NAEDANGER!
Urban sports you might think would land your kid in A&E.. and why they can do their health and fitness the world of good
THE sight of kids hurtling down skateboard ramps or vaulting over walls would bring some mums out in a cold sweat.
But a new fitness initiative is encouraging Scots kids to try out urban sports like skateboarding and parkour to tackle obesity and get youngsters to be more active.
A community scheme – pioneered by Scottish Canals, Glasgow City Council, Skateboard Scotland and sporting charity SportInspired – is trialling an 18-month project to get 1000 primary pupils in north Glasgow involved in urban sports, working towards staging a World Urban Youth Games in the city in 2021.
And if it’s successful, the scheme will be expanded into a five-year programme of skateboarding, parkour, basketball and street dance and rolled out across the country.
Mum Mary McKeown, 45, from Glasgow’s Maryhill, is parent council chairwoman at St Mary’s Primary, where trials are taking place.
She’s delighted kids like her son Ciaran McCallum, 10, are getting the chance to try something different.
Mary said: “There is a lot of obesity so we are trying to look at ways to combat that and exercise is also the best way to boost mental health. You don’t realise how much of an impact sport has on their lives.
“Not every child wants to play football, so we need to start looking at other sports. We are trying to turn the football pitch into an area for all different sports like tennis and basketball.
“I love it. Ciaran has tried street dance and basketball, as well as swimming and tae kwon do.”
Teacher Danielle Reid enjoyed seeing her pupils doing urban sports and feels it could be a great success.
She said: “These sports frighten grown-ups but if you have the right equipment and the right people to teach them in a controlled environment, the adults will need to go with it.
“These are the kind of things kids want to do and for us, it’s about making it safe and controlled.”
Scottish Canals spokeswoman Josie Saunders says they’re using bold ideas to deliver lasting change.
She said: “In the past few years, that approach has helped create a flourishing urban playground around Glasgow’s canal.
“From the Trim Trail urban gym to Pinkston Watersports and Glasgow Wakepark, we’re seeing more people than ever taking to the water and towpaths to try out new sports and make a real difference to their health and wellbeing.
“By firing the passions of our young people and engaging them with urban sports at an early age, this programme will encourage them to live healthier, fuller lives.”
Aidan Taylor, of Lanarkshire skateboard group Radworx, says boarding is a great way for kids to improve their fitness.
He said: “You can be so busy having fun that you don’t realise you’re getting fit.
“It’s a sport that is growing – it’s in the next Olympics.”
SportInspired CEO and founder Richard Raynes added: “The programme is anchored in development of young people’s skills, confidence and experience, preparing them to become leaders in their community and begin to deliver a world-class urban sports event in 2021.”