Dundee United Community Trust’s commitment to providing sport and physical activity opportunities to people living with disabilities has been recognised with a rebrand of Dundee United Para-Football Club.

The project will now be known as the Dundee United Para-Sports Club, reflective of the lack of opportunities present for people with disabilities to engage in wider sport other than football.

The rebrand comes at the club’s second anniversary which has seen the growth in the club’s provision, membership and partners from three initial football sessions for children with disabilities, amputee football and football for adults experiencing ill mental health. The growth and success of the project led to the football club being named as the best para-football project in the Scottish Football Association East Region’s Grassroots Awards in 2020.

With the demand for additional para-sport continuing to increase, the club seeks to reflect that growth by providing as many opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity as possible with staff completing coaching courses in order to deliver an increased variety of sporting opportunities.

Paul Wilson, Head of Community Development, said:

“We understand that football isn’t for everyone, so we have been working on providing other sports for some time now.  We are excited to confirm that, in the next few months, we will be delivering a brand-new athletics programme specifically for people with a disability.  Changing to Dundee United Para-Sports Club reaffirms our commitment to providing opportunities for those living with a disability to take part in sport and physical activity, not just in football but in various other sports too.”

Graeme Doig, Scottish Disability Sport Tayside Regional Development Manager, said:

“I am delighted and proud to work in partnership with Dundee United Para-Sports Club. Their weekly football sessions have proven a huge success for all involved. They are fun and meaningful with each one tailored to get the best out of their players whether they have a learning, sensory or physical disability. The coaches ability to treat each player as an individual with individual needs is what sets them apart and keeps the players coming back week after week whilst attracting new players into a football club suitable for their ability’
‘Dundee United Para-Sports Club also support our Tayside Parasport Festival each year which aims to introduce pupils with physical, visual or hearing impairment into a variety of sports. Feedback from pupils and parents alike is always extremely positive and this always helps create introductory pathways for these young people to play weekly football in a trusted, safe and secure environment with their peers.

“I am really excited to work in partnership with them again to develop more sport and physical activity opportunities in the months ahead.”

If you would like to find out more about Dundee United Para-Sports Club email: enquiries@dundeeunitedct.co.uk

SDS Regional Managers Alison Shaw and Andrew MacKenzie were delighted to join Scottish Student Sport (SSS) on their latest BiteSSSize Best Practice webinar series.  

The webinar explored how disability sport could be better embedded into Universities, Colleges and more generally into Scottish sport, with para-swimmer Erin Swann providing a student-athlete insight. 

Alison and Andrew’s presentation gave an insight into the partnership work that exists between SDS & SSS, encouraging educational institutions to follow that lead and work in collaboration with SDS to provide the necessary training and expertise to drive inclusive sport for students with disabilities. 

With plenty of discussion throughout from representatives of sports governing bodies, a number of clear themes emerged to better embed disability sport for students with disabilities. 

Visibility – Saying you are inclusive is one thing, but showing it is another. Including para-athletes and people with disabilities across digital and print media will show you are welcome and serious about inclusivity 

Opportunity – Ensure you are creating multiple opportunities for students with disabilities to participate and try new sports  

Links to community – Collaborate with community clubs to encourage the smooth transitions between youth and student sport as well as encouraging the transfer of knowledge and best practice between the two 

You can watch the webinar in full here: 

Scottish Curling are very pleased to showcase the next set of ‘Curl Up’ dates, looking forward to the lighter nights and brighter weather on the horizon.

This latest tranche includes some brand new topics, featuring a session on tactics, hosted by the indominable Mr David ‘Rambo’ Ramsay  as well as a technically focused presentation on the key skill of ice making, to name but two.

They are delighted with the feedback so far, and we are eager to keep the momentum going by offering a little ‘something for everyone’ over the course of the coming weeks.

Scottish Curling Development Manager Scott Andrews first came up with the idea for ‘Curl Up’, after delivering some virtual content on tactics to Junior Clubs in Ayr.

The feeling was, that if there was an appetite at local level, then why not offer something for all our members, and beyond.

Scott says:

”The engagement so far from the members has been overwhelmingly positive with over 100 signing up to our most recent workshop (‘Sweep and Slide’ with Academy Manager, Sophie Jackson).

To be in a position to offer this range of sessions – just a matter of weeks after launching ‘Curl Up’ – proves there’s a real hunger for it, and a desire among our contributors to give back to the membership, and that makes it all worthwhile.

We are planning to continue our ‘Curl Up’ sessions until the middle of April. Looking further ahead, ideas are already taking shape to start ‘Curl Up’ again in August leading up to the start of the season 2021/22.

We hope that members have found the sessions fun and interesting. As a team we have certainly enjoyed hosting them and giving members some curling filled evenings in the absence of on-ice action.”

Full information can be found on the Scottish Curling website here: https://www.scottishcurling.org/curl-up-spring-2021-programme/

Congratulations to Alec Watt who was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours list announced earlier this year.

Alec has been a great ambassador for sport, supporting numerous participants to be part of the Glasgow Eagles which he founded in 1988. Alec’s dedication to support people with a disability in his inclusive sessions has been a great success across Glasgow. No matter what age or ability of the participant Alec is always keen to support them.

You can read more here:https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18977431.alexander-watt-nets-mbe-honours-list-glasgow-eagles-success/

Everyone at SDS would like to congratulate on Alec’s well-deserved MBE – well done Alec!

 

Brits Andy Lapthorne, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid all booked their places in the Australian Open singles semi-finals on Sunday’s opening day of wheelchair tennis action at Melbourne Park. 

On an excellent day for players on the LTA’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme, Lapthorne made history when he won the first ever completed quad singles knockout quarter-final at an Australian Open, defeating the USA’s David Wagner 6-1, 6-4.  

With the Australian Open expanding its quad division field to eight players this year and therefore moving from a round-robin format to a knockout competition for the quad singles, world No.2 Lapthorne opened up a 6-1, 3-0 lead over former champion David Wagner of the USA , before needing to regroup midway through the second to close out victory. 

Three-time Australian Open finalist Lapthorne, who plays reigning US Open champion Sam Schroder of the Netherlands in Monday’s semi-finals, said:  

“I came out and tried to play aggressive and it worked. I got it to 6-1, 3-0 and probably relaxed a bit. I felt a lull there and let him get back into it, but I showed massive character to hold for 5-3 and just found a way (to win). This is what all the campaigning has been for, to get eight players here and I’m so proud of that. 

“I’ve done a few things differently and I’m trying to stay relaxed, as I’m very aware that it’s a privileged position that we’re in, being able to play tennis while so many here and in the UK are in lockdown,” added Lapthorne, who partners Wagner in Monday’s quad doubles semi-finals, where they face Japan’s Koji Sugeno and American Nick Taylor. 

Reigning French Open champion Hewett found a way to ‘win ugly’ against Frenchman Nicolas Peifer. Hewett recovered from 2-0 down to take the opening set and served out his match to love with an ace for a 7-5, 6-4 victory that sets up a men’s semi against world No.1 Shingo Kunieda. Former US Open men’s singles champion and world No.3 Hewett, said: 

“I’ve come here to take the title. It’s one I haven’t got and tomorrow is a big, big challenge on the way to trying to make that happen and I’m really excited for it. But to put things into perspective, we’re in a tough place in the world right now, so to actually be out here playing tennis in the sun is quite a privilege.” 

Reid needed six match points before joining Hewett in the singles semi-finals, overcoming the effects of illness to secure a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Argentina’s world No.2 Fernandez.  

The world No.5 fell 3-1 behind in the final set before stringing four games in a row to lead 5-3. However, it wasn’t until Fernandez had reduced Reid’s lead to 5-4 that the Rio 2016 men’s singles gold medallist earned the first of six match points, finally drawing Fernandez into a backhand error to prevail after two hours and 30 minutes. 

Having also beaten Fernandez in the quarter-finals of the 2020 Australian Open, Reid will now attempt to defeat Belgian Joachim Gerard, the same player he beat in last year’s semi-finals. Drawn in the opposite half of the men’s singles draw to Hewettt , he said: 

“I’ve had a stomach bug in the last few days and I didn’t have a lot left in the tank in the third set, so I’m just happy that I stuck in there and made it difficult for him.  

“I don’t think I did anything too wrong. He raised his level, made more balls and caused me a lot of pressure. I had to try and reset for the third set, hang in there, and I started the set well. I was really happy with the way I fought, it meant a lot to me to get that win today. It was a gutsy final set – it wasn’t always pretty, but sometimes you’ve got to do that when you’re not feeling 100 per cent.  

Lucy Shuker’s 11th Australian Open began with a 6-2, 6-2 loss to French Open finalist Momoko Ohtani. Shuker now turns her attention to Monday’s women’s doubles semi-finals, when she will attempt to reach a third Australian Open doubles final and her first partnering South Africa’s Kgothatso Monttjane. Shuker said:  

“I love playing here and it’s just a shame I didn’t bring my best game today. I went 2-0 and 40-0 up and then Ohtani started to settle into it. I think that if I’d had a bit more patience I probably could have been a bit more competitive. She defends very well, so there were times when I thought I’d almost won the point and then she digs out that extra ball. 

Shuker and Montjane face Colombia’s Angelica Bernal and Chile’s Macarena Cabrillana in their doubles semi-final, having beaten the same partnership twice in the last 10 days to reach the final of both of their Australian Open warm-up wheelchair tournaments. Shuker added: 

“I’m looking forward to the doubles and I love playing with KG. I think our games compliment each other really well.  We’ve got to two finals in the lead-in events after beating the same pair. They will be gunning for us, but hopefully we can dominate again and it’s one match at a time.”  

Monday’s second day of wheelchair tennis action will also feature the men’s doubles semi-finals, with Hewett and Reid beginning their men’s doubles title defence with a contest against Fernandez and Kunieda. 

Unbeaten in doubles competition in 2020, when they completed a career Grand Slam of titles together, Hewett and Reid saw their winning sequence come to an end against Fernandez and Kunieda last week at the Victorian Wheelchair Open, the first of two Australian Open lead-in tournaments.  

Looking ahead to Monday’s doubles semi-final. when he and Reid begin their quest for a British record-equalling 10th Grand Slam doubles title together, Hewett said: 

“It’s probably not the first round match we would have liked, having lost to them last week, but there was a lot of good in last week’s match to take forward into this week.” 

To find out more about the LTA’s work with disability tennis, head to www.lta.org.uk/play or email disabilitytennis@lta.org.uk. 

Photo courtesy of the LTA

https://www.stepcount.org.uk/blog/meet-the-walkers-richard

 

UK Sport has named Boccia UK Performance Coach and SDS Board Member Claire Morrison on their female coaches leadership programme. 

The programme seeks to increase female representation in Olympic and Paralympic sport with an objective of doubling representation in high performance sport by the Paris 2024 games. 

Claire has been named alongside 7 other coaches to lead a 6-month programme for the most promising coaches, offering key support, development and observation opportunities. The programme will focus on three key areas fundamental to coaching development journey – leadership, environment and transition. 

 Having been a key part of SDS throughout the years, Claire joined us as a National Development Officer following a work placement with sportscotland. Despite leaving in 2013 to join Boccia UK, she soon became a Board Member, a post she remains in to this day. 

 Speaking of her new role, she said: 

 “It is great that UK Sport have not only recognised that there is an imbalance here but that they have committed to promoting change. I have always been lucky to be inspired, guided and supported by women in leadership roles. Having a visibility of female coaches in performance coaching roles will hopeful help people realise what is possible and inspire them to go on that journey.” 

 Everyone at SDS congratulates Claire on being recognised in this manner and we look forward to seeing the impact her expertise and passion for coaching have on these young coaches. 

My name is Joseph Graham.

First of all, I’m honoured to be the face of Disability Darts Scotland. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the support, encouragement and acceptance of my teammates, Kerry, wee Jojo and Ted McMillan.

After a horrific stabbing and a massive stroke, I was left permanently disabled when I was 20.

I lost the sight in my left eye and the ability to use the right side of my body. I needed to learn to walk, talk, swallow and even tell the time again.

My life became a struggle, stuck in an isolated existence of Post Traumatic Stress, relentless recovery and unwanted limitation, but finding the right help led me to discover real courage.

I contacted Ted McMillan and asked him to visit me in my home three times but I cancelled each time before I used my courage to go to the Cawburn myself to meet him.

That was just over a year ago. This decision changed my life, leading me to finding purpose and inclusion again. I trusted myself, which has paid of massively as earlier this year I was picked to play darts for my country.

I cannot begin to convey how much this means to me. Darts has been a privilege and a boost for my self belief despite having to learn to throw with my left hand…..which is not easy for a right handed person!

Not only do I play for Disability Darts Scotland, I also play mainstream darts for the Cawburn Railroaders every week.

Darts is not just a sport to me, it is a fundamental part of my ongoing recovery and belief in humanity. It’s freedom, inclusion, acceptance and the message that darts is for everyone and it’s fun!

Following on from ‘Sweep and Slide’, Scottish Curling are excited to announce a Wheelchair Curling specific evening, with Paralympic Coach Sheila Swan and members of the Team GB Paralympic Squad.  This event is designed to give all attendees an overview of this discipline, as well as some insights and tips for those who already wheelchair curl from those at the top of the game.

This webinar is free to members of Scottish Curling, SWCA and members of any Scottish Disability Sport SGB club or programme. Full details can be found on the website here:

https://www.scottishcurling.org/clubs-members/curl-up/curl-up-wheelchair-curling-with-the-paralympic-squad/

Innovating our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic through sport and exercise

Friday 26th February 2021, online

University of the West of Scotland’s Sport, Exercise and Health Innovation Conference, is the first of its kind to take place in Scotland. Supported by Scottish Enterprise, this new and exciting conference will bring together academic researchers, practitioners, investment funders, start-ups, public and private sector providers and government and local authority policy makers who are involved in developing and delivering sport, exercise and health products and services.

It aims to represent the leading edge for professional development and networking in the areas of applied sport science, sports medicine, and innovation. It will encompass developments from important Scottish industrial sectors including health, technology and engineering; food and drink; textiles; tourism; and life sciences and biotech. Overall, the Conference has a cross cutting theme which addressees many of the areas identified within the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework, most specifically ‘Health and Wellbeing’.

Full information can be found here:

https://www.uws.ac.uk/about-uws/academic-schools/school-of-health-life-sciences/division-of-sport-and-exercise/sport-exercise-and-health-innovation-conference/