12-13 YOUTH FOCUS:Layout 1 8/2/08 17:12 Page 3
YOUTH FOCUS
Age limit for
Make no bones about it -
exercise is good for kids
future Olympics?
Children who do more exercise The team compared the
have stronger bones, new average amount of physical
Athletes under 18 should not federation for gymnastics that is research has revealed. activity of 200 four-year-olds with
compete at the Olympic Games- similar to FINA in swimming, is Experts believe that parents the strength of their bones.
that’s the growing view of considering an age limit of 16 for should be doing more to encourage Project Manager Dr Nick
specialists and sportsmen. gymnasts competing their children to be more active and Harvey of the MRC Epidemiology
“Anyone under 18 I don’t think internationally after the 2008 help prevent debilitating bone Resource Centre, said: “Evidence
should be allowed to go to the Beijing Games. disease later in life. suggests that it is likely that the
Olympics, ”said Australian “Sports like gymnastics should The research, carried out by better your bones are when you
swimming star Shane Gould not be there for kids,” “Gymnasts researchers at Southampton are young, the better they will be
recently. ”Sport to me I think has should only be allowed to University, found that children when you are older. More
gone in an unhealthy direction compete in international stage who were more physically active physical activity as a child could
and I think it has to be when they are mature physically had more robust skeletons. mean stronger bones in old age.”
constantly reviewed. Sport is and mentally.”
now commerce. I think junior With such a large Olympic
sport is over-organised and the organisation moving to an age
Football Foundation
children are not being able to limit, there could be concern that
play and explore. Let kids be FINA will adopt the same stance.
and Nike put kids first
kids.” Gould’s background helps Meanwhile, the International
explain her stance as she retired Olympic Committee continues to Nike and the Football Foundation have combined to launch a range of
from swimming a year after push its Youth Olympic Games. initiatives that use the appeal and attributes of sport to inspire
competing in the 1972 Olympic Could it be only a matter of time youngsters and improve communities in England.
Games at the age of 15. before there becomes a secondary The organisations began working together when Nike became the
While initial talk of an age limit Youth Olympics, which could official kit and equipment supplier for the Foundation’s Junior Kit
at the Games might have been become just as commercialised as Scheme. This initiative has meant 210,000 youngsters have been
conjecture, FIG, the international the grand event? given free football strips and equipment.
They have co-operated on an ad hoc basis –including the successful
Assessment a success
Stand up Speak up (SUSU) anti-racism programme. The pan-European
SUSU campaign was managed by the Football Foundation in the UK and
in developing talent
provided £1m of funding from the sale of anti-racism wristbands,
delivering 109 projects that used sport to tackle issues of racism.
Governing bodies for swimming, tennis, rugby and triathlon in the UK As well as undergoing a total redesign of the football strips, clubs
have put systems in place to make the most of national training and and schools can now apply to the Junior Kit Scheme online via the
development for talented young athletes. The sports academies in the Football Foundation’s website www.footballfoundation.org.uk.
four sports have all successfully delivered the programme thanks to Another initiative is the Nike Player Panel. This is to be piloted next
Lifetime’s consultancy work. year and will involve four Nike-sponsored footballers based in four
The Amateur Swimming Association, the Lawn Tennis Association, regions to become Football Foundation Ambassadors and champion
the Rugby Football Union and the British Triathlon Federation have all potential funding for community-based sports projects in their area.
implemented the portfolio and Candidate Assessment Records
systems. It is widely accepted the long-term future of the framework is
dependant on its successful integration into the existing education
and coaching programmes of the national sports bodies.
Steve Mitchell, at SkillsActive, says: “When the Learning Innovation
Grant came about, no governing bodies in any sports had Learning
and Skills Council contracts. We consequently recommended the four
partners with Lifetime as they are a reputable quality training provider.
Lifetime secured the contract from the Association of Learning
Providers on behalf of SkillsActive in March and the outcomes have
been fantastic – not only are all partners satisfied with the results, they
are now implementing the systems.”
The RFU in particular has seen impressive results from the project.
Eighty apprentices are currently undertaking an NVQ and a further
120 across 14 centres, including Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins,
are signing up this year. Of the eight just completing from the pilot Left to right: Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Mandy
scheme, all have benefited from the NVQ – most apprentices are Ayres, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Nike UK, Paul
going to university, one has been signed up by Bristol Rugby Club Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation and Jim
and another is working in a gym at a local sports college. Allaker, General Manager of Nike UK
www.ukleisurenews.co.uk January / February 2008 UK LEISURE NEWS 13
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32