February 2001

Youth Sport Within Education

Youth Sport Belfast:

Two new co-ordinators had been appointed at Mount Gilbert Community School and St Mary's University College. The latter in particular has established great interest in his 4 linked primary schools and has had interest in establishing programmes at the nearby St Dominic's High School
A separate Board programme is supporting the appointment of 2 special needs Youth Sport Co-ordinators - one to support schools with behavioural difficulties and the other for schools with physical disabilities.
A successful School Sports Co-ordinators training day was held in September in the Wellington Park Hotel. The two main themes were Developing Pathways and SportsParent.
The Belfast School of Sport will not be taking place in this school year but support will be given to squads preparing for the Northern Ireland Youth Games in May.
Plans are in place to produce a Newsletter for Belfast and to launch the Boards website including a Youth Sport portal.
Twlight courses for teachers have been held in Netball, Basketball and Badminton.
TOPs training is into its fourth and final phase in Belfast and the Community TOPs plan for Belfast has now been submitted by Shane McCullough.

Youth Sport South East:

A Training Day was well attended by Co-ordinators in October. The theme was 'SportsParent'. How do we get them involved?
Five co-ordinators who are working in Special Schools attended the training sessions devoted to Co-ordinators in those schools.
15 individual whole school TOPs training sessions have been held in SEELB primary schools and at a recent meeting of Physical Education co-ordinators in the primary school an opportunity was given to discuss issues relating to Youth Sport.
Two new co-ordinators have been appointed at Lisnasharragh High School and St Colmans High School Ballynahinch to replace co-ordinators originally appointed in those schools.
The South Eastern School of Sport had been very successful with over 400 young people attending 17 different sports. The Awards were presented by Paralympic athletes Mary and Sharon Rice at a well-attended ceremony in Downpatrick Cricket Club.

Youth Sport North East:

Two new co-ordinators have been appointed at St Pius X in Magherafelt and at Coleraine Boys Secondary School.
The Irish Football Association's CD rom has been launched and presented to Teachers throughout the Board. A group of students from Glengormley and Larne High Schools attended a mini soccer leaders award course.
NEELB newsletter was launched and presented to the Boards Curriculum Committee.
TOPS Training and bags delivery has taken place with schools in the Moyle Council area.
The North Eastern School of Sport was a great success and received very favourable media coverage. Jimmy Davidson from Stranmillis University College and Olympic Athlete Paul Brizzell presented the awards at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena.

Youth Sport South:

Significant meeting was held in November with Chief Leisure Officers from the six district councils. A follow up meeting is planned for late February of early March to discuss further the need for a Regional Sports Partnership in this area.
New co-ordinators are being appointed at St Pauls in Lurgan. On going problem with co-ordinators off on long term illness.
Meeting with Primary Principals in the Craigavon area was held. Four schools attended - signs of making an appointment are not hopeful at this stage.
Rates of pay for coaches working in remote rural areas are proving a problem in this Board area.
Excellent links established with Rugby Development Officer who is working closely with School Co-ordinators to deliver after school programmes.
30 teachers have recently received TOPs training with bags being issued to 21 schools.
301 participants attended the Southern School of Sport. They participated in 14 different sports. For the first time an Awards evening was held in Armagh Theatre and awards were presented by UTV's Adrian Logan. A very well attended and successful evening.

Youth Sport Foyle:

The Foyle mascot - Freddie Fox - will be available this year to visit schools in Donegal and Derry to promote the scheme to the young people in these areas....watch out the Ballymoney Bear.
Two co-ordinators meetings were held in September and December. TOPs training has seen the issuing of 30 bags to schools.
Four courses for Leaders and Coaches have been held - two for Sport for All Leaders, a table tennis and a Netball Level 1 course.
On going work is taking place with the North West Basketball Committee with a view to forming a local league in the area.
The Laureus Award of IR£81,537 will enable the development of cross border residentials and festivals to be greatly expanded in the next year.
Imelda Doherty from Strabane Convent Grammar School has been appointed on a two day a week Youth Sport contract to oversee developments in the Strabane area.

Youth Sport West:

Residential co-ordinator training took place in December in Bundoran. Increased promotion and finding a sponsor will be the key focus areas in the coming months.
First Annual Report was produced and circulated in September 2000.
Young people from Border Schools attended the launch of the Code of Ethics and Good Practice in Dublin Castle and recently featured on the RTE programme 'Rapid'
In Sligo three Coaching courses were held in Olympic Handball, Mini Basketball and Badminton. Tag Rugby has been introduced to school programmes in the West through the Rugby Development Officer.
TOPs training has taken place with 27 schools in Fermanagh and Omagh with hopeful signs that the scheme could be piloted in Sligo.

Contact: Jackie Stevenson

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