Inclusive Indoor Schools Festival is a big success
ANYONE who believes in the power of sport had the chance to experience it first hand at the recent Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership ( SSRP) Inclusive Indoor Athletics Festival at the Knocknarea Arena in IT Sligo.
The sport of Athletics under the guidance of quality coaches has the ability to positively engage participants of all ability levels and to develop athletes that have many different needs.
Through SSRP’s Inclusive Indoor Athletics programme, five local schools ( St. Joseph’s, St. Cecilia’s, Ransboro NS, Mercy Primary and St. Brendan’s NS) were introduced to ten weeks of Athletics coaching under the guidance of local inclusive coaches. The children involved in the programme participated in a variety of running, jumping and throwing activities designed to develop their overall athletic ability.
Coaching sessions were developed with each individual athlete’s needs and abilities taken into account. The coaches discovered, through regular practice with the children, the best coaching techniques to use, experimenting with adapted equipment and coaching styles to achieve optimum participation with the young athletes involved.
The various activities which included sprint, jigsaw and obstacle relays, javelin, target and ball throws and speed bounce and long jump were practiced and worked on over the duration of the programme with the athletes involved experiencing significant improvements in their agility, balance and co- ordination.
The programme also had a positive impact on participants’ relationships with each other, their teachers and the coaches involved. This impact was highlighted by one of the teachers from the Mercy Primary school who have been involved in the programme for a number of years now. He said that the programme teaches the pupils to appreciate other children and encourage their friends and peers to do well and to congratulate each other, which can be difficult for some children”.
All five schools and their teachers can be immensely proud of the progress made by each of the young athletes involved. The programme culminated in a highly successful and enjoyable Indoor Athletics Festival. SSRP would particularly like to acknowledge the inclusive coaches Chris Donaghy, Aaron Costello, Philip Henry and Eimear O’ Brien for their work throughout the programme and who focused on the athletes’ abilities, skills and strengths in order to maximise their participation and involvement. The Sports Partnership would also like to thank volunteers Michael, Christine and Imelda who provided vital encouragement and support to the participants throughout the Athletics event. County Sligo is currently thriving with a vibrant athletics community both in schools and in the various clubs located throughout the county. If any of these Athletic clubs are interested in becoming more inclusive in their set up and coaching practices they can contact Shane Hayes Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership Sports Inclusion Officer on 071 9161511 or email shane@ sligosportandrecreation. ie