Fit to Succeed - Toolkit - Case Studies
PLAY BALL! - A Sports Development Perspective
In past years, much of the work done by the Exeter Sports Development team revolved around nationally created initiatives, or the need to chase ‘funding pots’. The Fit to Succeed research gave me a chance to take a close look at what our young community actually wanted to do in the way of sport.
Although much interest still revolved around the more common sports and activities, one of the activities which stood out as being of interest to both sexes was ‘Rounders’. However, there was nothing in the way of community provision for this type of activity.
I decided to explore the opportunity of using this interest to develop Baseball. This is an Olympic sport which is played in over 120 countries around the world, but has been slow to take off in the UK. After contact the sport’s governing body ‘Baseball/SoftballUK, I was able to involve Exeter in a number of initiatives to help encourage interest and participation in the sport. All of these initiatives were organised through Baseball/SoftballUK with funding from Major League Baseball.
Pitch, Hit & Run
This is a school-based programme aiming to teach the basic skills of Baseball & Softball to Years 6 & below.
Free training is provided for teachers and each school that commits to the programme receives a bag of equipment containing bat, balls, batting tee, throw down bases and ten fielders gloves. There is also curriculum resource pack. In year 1 of Fit to Succeed (2000) we involved four schools. Another two schools joined in 2001 and a further two schools in 2002. Each year we organised a free twilight teacher-training session for teachers from schools wishing to become involved.
Play Ball League
In 2001 we took on another of Baseball/SoftballUK’s initiatives called Play Ball. This is a programme to help establish a four-team junior Baseball league for Year 7’s and below. All equipment is provided free of charge including four sets of team shirts and caps. The league has now been running successfully for two years and over 80 children have taken part. As can be expected, most of them have come from the Pitch, Hit & Run schools.
National Competition
Every year a national competition is held for Pitch, Hit & Run areas and Play Ball leagues. Exeter has sent teams to both of the last two competitions. In 2001 we entered the competition for ‘rookie’ teams and won. Last year we won the main event against teams from all over Great Britain.
So in the space of three years we have gone from having no junior Baseball in Exeter, to becoming national Play Ball champions – simply because we listened to what the children told us.
Open Minds and Open Ears
I am not saying that everyone should develop Baseball in their area, I was just responding to what I was hearing from Exeter children. However, if you are going to use Fit to Succeed, use the research to find out what the children want to do. Don’t simply develop the activities you think they should be doing.
In past years, much of the work done by the Exeter Sports Development team revolved around nationally created initiatives, or the need to chase ‘funding pots’. The Fit to Succeed research gave me a chance to take a close look at what our young community actually wanted to do in the way of sport.
Although much interest still revolved around the more common sports and activities, one of the activities which stood out as being of interest to both sexes was ‘Rounders’. However, there was nothing in the way of community provision for this type of activity.
I decided to explore the opportunity of using this interest to develop Baseball. This is an Olympic sport which is played in over 120 countries around the world, but has been slow to take off in the UK. After contact the sport’s governing body ‘Baseball/SoftballUK, I was able to involve Exeter in a number of initiatives to help encourage interest and participation in the sport. All of these initiatives were organised through Baseball/SoftballUK with funding from Major League Baseball.
Pitch, Hit & Run
This is a school-based programme aiming to teach the basic skills of Baseball & Softball to Years 6 & below.
Free training is provided for teachers and each school that commits to the programme receives a bag of equipment containing bat, balls, batting tee, throw down bases and ten fielders gloves. There is also curriculum resource pack. In year 1 of Fit to Succeed (2000) we involved four schools. Another two schools joined in 2001 and a further two schools in 2002. Each year we organised a free twilight teacher-training session for teachers from schools wishing to become involved.
Play Ball League
In 2001 we took on another of Baseball/SoftballUK’s initiatives called Play Ball. This is a programme to help establish a four-team junior Baseball league for Year 7’s and below. All equipment is provided free of charge including four sets of team shirts and caps. The league has now been running successfully for two years and over 80 children have taken part. As can be expected, most of them have come from the Pitch, Hit & Run schools.
National Competition
Every year a national competition is held for Pitch, Hit & Run areas and Play Ball leagues. Exeter has sent teams to both of the last two competitions. In 2001 we entered the competition for ‘rookie’ teams and won. Last year we won the main event against teams from all over Great Britain.
So in the space of three years we have gone from having no junior Baseball in Exeter, to becoming national Play Ball champions – simply because we listened to what the children told us.
Open Minds and Open Ears
I am not saying that everyone should develop Baseball in their area, I was just responding to what I was hearing from Exeter children. However, if you are going to use Fit to Succeed, use the research to find out what the children want to do. Don’t simply develop the activities you think they should be doing.