Wiltshire and Swindon School Games Young Leaders Training Day


The training provides the Young Leaders with the general knowledge about the sport and how to officiate and score – some leading to a NGB qualification. This enables the young leaders to assist organisers and support the younger athletes at the Wiltshire and Swindon School Games Summer Level 3 County Competitions.


Learning about Tennis


On 27 March 2015 Sheldon School, Chippenham hosted the 4th School Games Young Leaders training day. There were 155 Young Leaders in attendance aged 13 - 15 from 8 schools across the county including Sheldon, Malmesbury, Lavington, Corsham, Abbeyfield, Avon Valley College, St Edmunds and Kingdown.


They received training in 9 different sports - Swimming, Gymnastics, Rounders, Rugby, Trampolining, Tri Golf, Tennis, Orienteering and Athletics. The training was delivered by the Sport’s National Governing Body (NGB) representative or a coach from one of the local clubs.


The Summer School Games competitions could not take place without this army of well-trained young people who are great ambassadors for their schools and a credit to themselves.


Selwyn Widger, the School Games Organiser for West Wiltshire who is based at Kingdown School Warminster, opened the day with introduction to all the young volunteers and, along with a DVD from the 2014 event, explained the importance of their role and the many benefits they would receive from the experience of becoming a Young Leader.


We were lucky to welcome Sporting Champion Annie Vernon on the day. She is an accomplished GB rower with a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics and two World Championship titles to her name. At London 2012 Annie raced in the women’s eight, finishing 5th.


Sporting Champions is the initiative designed to bring world-class athletes like Annie face-to-face with young people and young adults to inspire and motivate them. In her role as a Sporting Champion, Annie looks to use her own experiences as an athlete and her memories of competing at the Olympics to get young people to raise their own aspirations and make sport a habit for life.


She certainly did inspire the Young Leaders with her opening address and when she informally engaged with them during the day. Annie also gave a ‘How to Row’ masterclass on a rowing machine and she ran a small competition (fastest to 100m) and were she was challenged to take part. As you would expect she was the winner, but surprisingly not by much!


During the day there was time for informal discussions between Wiltshire and Swindon Sport (County Sports Partnership) and the PE teachers present. A chance to take time out and plan ahead for next year and think about what Sports they would like to see added or changes made to the School Games programme in 2016.


There was very positive feedback both from schools and those delivering.


SCHOOL GAMES TALENT INSPIRATION PROGRAMME Sainsburys School Games - Talent Inspiration Programme 2014


Swindon Students chosen to go to Manchester


In early September 2014, Abby Miles and Thomas Haworth, Lydiard Park Academy Students, were selected to attend the UK School Games Talent Inspiration Programme which was held in Manchester.


Thomas and Abbey said “We had a variety of activities which were specifically designed to engage and inspire us and encourage us to start thinking about how we can reach our sporting and leadership potential and the impact that we can have on our own development as a young person. For example, one of our workshops was based on ‘goal setting’, which allowed us to to sit in detail and plan short and long term goals, and overall aims.”


Thomas Haworth said “The best bits of the school games was the fact that


6 Wiltshire and Swindon Relay


we had Olympians/Paralympians come in talking to us about their experience and how they became professionals. Also I enjoyed meeting people who had the same dreams as me. Also, I enjoyed going to the school game events / ceremony” Abby Miles said “We were given TIP kit to wear throughout the weekend and were given tags to wear around our necks for identification.


I enjoyed the whole experience. The opening ceremony was amazing with GB’s Long Jumper Katrina Johnson Thompson opening it who inspires me a lot as I do long jump myself. The friends Tom and I met were all so lovely and a good laugh. It was incredible listening to the athletes who have been there and done it explain what they had been through to be successful”.


We had physical and theory workshops. We took part in a kayaking which we were set up for a challenge to row 1000m as fast as you could. We also


had ago at using the cycling bikes indoors where we were taught some skills and tricks.


We managed to go out and experience athletes actually competing within the UK School Games. We went to the National Cycling Centre and watched the competition which was exciting! We had a workshop with the athlete Daniel Caines who is a 400m runner. In 2000, he competed in the Olympic Games 4x400m relay and came 5th. In 2001, he met his dream and won the World Indoor Championships for 400m. We learned about his whole journey and how he made it. His PB is 44.84s which he achieved in 2003.


We also met Tim Prendergast who was just incredible. Despite being blind, he still has the passion to run and so much enjoyment of it. He’s a competitor for New Zealand and brought such a encouraging


atmosphere to us all. In 2004, he won gold at the Athens Paralympics.


I really advise that if you had the opportunity we got, I would 100% take it. I would do it all again if I could.


Learning about Rugby


Lavington School said “Thank you so much for the Leadership day on the last day of term, our students had a great time and were really enthused about another role in sport other than as a performer!”


Thank you must go to all the NGB / Club Coaches for providing the training sessions, PE Teachers for their commitment and support throughout the School Games and the Leadership Day and of course to Sheldon School for providing the venue for the 4th year in a row and the unexpected bacon bagels for lunch!


Annie Vernon GB Rower


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