An ace way for students to volunteer
NORTHUMBRIA University hosted a four-hour volunteer and multisport coaching course at Coach Lane Campus.
Nine students and multi-sport coaches learned about inclusive tennis and schools programmes.
This followed a similar course run last October, with the aim of giving students and coaches the opportunity to learn about local-based community opportunities - including Hat-Trick multisport sessions across Newcastle and Northumbria University’s NORTH coaching programme.
The first part of the session focused on inclusive tennis, where tutor Louise Assioun gave the students a huge range of ideas to ensure every participant can succeed and enjoy tennis.
Luke Simpson, who is completing a placement with the Lawn Tennis Assocaition, attended the course.
He said: “It was invaluable to experience ways of adapting sessions to help deliver inclusive coaching.
“My background is football and all the ideas can be applied to other sports too, which was great for me to see.”
The next part of the session covered planning an event.
Northumbria students organised a competition taking place at Jesmond Lawn Tennis Club on March 18.
‘Let’s Play Tennis For Comic Relief’ will be open to university students and consists of three activities which will provide all participants with a fun and entertaining opportunity to play the game.
Hat-Trick multisport coaches also planned a sports camp to be held in May.
Following the event planning section, the last part of the course covered how to deliver fun and engaging tennis to year one and year two pupils within their school environment.
Jo Cunliffe, Regional Tennis Participation Manager for the Lawn Tennis Association, said: “All the students and multisport coaches were brilliant.
“Their energy from start to finish was incredible and their willingness to learn was second to none.”