schools sports
July 20 2009
More kids across the city are fighting fit, thanks to a £50,000 scheme bringing Solent University students into Southampton’s schools to give pupils expert sports coaching.
Sport Solent’s After Schools Programme - which was awarded £50,000 Southampton City Council funding – has provided 3,500 hours of sporting activity to 25 city schools since its launch in September 2008.
University coaching staff and students studying for sports degrees have been teaching sports ranging from athletics to rugby to pupils at primary and secondary schools.
Southampton Solent University's Coach Development Manager, Paul Davies said: "The success of the project can be measured by the number of schools that have signed up and the excellent feedback we’ve received. This has been a superb opportunity for our students to pick up important coaching experience while working within the local community to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of school children.”
Schools have praised the student coaches’ professionalism, motivational skills and ability to build rapport with youngsters and parents.
“As well as the sporting expertise they bring, the student coaches are excellent role models for our pupils,” said Jonathan Howells, Head teacher at The Cedar School – a special school for children with physical and learning disabilities. “The students come with a ‘positive’ kudos and raise the self-esteem and aspirations of the pupils taking part.”
Southampton City Council invested £50,000 in the first year of the scheme, and, following the success of the pilot, is looking at ways to roll out the scheme to more schools across the city from September 2009.
Councillor Paul Holmes, Southampton City Cabinet member for Children’s Services, and no mean sportsman himself, believes everybody wins under the scheme. He said: “This has proved to be a fantastic initiative which has encouraged pupils to get stuck into sports and raise their game. The student coaches have honed their mentoring skills while all involved have had a great time. Everyone’s a winner.”
Pictured - Solent students coaching pupil at Cedar School