This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Richard Merrick


Fitness & wellbeing manager, Freedom Leisure


“O


verweight and inactive teenagers


remain a cause for concern in our society, with around 15 per cent of school leavers classified as obese. There are several reasons for this, but ‘non- sporty’ kids disengaging from team games and physical activity as they progress through senior school is a major factor, especially among teenage girls. “Having run three two-day courses during


December 2014, we rolled out teen fi tness staff training across the Freedom Leisure portfolio at the start of this year. The qualifi cation, Adapting Fitness Instruction for Adolescents, was developed and accredited by Active IQ, with the course designed to equip learners with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt fi tness instruction to teens. Specifi cally, it addresses how physiological and psychological issues faced by teenagers affect their ability and motivation to exercise. “All new members of staff are now trained


in the qualifi cation to ensure we have ample coverage at all our sites and can meet the demand for teen fi tness supervision. “I believe it’s a real opportunity – indeed an


obligation – for community leisure centres to provide classes and supervised gym sessions that are both appealing and suitable for teenagers. We have ample space in our gyms and studios and can tap into the natural lull in our timetables between 4.00pm and 6.00pm.”


Physiological and psychological factors may affect teenagers’ motivation to exercise


PILOT PROJECT: HEAD OF WELLBEING


In a bid to help combat rising levels of poor physical and mental health among pupils and teachers, Nuffield Health called for UK secondary schools to put themselves forward as potential candidates for a ground-breaking pilot, which will see a ‘head of wellbeing’ seconded to the school. Nuffield Health has committed to lead, fund and evaluate the initiative – the first of its kind – which includes the development and implementation of a two-year health and wellbeing programme. The competition closed in April having received hundreds of


The chosen school will gain a ‘wellbeing head’ June 2015 © Cybertrek 2015


entries. The winning school will be notifi ed this month, with the two-year pilot beginning in September. Nuffi eld Health will invest signifi cantly into the school, providing state of the art fi tness facilities and developing a wellbeing strategy in collaboration with the school. As part of its services, a 12-point Health MOT will be offered to all teachers and a unique health check to pupils, with a particular focus on nutrition, exercise and emotional wellbeing.


Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 81


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