Community Athletics Activator resource

With an increasing focus on leadership and volunteering, the Community Athletics Activator Resource offers ideal preparation for those wishing to support, officiate or coordinate an informal activity or short form competition event in their school, neighbourhood, community youth project or as part of their general “street games” activity. This resource might also prove useful for youth, community and club workers, young volunteers and helpers.

Resource aims

By using this Resource, Activators should:

• Understand more about athletics as a sport that offers the foundation skills for a fit, healthy and enjoyable sporting life.
• Understand the importance of fun, safe and enjoyable athletics activity for youngsters.
• Feel more confident in setting up and coordinating short format athletics competitions such as Sportshall and QuadKids in your local school, community group or with friends.
• Be able to engage in short format competitions such as Sportshall and QuadKids, coordinate your own local school or group events and use basic officiating skills.

Click here to see what the Resource contains.
 

What is an Activator?

An Athletics Activator is essentially anyone who is responsible for coordinating, organising or delivering informal athletic activity in a community setting.  The Resource, whilst aimed at community sports projects, can also be applied in schools, colleges, or the formal athletic club setting.  The Resource and aligned game cards could support delivery and add value to existing programmes and supplement school, college and club mainstream activity.

Activators who have attended an Activator workshops will not become licensed coaches.  It is hoped that attendees of the workshop, or those simply picking up and using the resource, will be motivated to pursue their leadership and coaching education by following the formal UKA coaching and leadership education pathway. Visit www.englandathletics.org/coaching to learn more about becoming a coach, click here to read more about licensing.
 

Why is this work important?

There are many challenges facing local community sports project organisers in facilitating traditional athletic activity.  This Resource aims to counter some of these obstacles:

• Limited access to traditional track and field facilities.
• Limited access to formally qualified, licensed athletics coaches and leaders.
• Traditional athletics equipment can prove costly and prevent delivery of the most technical events.
• Overcoming a perception that athletics can only be delivered and enjoyed in the most traditional setting of an athletic club.

This work is all about getting more youngsters from across a broad range of communities enjoying the fundamental running, jumping and throwing basics.  It is hoped that many of these participants would then be encouraged to join a formal athletic club.
 

Finding out more and booking a course

If you would like to find out more or book a course please contact Eddie Parsons at Sportshall at edward@sportshall.org. Sportshall can also be contacted on 01606 353550.