which is aiming to support play through its new Active Lifestyle programme. Joyce Matthews, partnership development manager for the NSSP, said: “Many children are non-sporty or at risk from obesity in today’s society where young people spend more and more time in front of computer screens. “We want to work with our partner schools in the city providing the equipment to enable staff to engage young
children and stimulate their competitive spirit with some fun games to enjoy, but which carry an underlying active lifestyle message.” Every lunchtime children are supervised by five play leaders and encouraged to form their own small competitive teams and join in energetic play. Those that take part are rewarded with tokens for fruit from the school canteen in order to educate them about an active and healthy lifestyle. To help those with potential weight or behavioural problems, the school has also created an ‘Invitation Friday’ where those children are among others specially and subtly invited to play ‘high octane’ games designed to push their abilities and fitness. Teaching assistant Valerie Stobbart said: “Reluctant children become spectators but are soon taking part. Then they go off on their own and start to play their own team games. “We find that our ten and eleven year olds are great at mentoring the younger children and some have even asked if they can play ‘old-fashioned’ games like the egg and spoon race, sack race and three-legged races.” Denise has been delighted with the response from both children and staff and added: “We only began the Active Lifestyle programme after Easter and already the children’s school playtime behaviour has improved with much more team spirit between different age groups.”
Eve Stobbart, Albright Tshisekidi, Jennifer Azaikonou and Daniel Gilbert
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Recognition for young volunteers A GROUP of young volunteers who have given up their time to help organise and coach sporting activities have been recognised for their contribution to community sport. A total of 28 members of the Derbyshire Sports Leadership Academy – who between them have logged more than 5,000 hours of volunteering in sport over the past year – were invited to attend a celebration event at Alton Towers. Among them was Rebecca Hinchley from Highfields School and Oliver Hooper from Brookfield Community School, who were given special recognition awards for Outstanding Achievement in Leadership after each volunteering for more than 900 hours in the past 12 months. Rebecca has assisted on the Sky Living For Sport Project, which uses sport to help 11-16-yearolds improve their health and develop self-esteem and Oliver’s volunteer work includes coaching in sports such as football, basketball, netball and boccia. Sarah Jones, youth sport officer at Derbyshire Sport, said: “Derbyshire has a fantastic army of young volunteers who play an important role in inspiring others. The dedication and enthusiasm that all these young people have shown is superb.”
Liz Greenwell of the Youth Sports Trust and Joyce Matthews, NSSP development manager
Elite project wins national award AN elite athlete programme created by the Newcastle School Sport Partnership has received a national award. The ‘One of Us’ scheme, which aims to support gifted young people, has received the recognition for ‘Innovation and Development Work’ from the Youth Sport Trust. So far it has worked with 37,000 students across Newcastle state schools, seeking out the most talented and gifted with international potential, to become ‘One of Us’. Joyce Matthews, NSSP development manager, said: “We are immensely proud to have received this Award and hope we can go all the way to a National Award which will enable us to progress our One of Us pro-
gramme with the advice and support of a Youth Sport Trust Business Honours Club member – and maybe One of Us will evolve into a national resource. “The Youth Sport Trust has a huge influence on what we do at every level, not just for elite athletes and our latest Active Lifestyle programme draws in many primary children to experience different kinds of PE and Sport.” To find the best pupils, all heads of PE were sent nomination forms to complete, identifying those young people considered to be first class mentors for their chosen sport. They also had to be role models who were articulate and willing to represent their sport and school
under the media spotlight. Those recommended then faced a final selection by the Partnership, and successful students each received sporting kit plus a £150 bursary from Sport Newcastle with the promise of further support in the run up to the Olympics. Liz Greenwell, YST senior development manager, said: “It has been fantastic to read and learn what has been going on in schools across the country and Newcastle is a worthy winner because of the refreshing way it has sought to motivate and encourage PE and sporting talent within school. “We hope the exceptional young people involved will continue to promote sport when they leave school.”
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news 7
Coventry scheme allows youngsters to shine By Louise Cordell TALENTED young footballers are being given the chance to shine thanks to a new coaching scheme in Coventry. Twelve-week after-school coaching sessions are being held for children between the age of two and ten, which focus on improving their technical ability and building their confidence. Around 100 local children are currently taking part in the classes, which are held at Coventry Sports Foundation’s Alan Higgs Centre, and around a dozen have now been spotted by professional teams. Harvey Billing, seven, and Will Blackmore, eight, are two children who have been asked to train with academies in the Midlands. Alex Blackmore, Will’s father, said: “Will always liked kicking a ball and we wanted to find a way to burn off some of his energy! “This is a safe, local, friendly environment and the coaches have really helped bring him on. “He’s made lots of friends and it’s helped build his confidence.” The sessions at Alan Higgs focus
Hannah Graney, Socatots coach; Harvey Billing; Will Blackmore and Craig Jones, football coach on developing the skills of youngsters, rather than playing matches. The youngest children are introduced to football through ‘Socatots’, which is designed to help develop a sense of controlling the ball and interacting with other people, and older classes start to work on all the basic elements of the game, such as tackling, passing, shooting and control. Craig Jones, football development coach, said: “These classes have focused on helping children enjoy the game and get the sense of achievement that comes from
improving. “We don’t focus on the competitive nature because that can sometimes sap the enjoyment from football and stop the individual from becoming a better player, but we’ve built a really good environment here and that’s why a lot of our kids have been with us for several years. “We have a great time every week and for some of the talented lads to get spotted by professional clubs is like icing on the cake for us. It opens up opportunities for them and hopefully they’ll go and progress.”
State-of-the-art gym for £35m college campus in Leeds LEEDS City College is working on the design, build and installation of a gym at its brand new £35m campus in Keighley. The college is collaborating with Precor to create the club, which will feature a cardiovascular centre, a resistance and free weights zone and a relaxation and stretch area. The gym will mainly be used for teaching by the sports department, but will also be open for students and staff to exercise in. Danny Crabtree, programme manager for sport at the college, said: “The building of this campus is a huge investment in the area and in the future of all the young people who will study there, so we wanted every aspect of it to be state-of-the-art – including the gym. “We also wanted our gym to be suitable for sports professionals as well as those new to working out.” The first intake of students will be arriving at the campus in September with more than 2,500 people expected to study at the new site.
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MEND can fix growing obesity problem – study A NEW study has shown that the MEND programme is able to successfully combat the growing problem of childhood obesity.
into the spotlight the very worrying growth trend in childhood obesity and the need to tackle this issue which is one of the most serious health epidemics facing our society today.
Charitable trust Tone Leisure has claimed that the results from a family focussed treatment and prevention programme for overweight children prove that the initiative can be a key tool in tackling the issue.
“From our work with MEND it is clear that it is the family approach that has been instrumental in achieving the positive results we have seen, not only for the children but for the whole family.
By Louise Cordell
The Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it programme is designed to tackle increasingly sedentary lifestyles, high consumption of ‘indulgent’ foods and to help parents maintain a healthy diet for their children. A review of the MEND scheme in Somerset, operated by Tone Leisure, has found it achieved high levels of success with children who are over a healthy weight and their parents, and has been effective in promoting behaviour change within the ten week programme. Melissa McCarthy, health development officer at Tone Leisure, said: “This new research brings firmly back
“The initiative successfully promotes behaviour change and in our most recent ten-week programme the average results for the young people in the group showed an increase of 4.8 hours of physical activity per week, resulting in a 1.6 unit reduction in BMI, an improvement in eating habits and nutritional intake, and a 2cm decrease in waist circumference. “What’s more, the BMI of the parents/carers was also monitored over the ten weeks and showed an average weight loss of 5kg which resulted in an average reduction of their BMIs by 1.75 units.”
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news 9 Pupils at Beech Hill Primary School in Calderdale were delighted to receive a visit from Olympic mascot Wenlock as a reward for their sporting achievement. Future Fitness went along to find out more:
Sporty kids chosen for a Wenlock visit By Louise Cordell BEECH Hill Primary was one of just 12 schools from across the UK chosen to receive a visit from one of the Olympic mascots. Schools and colleges registered with Get Set, the 2012 education programme, were able to enter a competition to win the prize by telling Wenlock and Mandeville about how their pupils have benefited from sport. Teacher Helen Crowther, who entered the school, said: “Sport is very important to us at Beech Hill, especially since our new head teacher Jonathan Moss started two years ago. As a former premiership fourth official he has a real love of sport and passes that on to the kids. “The children have been really excited about Wenlock’s visit and we have held a series of assemblies in the run up to show the mascots’ story and to talk about the Olympics. “It is really exciting for the whole school and we were really pleased to be chosen as one of the 12 schools visited, out of all of those who applied.” To celebrate the arrival of Wenlock, Beech Hill organised a whole school assembly with a street dance performance from pupils, which was also attended by visiting children from Highbury School, a local special needs school. The mascot joined in the dance with the pupils and then handed out certificates to those who had taken part in recent sports competitions. Helen added: “Up until now most of our children have been Pakistani and Bangladeshi, but recently we have had an influx of children from Eastern Europe. We have found that getting involved in sport has given them the chance to make new friends and has really helped them to settle in well.
‘It is really exciting for the whole school and we were really pleased to be chosen as one of the 12 schools visited, out of all of those who applied’ “We also need to remember that many of our pupils do not attend sports clubs outside school due to commitments at the mosque, so we believe it is very important to provide them with lots of opportunities to suceed at sport and work together as a team.” Pupils at Beech Hill currently take part in sports sessions including football, rubgy and tennis with local clubs, table tennis, street dance, karate, street surfing, rock climbing, caving, circus skills, orienteering, swimming, archery and bike riding. The school has also introduced a whole school kit to give the pupils a sense of community, which has been very popular. Helen added: “Our pupils have had a lot of success and have now even started to win competitions, with one team winning the recent Calderdale Championships and going on to play in the West Yorkshire Youth Games. “Giving the pupils more opportunities has given us a chance to find kids with some real skills, that they would never have known they had. “There is something for everyone to get involved in and we want to offer them as many opportunities as possible. “We think it is very important that children like ours understand that they too can represent our country and have the potential to do so.”
Cherwell clubs net cash NETBALL clubs in Cherwell have received a cash boost thanks to funding from Sport Unlimited. The district council has secured £2,300 to develop the sport in the area and the money will go to SES Tornadoes in Banbury, to help start a club in Bicester and to pay for a net-
ball coach in schools from September. District Councillor George Reynolds, said: “This cash boost is good news for sport in the district. We are espeically excited about High5 netball – a mini version of netball that is played on a full-size court.”
Free gym membership offer for leavers
RESEARCHERS at the University of Bath are offering free gym membership to school leavers in Wiltshire who take part in a study to promote healthy lifestyle habits. Dr Stefan Koehn from the university’s School for Health is looking for 16 to 19 year olds to take part in the study which will look at exercise and healthy eating. Each volunteer will be given free gym membership at a local leisure centre and encouraged to choose an activity they enjoy which includes using the gym, playing tennis, football, basketball or swimming. They will also be able to receive refunds on other activities and will be invited to bring along a friend or family member to exercise together. The programme will begin with an introductory session at local leisure centres across Wiltshire and this will include a meeting with a dietician to teach them about healthy eating. During the course of the program, participants will be asked to meet six times with a researcher to discuss their progress and fill out questionnaires on their exercise experience. Dr Koehn said: “The idea is to establish the routine of activity and healthy eating at an age when it is easier to change habits as young people move from school to university or work. We are particularly interested in those who have not been interested in exercise in the past.”
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‘Reward for all’ at two thirds of sports days By Louise Cordell TWO thirds of schools are rewarding all pupils on sports days, whether they win or lose, to make sure that no one feels left out. These are the results of a new survey revealing that teachers want to be ‘inclusive’ and avoid hurt feelings by handing out prizes for all. The study was carried out by School Stickers, a provider of rewards for primary and secondary school and shows that Government plans to encourage competition in schools have a long way to go. The company surveyed almost 300 schools and found that, on average 69 per cent reward all participants during sports days – 54 per cent of secondary schools and 77 per cent of primaries. Henry Shelford, School Stickers chief executive, said: “Sports day policy is a challenge as all schools have to balance a number of competing goals. “They want to help motivate the sports starts of the future, which sup-
ports an argument for rewarding winners; they want all pupils to engage in sport and life a healthy lifestyle, which supports participation; and they want to support their school community, which suggests team rewards or competitions. “It is a tricky balancing act.” The survey revealed that nine per cent of the schools questioned, which would equate to more than 2,000 schools around the country, refused to single out any winners at all. On top of this, it also found that two per cent of schools miss out on competitive games altogether as they have no sports days because of the ‘organisational burden’. Henry added: “Each school is unique and needs to choose the system that works for them. “But I feel sorry for the 500 schools where teachers and pupils want a sports day but can't. “All miss out on a fun and stimulating day.”
Participation, fair play and fun ... ORGANISERS of Blackpool Youth Games are celebrating after over 3,000 pupils turned up to take part in the event. Children from 29 primary, eight secondary and three special schools took part in the five days’ action, competing in all mainstream school sports, as well as some less common events. While many events were highly competitive, the focus was primarily on participation, fair play and fun – inspired by the spirit of the 2012 Olympics and very child who took part received a commemorative medal and certificate. Blackpool councillor Tony Williams said: “As with other years, the annual Youth Games have been a great success. It was truly wonderful to see so many young people taking part in such a wide variety of sports and embracing the challenge of friendly competition. “Everyone that took part must be heartily congratulated, they put a great deal of effort in to the competition and I hope everyone, even those that didn't win a prize, took a great deal of pleasure from taking part. ”
Sports tutor Dan Bathgate is setting his students a good example by gearing up to take part in this year’s Great North Run. Dan works with underprivileged 16 to 19 years olds in Wigan and St Helens in his role with Central Skills and will be using the halfmarathon to raise money for the British Red Cross. He said: “I have always wanted to set myself a challenge like this, so taking part in the run and raising money for the Red Cross seemed a brilliant idea. My students all seem pleased for me, they are quite impressed, but of course pretty confident that they could easily beat me if they were taking part!”
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24 & 25 Powerhouse DPS
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Like so many kids Sharron Davies went for swimming lessons when she was seven. She tell Emma Spencer it was there she discovered a talent that would make her an Olympic medal winner.
How dedication paid off for Sharron BY THE time she was ten she was the Devon county senior champion and was heading for her first Olympic Games at the age of just 13. Despite setbacks like breaking both arms after falling out of a tree when she was 11 and snapping her cruciate knee ligament stepping in a pothole Sharron persevered with her training which saw her become a competitor at three Olympics in three different decades, winning silver in Moscow in 1980. She said: “I went for swimming lessons like so many kids do but there was something about it. There was something about my ability and natural inclination to want to win. “I did do other sports but they got dropped and dropped until all I was doing was swimming. “I never realised I was going to make a career out of it – then there was no career in swimming like there is is rugby and football. “If you are a swimmer you do it because you want to win races. You
had to have a professional attitude and commitment to it but it wasn’t a profession.” Commitment was certainly one thing Sharron needed to get her through the gruelling schedule she would follow rigorously for the next 20 years. She would train for six hours a day – a two hour session in the pool early morning would be followed by two hours of gym work (circuits, weights or running) followed by another two hours swimming in the evening. While she was bringing home the silverware from club events and galas the commitment never seemed a problem until she reached her teens and her friends were gossiping about tv and parties. She said: “I was improving at such a rate the commitment didn’t come into it but when I got to 15 or 16 I felt like I was missing out. “At school I couldn’t join in talking about last night’s tv because I didn’t watch it and at the time it seemed
very important. But I had put so much work and effort in by that point there was no going back.” When Sharron is working with youngsters these days she recounts a tale told by her dad who was her coach years ago. Back in the day a famous and successful sportsman was asked why he was so lucky to which his reply was the harder I train the luckier I get. Sharron added: “It is a cliche but you get out of life what you put in and anything worth having is worth working for.” For Sharron the rest is history and her medal collection speaks for itself. In 2012 she will be involved in her tenth Olympic games as a commentator. She said: “I am really lucky, it is such a privileged position to be in to be involved with top level sport but without the training. To win an Olympic medal is amazing. You are part of some sort of club that you are part of forever.”
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16 news
Paul Clarke with football recipients in Malawi
A young footballer from Angola
Ball scheme looks to schools for help By Louise Cordell THE aim of The Great Football Giveaway is to get sports equipment direct into the hands of some of the world’s most disadvantaged children. Every £10 raised for the charity is converted into a brand new football or netball, pump and spare valves, and is hand delivered by a project team with a personal message. The schools that the team goes out to rarely have more than one, old football for use by up to 1,000 pupils, and most schools have no ball at all. Paul Clarke added: “To start with we didn’t know how we
would be received in schools – we wondered if they would prefer us to be supplying pens or paper. “But it was quite the opposite. The teachers said to us, ‘This is so much more than just a ball’. “It was attracting kids who would not usually turn up to school, increasing attendance over night and improving behaviour in class. “It is just a ball to us, but to them it is a tool they can use to get kids off the street and into education.” The charity is currently planning its next project in Tanzania and is hoping that schools and colleges will want to get involved and use their enthusiasm for sport to help
others. The plan is to try and send around 6,000 balls out to be hand delivered by teams of volunteers direct to kids in some of the country's poorest regions. Paul added: “We hope that schools and colleges will be keen to put together a ‘micro-project’ team, maybe PE teachers or sports leaders, who can raise funds and then go out to Tanzania, link up with schools there and see the difference that their efforts are making. It is also something that pupils and their families can really get behind, because it is so immediately rewarding – the kids will be able to look at a photograph of a
Tanzanian child with the ball they have signed and donated, and see the difference they have made. “Most charity events are just fundraising, but with this, the school becomes the charity – we make it easy for them to create a personal connection and give disadvantaged kids the chance to enjoy one of life’s most simple pleasures – kicking a ball about.” If your school would like more information about The Great Football Giveaway or would like to get involved, visit: www.thegreatfootballgiveaway.org.uk or e-mail: info@thegreatfootballgiveaway.org. uk.
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18 sports tours
Spending three weeks playing cricket in the Caribbean might sound like a dream to many young people. However, it has become a reality for pupils around the UK thanks to sports tours organised by their schools. To find out more about how your PE department could plan a trip of a lifetime, Future Fitness talked to industry expert Neil Rayers, of Gullivers Sports Travel:
‘Experiences pupils have stay with them for ever’ Stoneyhurst College pupils on a rugby tour of Argentina and Chile
King’s School on a hockey tour to Barbados
GULLIVERS Sports Travel has been organising sports tours for over 35 years and runs at least 180 trips a year for school groups. These can range from a weekend in Cardiff taking part in outdoor sports, to a three-week cricket tour around the Pacific islands and everything in between. The most popular sports that school teams take part in are cricket, rugby, football, hockey and netball, however Gullivers has organised trips for activities as diverse as Gaelic football and ‘tug of war’ groups. Neil Rayer, sports tour manager for schools and clubs, said: “We can really cater for any team sport, it just depends on what the school wants to include. “It also doesn’t just have to be about sport, there are lots of cultural experiences to be had and that can tick a lot of boxes for other subjects.” The company has recently become one of only three tour companies in the UK to be fully accredited with the Schools Travel Forum. This is an organisation set up to ensure the safety of young people on sports tours and accredited members must pass a strict vetting procedure for managing their trips, which covers everything from the airlines selected to hotel rooms. Neil added: “We are very proud of this accreditation because it means we are providing the safest possible service. It is also good news for state schools, as many local authorities are now advising headteachers that they can only organise trips with STF affiliated companies – taking the pressure of health and safety checks off them.” In his years organising sport tours, Neil has found that there are three
main reasons schools organise a trip. Some want to give their high performing teams the chance to develop towards an elite level, some want to reward a specific groups of players for achievement or effort and others prefer to use the opportunity to give pupils a team and character building experience outside the classroom. Neil added: “It is important to remember that a lot of teachers give up big chunks of their holidays to take these kids on tour, so it has to be worthwhile. Those that travel with us say the experiences the pupils have stay with them for ever and that for many it is the highlight of their whole school career.” Trips can be organised around the world, with popular destinations including the Caribbean for cricket and netball, Spain for football and Holland and Argentina for hockey. While they can be costly, Neil confirms that tours are a viable option for any school if approached and bugeted for in the right way. He added: “Many schools fundraise for their trips and have a lot of success getting all the pupils and their families involved. “Over the last couple of years, people have been adjusting their iteneraries to fit a smaller budget, for example visiting South Africa rather than Australia, but they would always rather do that than cancel. “This shows how important the tours are to them and we have many schools who organise them year after year. This is great because it gives even more kids the chance to experience the sporting event of a lifetime.”
Simon Langton Grammar pupils on a cricket tour of St Lucia
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sports tours 19
PGL teams up with Manchester United MANCHESTER United Soccer Schools are making their world renowned football training programme available to school football teams for the first time. In order to work effectively with schools, MUSS has linked up with PGL, a company which shares a fundamental philosophy with them; both organisations focus on supporting the development of young people with courses that are challenging but achievable; the aims of both PGL and MUSS include improving self esteem and ensuring that each young person experiences fun and enjoyment. Open to both boys and girls there will be four residential weekends in spring and autumn 2011, run by coaches from MUSS and based at PGL’s superb outdoor education centre, PGL Liddington (close to Swindon), pictured below. The very best quality football training will be supplemented with PGL’s market leading outdoor adventure programme, further enhancing teamwork, peer support and team spirit. Those involved will also have a chance to take part in ‘Champions Day’ – an invitation-only event held on the pitch at Old Trafford. Players are selected from MUSS –
and now for the first time from this new programme from MUSS and PGL. One player from each weekend will be selected to attend Champions Day based on their performance on the course. The selection process is based on the course code of conduct (attitude, behaviour, communication, discipline, enthusiasm and fair play) and means that those who demonstrate a commitment to all aspects of the programme will be selected. In addition, there is a chance for teachers to take part in a special oneoff MUSS/PGL Teacher Preview event, on 7 and 8 November, on the same format as the schools’ weekends.
The place to be for sports lovers CLUB La Santa in Lanzarote is the ideal location for anyone with a passion for sports and fitness. Situated on the Mediterranean coastline, the resort has some of the best sports facilities you can find. There is the Olympic-sized pool, athletics stadium and racquet courts on site, plus the practically car-free roads and volcanic landscapes are a dream for runners and cyclists. Club La Santa caters for families, individuals and groups. With a high standard of coaching
and facilities to keep even the very young entertained, it means that all levels and ages can get the most out of their holiday. Those of you with specific goals in mind can arrange your visit around some of the specialist training courses, to give you that extra boost ahead of your next race. It’s why Premiership rugby clubs and world class athletes, including elite cyclists, Team HTC Columbia and Formula One world champion, Jenson Button, keep coming back every year.
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Grants for young athletes A GROUP of young athletes in Crawley have received training grants to help them achieve their dream of reaching the 2012 Olympics. The GLL Sport Foundation Awards were presented to 19 young people, who have shown exceptional potential and long term commitment to succeeding at an international level in their chosen sport. They represent a broad range of Olympic disciplines, ranging from athletics, swimming and basketball to cricket, hockey and gymnastics, and will receive up to £1,250 to spend on training travel and equipment during the next year. Peter Bundey, GLL Sport Foundation chair, said: “The aim of the Foundation is to provide practical and tangible support for talented young athletes. “After the first two years of these awards, it has become clear that the support given to these young athletes is having a tremendous impact. “The success of the scheme has already surpassed our expectations and we have been able to promote these young people as role models within their communities.”
University appoints new head of sport and leisure A NEW head of sport and leisure has been appointed at the University of Salford to develop its sports services for students and staff. James Crowley will be responsible for the university’s sports campus, where the Salford City Reds rugby team has a training base and also for the leisure centre, which includes a sports hall, squash and badminton courts, multi-gym, pool, sauna and spa. In his new role, James will be developing opportunities for sports volunteering to build students’ development and to enhance their employment propects. He also plans to expand the University’s programme to encourage healthy activities on campus and build partnerships with the local community and other key external organisations. James said: “At Salford we have excellent links on the academic side and a strong sports sciences department. “We are also looking to invest in even more facilities for the university over the next two to three years. “I want to look at bringing sport together as a package for the university – developing students as coaches and volunteeers as well as linking up
James Crowley with the community. “I think it is also important that we keep developing our health and wellness programmes and integrating sport with that as much as possible. “I also want to make sure that we are supporting the elite athletes at the university as effectively as we can, through a combination of
grants, bursuries and sponsorship connections.” James has joined Salford from Manchester Metropolitan University where he was head of sport for four years, planning and introducing sports facilities on four different campuses. He has also worked in a sports manager’s role at the University of Portsmouth and in 1997 took over the management and development of Edge Hill University’s £4m lotteryfunded sports complex. He added: “I think that over the years sport has become a much bigger part of university life and there is also a bigger awareness of the part sport plays in overall student development. “It is also something that can broaden what our pupils offer as individuals, giving them employability and communication skills. “Looking to the future, we are now having discussions about how the university as a whole can link in with the 2012 Olympics, possibly through a collaboration with the Inspire Mark programme, which would open up a lot of exciting opportunities for our students and staff.”
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news 21
‘Non-competitive’ physical activity to be encouraged By Jonathan Williams, CEO, Shokk THERE is nothing new or surprising about the UK’s childhood obesity epidemic, there has even been a National Childhood Obesity Week dedicated to the serious health issue. It’s forever appearing in the media headlines: ‘Junk food ads contribute to 40 per cent of childhood obesity’, ‘One in three British children aged five to 13 are already overweight or obese’, ‘UK kids getting fatter at twice the rate of American youngsters’. Having attended the Childhood Health, Fit for the Future event it was apparent that all delegates wanted to tackle health inequalities with the need for immediate action. Presenting on the day was Tam Fry, Chairman of the Child Growth Foundation who spoke about the coalition Government and what policies they will put in place; not many was the conclusion. However Paul Kelly, of corporate social responsibility for ASDA, did show they are one retailer with a shining light. Many think solutions to tackle child obesity would be opposed by the food industry as this could be a threat to their profits. However Kelly presented their ongoing commitment through positive initiatives such as their sporting programmes and ‘Great Stuff’ food range they promote in-store, simpli-
fying the process for working parents and those on a budget to do their weekly shop. While industries provide education and support, and treatment, where required, ultimately, individuals must take personal responsibility for their families health and well-being. Not just expecting schools to take ownership, but ensure it continues outside of school hours. Even Jamie Oliver was recently criticised for so called ‘ramming’ the eating healthy message, so what can we do? Encourage ‘non-competitive’ physical activity. Kids don’t need to be champions or athletes they need to be comfortable in their own skin and enjoy activity as a customary part of everyday life. This in turn will promote positive self-esteem, stopping the downward spiral of depression and comfort eating.
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Young Olympic hopeful Jack named as award finalist A BMX racing champion and apprentice at Gateshead College is in the running for a national award.
those who lack confidence, and is now getting ready to study a BTEC Diploma in Sport.
Jack Hall, an Olympics 2012 hopeful, has been named as a finalist in this year’s National Apprenticeship Awards.
Jack said: “The Young Apprenticeship programme has helped me to focus on my personal and sporting goals.
Jack, 15, has used his Young Apprenticeship to gain sport and fitness experience alongside PE teachers and wored with a sports academy coach at Gateshead College.
“This has allowed me to strike a good balance between studying and my BMX training.
He has been working to engage others in physical activity, especially
“I have recently been selected for the Olympic Talent Team and my aim is to represent Team GB in 2012.”
Gaby Knox with Vika de Giorgio
Vika weighs in to give Geordie pupils a lift By Louise Cordell A WEIGHTLIFTER from the USSR is impressing pupils with her commitment to raising weights and self esteem in Newcastle schools. Vika de Giorgi is originally from Azerbaijan, but moved to the UK in 1995, where she became concerned about the lack of fitness among pupils in local schools. She now combines her work as a competitive weightlifting athlete with running weightlifting classes at local primary and secondary schools. She said: “My love of weightlifting as a sport has rather set me apart, and I am the only competitive female weightlifter in
Newcastle. “However, I am determined to extend the taster sessions to as many students as possible. “I have developed lunchtime sessions and out of school clubs at four Newcastle schools and set up Newcastle’s first Olympic Weightlifting Club for the community, which is open to all ages. Watching students pick up skills and gain in confidence makes me very proud as I see both their self-esteem and deportment improve too. “My goal is to increase and maintain participation in primary and secondary schools. We may even have a podium contender from these talented individuals and I look forward to encouraging them to that goal.”
Tackling childhood obesity in Luton A FITNESS programme in Luton’s schools is helping to tackle childhood obesity. The Chance for Change initiative is being delivered by Active Luton and is providing young people with the opportunity to increase their physical activity and boost their self-esteem. Ryan Cameron from Active Luton’s Healthy Lifestyles team said: “We set
out to increase the levels of physical activity in children from almost zero hours and working with the schools, we have been able to deliver the programme successfully. We’ve exceeded our target of ten schools and are now delivering in 11 schools where we have integrated at least half the children into ongoing activities and local clubs.”
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news 23 The latest school meals report from Ofsted has drawn some worrying conclusions, including the fact that parents on low incomes are struggling to pay for healthy meals and that a third of visited schools are still failing to provide healthy meals. Future Fitness found out more: In one inner city primary school there were displays for visitors which included helpful advice on what to include in a child’s packed lunch. A PE and science project was run in con-
Food for thought ... junction with a university sports department and the school was also praised for
its use of a school garden where produce was grown by pupils and used for cooking in school and distributed to older people and the homeless at harvest festival.
Report gives tips on building lunch uptake MANY schools are facing the challenge of trying to increase school meal take up and case studies from the Ofsted report reveal some useful tips. Firstly, schools should find out what discourages their pupils from signing up for school lunches.
Food for thought ... A special school with a high number of pupils with specific and complex dietary needs had enlisted the support of a paediatric dietician. As a result all the
pupils, even those who had to be tube fed, were able to take a school lunch and to play a full part in the social interaction in the dining hall.
Some reasons given by the schools questioned in the report include: price, peer pressure, parental preference and time spent queuing. Added factors for secondary school students were the availablity of alternative, local food outlets and the opportunity to leave the school site at lunchtimes. To address these issues, teachers came up with a range of ideas to try to increase take up. In primary schools: Taster session evenings for pupils and parents. Free lunches for new pupils. Sending menu leaflets home so that parents could discuss choices with their children. Asking pupils to taste and give their views on new products and food from new suppliers.
Food for thought ... One school used the data collected from its electronic, cashless canteen system to identify a number of overweight students and, through sensitive consultation with them and their families, had established an eight week activity programme, run in conjunction with the local sports centre, to help them improve their fitness.
Inviting well-behaved pupils to eat at a designated ‘top table’ at the end of each week. Organising themed food days related to particular countries or science themes. In secondary schools: Providing ‘meal deals’ for a set price. Providing free salads or fruit portions with a main meal. Organising cooking events where students could see how the food in school was produced. Displaying menus in the dining room and around the school, sometimes even using plasma screens.
Food for thought ... In one primary school pupils explained that they were now eating more chips when they were out with their friends because they could relax from the constant focus on healthy eating. Despite the wide range of initiatives, their impact is not being monitored effectively. For example, where schools have cashless systems, few used the data generated to identify dietary trends – missing the chance to analyse choices and improve their planning. The report found that some parents wanted more information and advice about how to produce balanced but inexpensive packed lunches.
What does your school do to promote healthy food and encourage the uptake of school meals? Let Future Fitness know. Call Louise Cordell on 01226 734694 or e-mail: lcordell@whpl.net
Siblings ‘take it in turns’ for school dinners SOME siblings are having to take it in turns to eat school lunches to help parents cope with the expense, according to the Ofsted report. The study aimed to investigate whether children from families on low incomes were benefitting from the healthier food being provided. It found that while some families were not eligible for free school meals they still found paying for lunches difficult, especially if they had more than one child. The report stated: “One family, for example, had to arrange for the two children to take turns and eat a school meal on alternate weeks.” It also found that an additional difficulty was the fact that many of these low income families lacked transport, and so had to rely on what was available locally for packed lunches, however, smaller shopkeepers were unlikely to stock appropriate foods. This meant that the report concluded that if children were being sent into school with unhealthy packed lunches, it is not necessarily reflect parents’ lack of commitment or cooperations, but rather a complex set of local circumstances. To help tackle the problem, some schools have introduced free or subsidised breakfast clubs to ensure that pupils who have not eaten before coming to school eat a meal before lessons begin. The report also advised schools to work together with parents and local retailers to address the issues, stating: “Within the sample of schools visited, only one had any sort of collaboration with local business and even then it was limited to arranging for the local chip shop owner to check that pupils had been given permission to come to her shop at lunchtimes.”
Food for thought ... One school had invited a professional chef to work with pupils in order to improve their knowedge of food handling and preparation.
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Charity gives funding boost for disabled children A NATIONAL charity has announced it has funding available to help provide disabled children with specialist sports equipment. The ‘Enable Sport’ initiative is able to donate equipment for disabled children engaged in competitive sport and has already helped kids across the UK with kit including football powerchairs, racing wheelchairs, javelins, and even ice skates. Now, thanks to additional funding from Barclays Wealth bank, the charity is searching for children who want to progress in sport and could benefit from a donation. The record-breaking Paralympian, Lee Pearson, is an ambassador for the campaign, and said: “There are thousands of disabled children out there who may not be reaching their sporting potential because the equipment they need is just too expensive, with wheelchairs potentially costing thousands.” The initiative was launched by the children’s charity Caudwell Children in order to remove some of the financial barriers that families caring for a disabled child face. Trudi Beswick, charity CEO, said: “Sport has a lot of health and social benefits for children and we believe that every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential. “The difference for a disabled child is that the additional equipment they need could be out of reach for a lot of parents and preventing them taking part, we want to help families overcome this barrier.” The Enable Sport initiative is open to any disabled child aged 18 or under and donations can be made to individuals for any competitive sport. For further information contact Caudwell Children on 0845 300 1348 or visit the Enable Sport page on Facebook.
College gym helps tackle weighty issues By Louise Cordell A COLLEGE gym has teamed up with the Rotherham Institute for Obesity to help locals with weight problems get fit and healthy. The Thomas Rotherham Sports Centre was approached by RIO in January as the Institute was looking for a club that offered a friendly, helpful atmosphere. It has now referred 25 clients to the centre, after assessing them as borderline obese, where they are receiving two free months of membership. Each client is given one to one sessions with an instructor three times a week and is weighed and measured each month. Their results are recorded and sent back to RIO and they receive a ten per cent discount if they want to sign up when their trial is finished. Daniel Wilson, centre manager, said: “Every member who has been referred by the clinic so far has said that they are going to join up once their free two months have finished and they have also said that the main reason they like coming here is that is it not intimidating, staff are friendly and want to help us achieve our goals. “We thought that, as a college club, it would be a good initiative to get involved in, because we are all about educating people about a fitter and healthier lifestyle. “It also means that we have a good range of people and ages coming to the club.” So far the scheme has been extremely successful, with members
Thomas Rotherham Sports Centre losing up to two stones using equipment including rowers, cross trainers, treadmills, training bikes and strength training equipment. The club also holds spinning, dance and aerobics classes that referees from the obesity clinic can get involved in. Daniel added: “The facilities are also used by a local slimming group, which is another way that the club can be useful to the community. “On top of this they are occasionally taken over for exams by the college, so we have to look out for timetable clashes there!” The club is also open to college pupils, who pay just £5 to become gym members for the year, and sports course students pay even less.
There are also no time restrictions for pupils or the public, the facilities can be used by anyone at any time. Daniel added: “The clients are referred to us because they are obese, so we take that into account when we are putting together their personalised programmes so that they are effective, but achievable. “They are also often suffering from related medical conditions as well, for example arthritis, so we need to make sure that each case is catered for individually. “I think that schemes like this are something that all clubs should get involved in. It has been very beneficial for us and for all the people involved.”
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news 25
Trio recognised for leadership and influence By Louise Cordell THE AfPE 2010 Awards were presented at the association’s national conference at the Cotswold Water Park in July. The awards are presented as a symbol of recognition for making a difference at regional or national level and this year three teachers were singled out for their leadership and influence. Peter Faulkner, who has led the Mountbatten School Sports College and director of sport and head of faculty for 30 years. His nomination stated: “He has led a series of PE staff teams committed to innovated and challenging physical education content and has fostered and promoted these ideals in hundreds of young people and has led many of them to adopt a healthy active lifestyle. “His influence stretches far beyond Mountbatten school, as he is a respected professional throughout the county of Hampshire and his views are valued by all PE teachers. “In his practice he has been visionary – an innovative and inspirational PE practitioner, an outstanding teacher.” Helen Miles, who has made a significant contribution to PESS, not only in Birmingham, but nationally and internationally. Her nomination stated: “Helen has
always kept physical education at the heart of all the work we do. “She has worked closely with a number of schools and other professionals to write and produce critical guidance around Muslim Girls participation PE and her work across key agencies has ensured a strategic and joined-up approach to PE and school sport. “Helen challenges, motivates and inspires at all levels and this has ensured high quality PE and school sport with exceptional provision in Birmingham.” Yvonne Hoyland, partnership development manager, local delivery agency manager and physical education advisor in Gateshead. Her nomination stated: “Yvonne has strategically led the development of many Borough wide programmes to address inactivity/ obesity. “She has successfully developed effective and sustainable links with many key partners within the region and despite the need for quantitative assessment, Yvonne has always worked to ensure that qualitative measures are seen as just as important. “She has addressed the ‘High Quality Agenda’ through programmes such as the Gateshead High Quality Mark and Assessment 4 Learning resources.”
Over 600 compete in capital event OVER 600 young people have been competing in the ‘Well London World Cup’ – one of the city’s biggest ever youth and community football events. Five-a-side teams from 20 London boroughs took part in the tournament in the Linford Christie Stadium after taking part in training sessions orgainsed by Well London. The event was supported by major clubs including Chelsea, Fulham and Queen’s Park Rangers, who helped coordinated the knockout competition alongside over 30 volunteers from the Well London programme. Mark Harrod, Central YMCA’s director of advocacy, said: “It’s fantastic to
see so many young people taking part in the Well London World Cup. “Our team, the volunteers and young ambassadors have put in a tremendous amount of work to recruit and train their teams and their energy has been crucial in making this tournament such a success.” The competition was won by Blue Borough from Bellingham, Lewisham, who won in all three age categories 11 to 13, 13 to 15 and under 17 years. Stephan, the young ambassador for Lewisham and team coach said: “It shows that when you put hard work and education into the youth of today anything is achievable.”
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Jump Ahead launched A NEW initiative to help primary pupils with motor coordination difficulties has been launched in West Sussex. The Jump Ahead programme is being run as a joint scheme between local primary schools and the local occupational and physiotherapy services. A successful pilot was carried out in 2009 at Bognor Community College and as a result the school has supported the programme coordinators by providing feedback on changes. The teachers have also supplied evidence of improvement through pre and post assessments that were carried out on the 14 year eight students that took part. The 12-week programme focuses on activities that help to develop students’ coordination and hand writing. On top of this, to address their difficulties in following instructions, they are given practice in listening, playing team games and getting dressed, which also helps them
improve their levels of self esteem. The students meet four times a week, under the guidance of a learning support team and each session focusses on different skills. Some concentrate on fine motor skills and organisation, while a health and fitness coach and a PE teacher will set activities that involve hand and eye coordination, motor planning, balance and core stability, using body awareness and therapy ball activities. All of the students that have completed both the pre and post assessment tests have showed overall improvement in the areas tested and those who had found it hard to focus on handwriting for a sustained period of time had progressed to being able to write a full paragraph and stay on task. The second Jump Ahead programme, which is working with 15 year seven students, is soon due to be completed and the decision has been made to continue with the programme in the future.
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product news 27
An opportunity for every child THE Aviva UKA Academy provides a unique approach to grassroots sport making provision for athletics and giving every child in the country the opportunity to get involved in athletics by 2012. The six programmes within the Academy include indoor and outdoor competition formats and a brand new united awards structure. Whether you teach or coach, work in schools or on local authority programmes the Aviva UKA Academy membership gives you access to significant benefits. Each programme offers support to our key audiences and as an integrated model they underpin everything a child needs as they experience our sport, from school, into the community and
beyond. Across the Summer young people attending UKA’s major athletics event programme have been amongst the first to experience the new Aviva UKA Academy Awards. Supported by the Aviva Sportshall Team, activity has been ongoing at events including the Aviva London Grand Prix.
Goals and its educational partners GOALS Soccer Centres build, operate and maintain high quality sports facilities in school and college grounds at no cost to our educational partners. Goals are the most successful provider of such facilities in the world and have an extensive portfolio of centres operational across the UK. Goals seek to identify potential educational partners to which they can offer these fantastic state-of-the-art centres. Goals will create a partnership with the school, college and local authority which will allow Goals to then operate and maintain the facility at no cost to these chosen partners. The partner will have free use of the centres during school hours giving
the partner an outstanding sports facility for PE curriculum delivery and after school activities. Goals then operate the centre outside of these hours to the wider community on a pay-and-play basis, thus generating income to make the company’s initial expenditure into the centre viable.
Council invests in dancemats GREAT Aycliffe Council has recently invested in Shokk’s interactive multiplayer dancemats – in a bid to introduce the community to alternative ways to engage in physical activity. Plans to roll out a new health initiative in the area have seen the council offer local voluntary, community groups and staff at Durham County Council the chance to sign-up for training on the new interactive equipment. Promoting the dancemats as an activity for the whole family, they specifically want to target young girls who don’t normally take up sport outside of school hours and usually drop out of physical activity and the older generation as a recreation to keep them active and meet new
friends. SHOKK will also deliver Intro2EquipU, a bespoke training workshop that will give an introduction on how to use the dancemats effectively and efficiently. Delegates will be provided with the knowledge of operating and implementing fun workouts with various games and sessions to get all participants fully involved.
Freedom Climbers arrive at Academy BASILDON Academy in Essex has recently converted a spare room off the main sports hall into a climbing zone using four Freedom Climbers. In a forward-thinking initiative by the Academy, a survey carried out with the pupils of the most popular exercises ranked climbing third of all sports. After the first Freedom Climber was installed last November it has proved so popular with the pupils, that it was decided to offer a dynamic climbing zone for pupils of all ages to experience the functional benefits of real climbing without the health and safety issues of normal higher climbing wall systems. The new revolving climbing wall
system with its space saving, low ceiling height design has enabled the academy to utilise a large store room into a climbing and activiFreedom Climber at ty zone for Appleton Primary classes of pupils of all ages. Appleton Academy in Bradford has now installed its second Freedom Climber into its primary school sports hall following the success of climber in the secondary school.
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28 product news
Fitness, flexibility and fun
New concept for jump ropes
NOW in the UK is Circuits4life – a company that has the tools to give your participants what they want. Sky rocket metabolism, blast away fat, increase strength, fitness, flexibility and have fun at the same time! Here’s a taste of what you’ll find: The “Trainers toolbox” has 160 functional exercises with step-by-step instructions with set-up, working and finish phase. Take your pick from body weight, boxing combos, gym ball, dumbbell/ barbell, stretching, medicine ball, resistance band or power bag exercises. You will have instant access to comprehensive pre-designed ‘done4you’ sessions. We tell you what equipment you
AN innovative new concept for jump ropes is now available from the award winning team at Skip-hop, providing a unique system that is unlike anything else currently available anywhere in the world. With a design protected by word wide patents (pending) Skip-hop hope to reinvent the art of high performance sport and trick/freestyle skipping. Scott Robert-Shaw, Skip-hop MD, said: “Our design allows for the usual sports and speed skipping like our current jump rope but with the addition of our handle extension the skiphop rope instantly transforms into a freestyle rope, allowing for all sorts of skip-hop tricks and freestyle moves that would be difficult or impossible
need, how long the session lasts, things to look out for, handy tips, rest/work ratio. Plus you can see sessions explained with video exercise demonstrations. Our products are making a difference in schools and health clubs throughout Australia, let’s make a difference in the UK.
Offering many health benefits REBOUND UK supply professional rebound equipment and instructor training leading to certification for instructors and sports leaders. Urban Rebounding is a low impact, cardiovascular workout performed to music on a professional, high specification rebounder, that’s portable and easy to store. The unique workout utilises familiar aerobic moves, sport specific moves and strength and conditioning exercises providing a good cardiovascular workout, placing minimal stress on the body, and continually challenging each person’s balance and coordination. Scientifically validated Rebound research has proven the many health benefits from this form of exercise, including; burning hundreds of calo-
ries, stimulating lymphatic drainage, improving the immune system, balance and coordination, strengthening the cardio-vascular system and reducing body fat. Urban Rebounding is used in: Schools – Every child can do this workout regardless of ability and fitness. It’s particularly effective in meeting government targets for dis-engaged and semi-sporty populations Leisure centres – attract and retain members, provide sustainable route from schools into the community At home – with a folding rebounder and DVDs.
with a standard rope. “The rope is modular so you can start with the low cost speed rope section to get you started and add components such as extension handles or weights to go in the handles as you improve.”
Pulse in LIW launch PULSE will be launching its revolutionary range of cardiovascular equipment at LIW in September 2010, as the company celebrates its 30-year anniversary of designing intelligently engineered leading, commercial fitness equipment. Although the new range which comprises; upright cycle, recumbent cycle, treadmill, stepper and elliptical trainer, is a closely guarded secret prior to the unveiling at the show, we can confirm that the range combines the very latest in audio visual technological advances, with unique ‘green’ features, making it one of the most advanced and environmentally responsible ranges of cardiovascular equipment available on the market.
Proudly boasting the ‘Best of British Design’, the new range incorporates the latest version of the successful Pulse ‘SmartCentre’ software as standard and will embrace many inclusive features leading to IFI accreditation for the treadmill, upright cycle, recumbent cycle and elliptical trainer.
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product news 29
College celebrates competition win KENILWORTH Sports College is celebrating after a competition win. The College’s PE department underwent a transformation this summer after visiting the Absolute Performance stand at the Sports Colleges Conference back in February. They were the lucky winners drawn out of the hat and were given the choice of any team or leisurewear, to a value ot £600, and
chose new, specially designed tops. The competition was held to launch the new Absolute Performance range of bespoke sports and leisurewear. Tony Buchanan, Absolute Performance MD, said: “We were delighted to have been able to provide Kenilworth with this great prize and have been very excited at the response to the new addition to our product range.”
Supporting schools through delivery of health days WITH a whole school approach in mind, ‘Health Matters Education’ is available to support individual schools through the delivery of their unique ‘Health Focus Days’. These inspiring one-day events include a whole school assembly and energiser, health related exercise workshops for all children and elements of CPD for staff. These unique cross curricular activities will enable school staff to gain an understanding on how they can implement a more ‘active and creative’ EYFS and KS1/KS2 curriculum. The emphasis of the day is to provide school staff and pupils with an insight into their nationally recognised ‘Busy Feet’ and ‘Health Matters’ programme whilst providing all those that observe with a wealth of ideas and an understanding of how the resources work in practice.
High performance multi sports apparel GFORCE Sportswear offers high performance multi sports apparel to the club, team and school sports market. Engineered to offer teams the ultimate in customisation experiences, GForce utilises a combination of flexible designs, a large colour library, embroidery and badge details, and even the ability to create your own branded neck tapes and labels, to create kits that really stand out.
G-Sub, the sublimation service from GForce, is at the pinnacle of garment design. Working with our in-house design team customer’s can bring their designs from concept to reality. What’s more the G-Sub service is available across a number of different sports, including rugby and football, with minimums as low as 15, and lead times of six to eight weeks, GSub truly delivers on all levels.
Ultraviolet disinfection grows in popularity THE use of ultraviolet disinfection for swimming pool applications worldwide is growing fast. From small swimming pools, spas and hydro pools to large municipal leisure facilities and full scale water theme parks, the installation of UV treatment is now becoming standard practise in many UK leisure facilities. As water features, wave machines, flumes and splash pads raise the fun factor in swimming pools, the traditional method of disinfecting water by using chlorine is causing problems for operators and customers alike. The swimming pool industry has therefore, been seeking alternative ways of disinfecting water and reducing the organic loading of water. Ultraviolet treatment provides the perfect answer. UV wavelengths between 240 and 280 nanometres deactivate all micro-organisms, particularly Pseudomonas (SP) and Ecoli. Manufacturers such as ATG UV can incorporate UV systems into existing control strategies to protect against micro-organisms including chlorine resistant pathogens such as Cryptosporidium, an organism that is now a major concern for leisure operators worldwide. Additionally a correctly sized UV
treatment system reduces chloramines, the compound responsible for skin irritations, red eye and the often overpowering chlorine smell. Systems such as ATG UV’s ECF system, which was designed and engineered specifically to suit applications such as swimming pools, spas, splash pads and hydro pools offers pool operators a flexible and cost effective solution, treating up to 2000 m3/hr in a single high-output, small footprint system. For more information on UV treatment for pool applications, call ATG UV on: 01942 216161 or visit: www.atguv.com
Throughout the day their tutors will outline links between curriculum subjects and areas of learning, as they believe this can help deepen children’s understanding. Due to national interest Health Matters Education are now recruiting
more high quality tutors to deliver their unique Health Focus Days for individual schools In order to fully explain their programmes, Health Matters Education is available to attend individual schools and deliver their unique Health Focus Days and demonstrate the role their proven resources can play in achieving National Healthy Schools Status. We have an exciting, high quality structured programme that we would like to offer all primary schools nationally. For further information please call Vicky Bowen, author and National Led Trainer, on: 01938 579163 or 07746 193131, e-mail: vicky@healthmatterseducation.co.uk or visit www.healthmatterseducation.co.uk.
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365 directory 23 Training Equipment Crazy Catch Wall Tree House Farm Steane Brackley, NN13 5NS T: 01295 816765 W: www.flicx.com E: ricx@flicx.com
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
Sports 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@sports-solutionsgb.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
Mark Harrod Unit 1 Tilla Court Beccles Business Park Worlingham NR34 7BF T: 01502 476882 W: www.markharrod.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
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 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@revolutionary-products.co.uk Entre Prises Eden Works Colne Rd Kelbrook Lancs BB18 6SH T: 01282 444800 W: www.ep-uk.com E: info@ep-uk.
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
Sports Clothing Kitking 9, Upper George Street Leicester, LE1 3LP T: 0116 262 7332 E: sales@kitking.co.ukst rskitking@aol.com
Installation & Repairs Renovate Contracts Limited Unit 8 12 Moat Way Barwell Leicester LE9 8EY T: 01455 851900 E: duncan@renovatecontracts.–wanadoo.co.uk W: www.renovatecontracts.com
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product news 31
MP to champion campaign
CYQ launches major updates
GREG Mulholland, the MP for North Leeds, has pledged to act as a champion for the increasingly popular ESP multi-skills campaign. A number of high-profile professional sports clubs have also joined together with a unified vision to support children through using sport to influence all children’s physical activity patterns. This scheme builds on the existing work of School Sport Partnerships across Leeds that have already invested in pilot programmes and have used the installation of multi-skills zones to create a context for children to enhance their movement competencies and become increasingly physically active. These foundation skills form the
CYQ, the UK’s leading awarding body for health, fitness and wellbeing qualifications, has launched major updates to its online learning provision. From 1 September 2010, CYQ approved centres can choose to support their delivery of Level 2 Gym Instructor courses with CYQ eLearning for Gym-Based Exercise. This new content joins the existing package for Level 2 Exercise and Fitness Knowledge, meaning learners training as gym instructors can benefit from this interactive and inspiring online resource throughout their course. eLearning from CYQ features media rich, interactive content with interactive quizzes, videos, informative nar-
building blocks for participation in all recreational and sporting activities and, given the current reduced opportunities for children to play in their natural community environments, are essential components of all children’s abilities to access their rights to a healthy and active lifestyle alongside their peers and into adulthood.
Providing an extensive range of exclusive kits and products DAVIES Sports provides an extensive range of equipment for all PE, sport and leisure activities with exclusive products, inclusive ranges, big brands and expert advice. As a leading supplier to sports clubs, leisure facilities and the education market we provide innovative resources and advice from industry experts. From grass roots to gifted and talented, Davies Sports understands that PE and sport play a central role in developing confidence, team work, social skills and health
and well-being. “We know it’s important to enhance and develop sporting skills through activity and engagement which is why we work closely with key sporting bodies and offer a wide range of exclusive kits and products such as Fit for Football, Quicksticks, Tri Golf and Golf Extreme, Val Sabin Parkour and many more.”
ration, unique animations and imagery from Primal Pictures. In addition to the new content, approved CYQ centres can now benefit from accessing eLearning content on a hosted ‘pay as you go’ basis, opening the resource up to those centres without an existing virtual learning environment.
Playing cards boost fitness POCKETFIT ‘52’ Ultimate Exercise playing cards contain 52 different exercises. Each body part is colour-coded which will help keep workouts varied and challenging. They are ideal for circuit-based PE lessons, college students and extra-curricular activities. Neil Mosley, Head of Sport Imperial, said: “Used across Sport Imperial for our trainers to spice up workouts and
use as induction programmes as well as circuit training and challenges.” Pocketfit Kidz ‘Animal Fun’ exercise cards is new concept designed to get kids active. A teachers’ resource pack containing detailed instructions and suggestions on how to implement the programme supports teachers and leaders in delivering a fun and challenging exercise programme. Eileen Marchant, AfPE board chair, said: “I am sure this resource will capture the imagination of children and will impact significantly on them, subsequently raising the levels of activity they undertake.” Other products in the range include the Pocketfit ‘Fat burner’ circuit workout and the Pocketfit ‘Healthy Eating’ meal planner.
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