CONTENTS

SALSC National Seminar, 1 - 3 February 2002

Jim Conn, Chairman and Mike Seed, Administrator have again be asked to lead one of the workshops at the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils National Seminar. The Seminar theme this year is ‘Stronger Partnerships: Delivering Results’ and a number of other local Sports Council reps are also leading workshops on partnership initiatives they have been involved with.

The Seminar is an excellent opportunity to meet like minded sports people and keep up to date on National issues and good practice from around the country and is always very popular.

Jim and Mike’s workshop will be focusing on the draft Aberdeenshire Sports Development Plan for 2002 - 2005, a joint development initiative between Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeenshire Sports Council which will be out for consultation during February and March. This document follows on from the 1998 - 2001 plan (also a joint initiative) which was well received by the sporting community in Aberdeenshire.

‘Whilst we are seen as one of the most pro-active Sports Councils in Scotland with a strong partnership with the local authority, there are still potential threats which most local Sports Councils will be able to identify with. We shall be hoping for lots of constructive discussion on a range of topics and issues which should be of relevance to all those attending the workshop’ explained Jim.

Help Shape The Future Of Sport In Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire Sports Development Plan 2002 - 2005

The 1998 - 2001 Aberdeenshire Sports Development Plan was a joint development initiative between Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeenshire Sports Council produced following extensive consultation. It was well received and proved to be a valuable document with many of the aims, key objectives and proposed development initiatives having been achieved and implemented during the last three years. Affiliated clubs have had the opportunity to comment on the progress via annual reviews of the plan.

Aberdeenshire Council Sports Development Team and Aberdeenshire Sports Council have put together a draft document for 2002 - 2005 which will go out for consultation in February 2002 to all appropriate bodies, organisations, clubs and individuals, with comments due back by the end of March. It is proposed that this will be a slimmer document than the last three year plan, but hopefully useful and valuable to all involved in developing and promoting sport, health and fitness and  active lifestyles. It is hoped to launch the new three year plan in June.

All affiliated clubs/organisations will receive a copy of the draft. Please ensure that you take the opportunity to respond to the consultation should you and/or your organisation have any queries or comments.

Delighted To Win!

“Being a small school with only 21 pupils, staff and children at Logie Coldstone School were delighted to have won the £20 prize for sports equipment in the competition, featured in Issue 3 of the Aberdeenshire Sports Council Newsletter. After much consideration, the money was used to buy skipping ropes”, said Elizabeth McConnach, Headteacher.

Why not enter the competition in this issue?

Sports Coach UK
(National Coaching Foundation)

Coach Education Programme

Introductory Courses

Continuing our programme of tutor led Introductory Workshops suitable for interested parent helpers/leaders, coaches just starting out or coaches within your club new to this type of workshop/course. These will take place at Inverurie (Town Hall) on Monday evenings, 7.00pm - 9.00pm. Please support these excellent courses.

Cost of each workshop is only £7.50 for those who are members of a club affiliated to Aberdeenshire Sports Council and £12.00 for those who are not, inclusive of resource booklet and tea/coffee.

Workshops still available are as follows -

•     Safety & Injury                                                             Mon 18 Mar 2002

      Identifies potential hazards for coaches, provides guidance on health and safety issues, offers practical ways of dealing with injuries and accidents.

•     Body in Action                                                            Mon 15 Apr 2002

      Explains the principles of fitness and how the body works; provides examples of exercises and tests; and helps coaches to construct safe and effective fitness programmes.

For application forms, further information and details of the Introductory Workshops and ‘Running Your Sport’ course contact: Mike Seed at 1 Church Street, Macduff AB44 1UR.

Tel 01261 813383 or E-mail: Info@Aberdeenshire-Sports-Council.org.uk  

Coach Workshops

A range of excellent courses, targeted at coaches with some previous experience, have been organised by the Activ-8-Grampiam office between October 2001 and May 2002. These take place at Summerhill Education Centre, Aberdeen on Wednesdays and Thursdays 6.30pm - 9.30pm, cost £20.00 each workshop (it may be possible to subsidise these costs).

Courses still available are as follows -

•     Coaching Disabled Performers                                        Wed 27 Feb 2002

•     Fuelling Performers                                                            Thurs 7 Mar 2002

•     Coaching Methods & Communication                          Wed 27 Mar 2002

•     Good Practice & Child Protection (see article)             Thurs 18 Apr 2002

•     Injury Prevention & Management                                  Thurs 2 May 2002

•     Observation Analysis & Video                                         Wed 15 May 2002

•     Goal-setting & Planning                                                    Wed 29 May 2002

For further information and details of all the above courses contact:

Margaret Barnes, Administrator, Activ-8-Grampian, Gordon House, Blackhall Road, Inverurie, AB51 3WA.

Tel: 01467 628126 or E-mail:activ8@aberdeenshire.gov.uk             

Good Practice & Child Protection

We have previously mailed (last year) all members with a variety of leaflets including:

•     Safe & Secure: Young People In Sport

•     Have Fun & Be Safe (A Guide For Parents & Carers)

•     Are Your Young People Safe? Is Your Coaching Sound?

      (A Guide To Good Coaching Practice)

It is important that club personnel and coaches are aware of Good Practice and Child Protection issues.

Detailed below are the findings of an Impact Study on the Sportscoach UK Good Practice and Child Protection Coach Workshop. The results speak for themselves and show the benefits of attending the workshop.

This is one of a series of workshops which has been organised by Activ-8-Grampian and is scheduled to take place on Thursday 18 April 2002 in Aberdeen. Why not book your place now?

Good Practice & Child Protection Impact Study

The findings have been released from the Impact Study carried out by Sportscoach UK, in conjunction with Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education.

Good Practice and Child Protection is just one of over 30 workshops Sportscoach UK has developed. It aims to help protect the coach, their employer and the young people they are coaching by understanding and following good practice. Attendees also learn about the different forms of child abuse and how to handle situations if they have concerns.

The Impact Study was carried out as part of Sportscoach UK’s objective of continuous updating and improving. It is important to understand how the workshops impact upon the attendees once they return to their familiar coaching environments.

Over 1800 questionnaires were distributed to workshop attendees with an above average response rate of 21.4% (average is 12%).

Results

•     91.5% of attendees felt that they were more aware of child protection issues after attending the workshop

•     42% physically changed their coaching methods - not working alone, engaging children in discussion and being more aware of appropriate times to touch a performer

•     29% of clubs adopted a child protection policy

•     83% of attendees use the resource (included in the workshop price) as a reference tool

•     79% of attendees felt the resource was useful or very useful

•     90% of attendees felt the workshop material was reasonably or very relevant

•     95% of attendees were reasonably or very satisfied with the workshop

•     98% felt the tutors delivered the workshop very or reasonably well

•     96% of coaches felt they could handle a child protection situation as a result of attending the workshop (as a percentage of those who felt they couldn’t handle a child protection situation prior to attending the workshop)

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