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13/10/09
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Sport and fitness for today’s youth November 2009 £2.75
Call for schools to overcome rugby fears By Louise Cordell PRIMARY schools are being urged to overcome health and safety fears and introduce contact rugby for pupils. A Wakefield partnership development manager has been working to bring in the game throughout the 80 schools in the Five Towns SSCo Partnership but has found that many head teachers are reluctant to take the risk. Paul Ogilvie believes that playing the full version of the sport can be very beneficial for kids but that people’s prejudices need to be addressed before they get the chance to take part. He said: “Many head teachers will reject the idea without really thinking about it, there is just an immediate negative response and I think this is down to a lack of knowledge. “We do everything necessary to make the games safe – we have qualified referees and first aiders on hand and have sought advice from the Rugby League on the best protective gear for pupils. We actually have more injuries occur during tag rugby than we do when they are playing contact. “There are collisions, but the children just bounce back up, and the first aiders are very rarely needed.” Paul believes that while tag rugby is a
great way to introduce the sport into schools, if pupils want to progress and take their game to regional and national levels they need to be playing the real game. He is convinced that if more schools take the first step into bringing in contact rugby it will soon be the norm in primaries around the country. He added: “20 years ago there was mass participation in real rugby for kids of all ages, but this was before all the health and safety regulations and claim culture. To produce great players it is important for them to start early and for kids to progress they need to be given the opportunity. “I think it is the schools being overly cautious, because I have had many parents call me directly, asking how their kids can get involved – they don’t have any concerns.” Paul has already held two contact rugby competitions in a bid to get partnership schools on board, but just three attended the first and only five attended the second. He is now organising another event for November, which he has opened up to every school in Wakefield in an attempt to increase numbers. Bid to tackle rugby parents, Page 5
Sport Week date change confirmed
Gladiators star ‘Enigma’, aka Jenny Pacey, is doing her bit to get young people active. Jenny, together with her partner and co-star on the Sky One show, Wayne ‘Doom’ Gordon, have been visiting schools around the UK and providing advice on health and fitness. Her aim is to get kids excited about working out and show them what can be achieved with enthusiasm and commitment. She said: “I want young people to realise that getting involved in sport and activity can lead to many other things and that a determination to succeed will spill over into every area of life.” Full story, Page 6
THE Youth Sport Trust has confirmed that the date for National School Sport Week has been changed to June 28-July 2 2010. The change has been made following feedback from schools and other partners and to ensure that as many young people as possible will be able to take part. It has now been organised to avoid any potential clashes in the school curriculum around exams, work placements and other end of year activities. Baroness Sue Campbell, Youth Sport Trust chair, said: “This year more than 10,000 schools and three million children took part in Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week demonstrating how the excitement and passion for the Olympic Games can be a powerful driver to increase participation. “It was a tremendous week and we are extremely excited about building on this even further in 2010.”