Giving youngsters a sporting chance

Friday 08 May 2015

Local sports clubs are hoping to inspire youngsters this summer to develop a lifelong love of sport.

They’ve teamed up with the States and are running a number of after school and holiday sessions ahead of the NatWest Island Games kicking off in June.

Kids can have a go at table tennis, rounders, indoor bowls and softball and there are also new after school sessions where they try sports like fencing, cricket, netball, football and trampolining.

Sports Development Officer Peter Gough said: “Our term time and holiday sport programmes are crucial in giving children the opportunity to be active outside of school, learn new skills, develop socially and hopefully find a sport or sports that they really enjoy and wish to continue in the future. 

“Working collaboratively with clubs and associations is essential to provide avenues for children to continue participating once their programme has finished and developing a lifelong love for sport that will help lead to a healthy body and healthy mind. It also ensures that children receive highly appropriate coaching in each sport.”

Hundreds of youngsters were inspired to take up a sport during the Easter holidays when a number of coaches were on hand at Langford to teach them to climb, scuba dive, swim, dance and play cricket.

Mr Gough said: “The Sport Development team had a hugely successful Easter holiday period, as the numbers show. It was also a fantastic arena for coaches to develop their skills with 18 coaches working across the age groups and sports.”

You can find out more about all the courses on offer during term-time, May half term and the summer holidays here.