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NEWS | |
The role of Secondary School Sports Organiser was introduced in September 2004, initially as a part-time post and pilot project funded by the Sports Council, looking at increasing the percentage of pupils in years 7, 8 & 9 taking part in regular extra-curricular physical activity. |
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The success of the six pilot projects throughout Wales has now seen the post being introduced into every county throughout Wales, under the banner of a 5x60 Sports Development Officer. The post title indicating the emphasis for children to be taking part in physical activity 5 times a week for a minimum of 60 minutes. The post aims to encourage the development of links, structures and networks between schools, sports clubs, coaches, communities and governing bodies of sport in order to enhance opportunities for active recreation and participation at all levels.
The 5x60 programme aims to explore ways through schools to create a broader range of sports and physical activity in extra curricular time, including breakfast and lunchtime, but particularly week nights and weekends, to all children regardless of their ability. The scheme aims to particularly target opportunities for children who currently do not take part and seek to address some of the factors which discourage less able youngsters from participating.
The Launch
The Welsh Assembly and the Sports Council for Wales have launched a £7.6m programme to encourage more secondary school children in the country to get keep fit.
The 5x60 scheme gets its name from the Welsh Assembly’s target of seeing 90 per cent of children taking part in 60 minutes of moderate exercise at least five times a week by 2020.
Sports minister Alan Pugh, who launched the programme at Arbertillery Leisure Centre in Blaenau Gwent, said: “If you get the exercise bug when you’re young, it’s with you for life. By 2025 we want almost every young person in Wales doing 5x60 weekly. The introduction of the scheme in secondary schools is a big step along this path.”
The project follows on from the Sport Council for Wales’ Dragon Sport initiative – which was launched in 2004 to get more primary school children into sport – and has already been piloted in eight schools.
Activities provided through the programme will be dependant on the facilities available in the local area, but would feature activities such us aerobics and dance, as well as the extension of activities such as cricket and netball.
There are currently 28 schools running the initiative, but it is expected that by 2009 fully trained 5x60 staff will be employed at every secondary school in Wales.
Photograph: Big Brother contestants Glyn Wise and Imogen Thomas were at the 5x60 launch
Rationale
- Only 24% secondary age children do 5x60mins of physical activity per week
- Children progressing from Dragon Sport into year 7 lack opportunities to continue extracurricular activity
Principles
- Main aim is to increase the % of children of secondary age undertaking 5 x 60 minutes of sport and physical activity
- Focus on children taking part in less than 5x60 minutes
- Create children leaving school who are: positive about sport and physical activity, skilful, knowledgeable, active
The Target
- The key performance indicator for success will be the increase in the percentage of school children taking part in extra-curricular sport and physical activity on a regular basis. This programme will be the main vehicle for achieving the Welsh Assembly Government’s aim of 90% of children taking part in regular and frequent physical activity.
Activities
- Traditional competitive sport prioritising transition from Dragon Sport
- Intra school / inter house matches, mini leagues, inter school matches
- Informal recreational activity
- Tennis / table tennis ladders, recreational basketball, walking/running trails, cheer leading, fun club, rounders, swimming, volleyball.
- Coached activities
- Sports coaching, aerobics, dance club, circuit training, boxercise
- Activities in the outdoors
- Surfing, mountain walking, orienteering, canoeing, cycling
5x60 Sports Development Officer Role
The role of 5x60 Officer is funded by the Sports Council for Wales and ran in conjunction with Denbighshire County Council. My role is to work with Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School and Rhyl High School to create additional extra-curricular opportunities for children to take part in sport and physical activity.
It is my challenge to recruit and train volunteer sports organisers, particularly parents and older students and to encourage current non-participants to take part in the opportunities I create.
Within the post I have several key areas to address, these include;
- To be responsible for the development of new and additional extra curricular opportunities both on and off the school site
- In partnership with Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School and Rhyl High School and other relevant sporting bodies.
- To develop links between the school and other agencies operating in the vicinity of the school for the development of sport and physical activity opportunities.
- To work in conjunction with local sports development officers, leisure staff, Governing Bodies of Sport and local education representatives to ensure the 5x60 programme complements
- And links with other Sport and Physical Activity development opportunities.
The Aim –
The 5x60 programme aims to increase and improve young people’s participation in sport and physical activity. By engaging young people in different ways it can also impact on their wider attitude, behaviour, attendance, achievement and attainment.
We are looking to affect, pupils, parents, teachers and members of the local community in order to improve provision and opportunity for youngsters to take part in a form of physical activity.
Working to the guidelines as set out by the Welsh Assembly Government Climbing Higher Strategy to have 90% of children taking part in activity for 60 minutes 5 times a week by 2023.
Volunteers –
For this program to be determined a success, it is vital we constantly evaluate and alter the programme where’s needed, but maybe most importantly we look to the school to take ownership of the scheme and to link in closely with the local community and surrounding area, to find keen, focused, like minded individuals who are determined to make a difference in sporting terms to their local area. This may not be just in the form of coaching and delivering
specific sessions, but in the form of reporting on activities, acting a press officer, finding funding for clubs and many other aspects… If you feel you would like to become involved please contact the Sports Development Unit to register your interest.
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