Time for Living , July 2011 17 Learning


recently for the launch of anew charity.


Murrays’ charity helps development T


HE MOTHER of British tennis number one Andy Murray visit- ed aSouth London school


Set4Sport encourages parents to


play fun sporting games with their kids using everyday household objects. Judy Murray,along with son Jamie, went to Singlegate Primary to explain how Andy’sability to pull offjaw-dropping is due to –aside from hours of practice –games she made up for him at home. While those games areunlikely to transform other children into sports stars, they can make abig differ- ence to achild's sporting prowess, she says. They help develop the skills, bal-


ance and co-ordination . Those who aren't keen on tennis needn't worry,asthe games are designed to help children with all sorts of sports, and simply get them away from the computer and TV and moving around. Judy says: "Originally Iwas think-


ing of atennis-type programme, but the Lawn Tennis Association has umpteen programmes for ten- nis, and Ithought that in this day and age, wherekids get less and less PE in schools, and they play


FUN: Andy,Judy and Jamie Murray at the launch of Set4Sport at Singlegate Primary.


with things indoors and sitting down, Iwanted to do something that encourages parents to play with their children, preferably out- doors." Many of the games featuresimple objects such as buckets, balls, rope and boxes. They can all be played inside or outside, and the


John Stillwell/PAPhotos


idea is for parents and children aged between about five and eight years to play the games together. "I wanted to put together some-


thing that parents can do with their children, with everyday household objects, to encourage them from a young age to be moreactive, and to develop the kind of skills you


need to be able to play whatever sport you may choose later in life competently," says Judy,whose ini- tiative has been supported by Andy and Jamie's sponsors, the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). The skills the games help develop include balance, ability,co-ordina- tion, and being able to throw, catch, kick and trap aball. "All of the things Idid with Jamie


and Andy when they werevery young, Idid because Iloved sport and Iwanted my kids to love sport," explains Judy,who's aten- nis coach herself. "Wedon't want anation of couch potatoes and overweight children, and avery simple way to help tack- le that is to get them playing games at home with their mums and dads.” Set4Sport features awebsite and


adownloadable book which details games with names such as Double Trouble -tracking, passing and receiving two balls -and Dodgems, which is an obstacle course designed to improve children's agility. "The best games arealways the


ones you make up yourself," she stresses. •For moreinformation about Set4Sport, visit www.set4sport.


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