News Archive
High-flying success for sports project
By Francess Sykes
A KITE sports project has succeeded in doubling the activity levels of disengaged pupils from 31 schools in Great Yarmouth.
Cliff Park School Sports Partnership teamed up with Active X – one of the first kite sports schools based project in the UK – to introduce inactive children aged seven to 18 to a new activity.
Marten Payne, GY Active X coordinator said: “We had great success working with pupil referral groups and found kite sports a fantastic tool to boost participant’s confidence levels and get them to push their own boundaries in a safe environment. We were very taken back by the demand for places in our after school clubs with over 100 children applying for the 25 spaces available.”
Marten told Future Fitness that after attending kite sessions the number of structured activity sessions the young people participated in increased by 50 per cent. This was a jump from two sessions a week (PE only in school) to four sessions a week.
Marten said: “Kite sports have many benefits, as the kites produce lift and traction they can provide a mini resistance and cardiovascular workout, its also great for arm and leg muscles. But there are other hidden benefits such as the mental health aspects, team working and self discovery.”
Due to the success of the pupil referral course Active X launched teacher courses. He qualified 19 teachers locally last year who are all delivering their own school based clubs during lunch time and as extended schools projects.
Marten said: “On completion of the course successful candidates will be able to teach students from basic set up to simulating riding a board using their course manuals with lesson plans as back up. There are other tricks such as jumping and scudding where you use the wind window to generate traction and lift. Power kiting is not a stationary sport.”
This year the project will be extended to other SSPs outside of Great Yarmouth who may be interested in developing their own kite sport projects.
By Francess Sykes
A KITE sports project has succeeded in doubling the activity levels of disengaged pupils from 31 schools in Great Yarmouth.
Cliff Park School Sports Partnership teamed up with Active X – one of the first kite sports schools based project in the UK – to introduce inactive children aged seven to 18 to a new activity.
Marten Payne, GY Active X coordinator said: “We had great success working with pupil referral groups and found kite sports a fantastic tool to boost participant’s confidence levels and get them to push their own boundaries in a safe environment. We were very taken back by the demand for places in our after school clubs with over 100 children applying for the 25 spaces available.”
Marten told Future Fitness that after attending kite sessions the number of structured activity sessions the young people participated in increased by 50 per cent. This was a jump from two sessions a week (PE only in school) to four sessions a week.
Marten said: “Kite sports have many benefits, as the kites produce lift and traction they can provide a mini resistance and cardiovascular workout, its also great for arm and leg muscles. But there are other hidden benefits such as the mental health aspects, team working and self discovery.”
Due to the success of the pupil referral course Active X launched teacher courses. He qualified 19 teachers locally last year who are all delivering their own school based clubs during lunch time and as extended schools projects.
Marten said: “On completion of the course successful candidates will be able to teach students from basic set up to simulating riding a board using their course manuals with lesson plans as back up. There are other tricks such as jumping and scudding where you use the wind window to generate traction and lift. Power kiting is not a stationary sport.”
This year the project will be extended to other SSPs outside of Great Yarmouth who may be interested in developing their own kite sport projects.
