Category: A News

LDS Archery Expert Takes on Charity Walk

Long-time Lothian Disability Sport (LDS) Archery Co-ordinator, Coach and enthusiast Richard Vallis is looking to raise funds for LDS and two other charities close to his heart.

Richard has been involved with LDS for over 25 years and has coached countless athletes with a disability while also mentoring many coaches along the way!

Richard, who is himself an above the hip amputee, aims to walk 100 laps of his garden which equates to around 6km and will keep him extremely active during lockdown!

You can show your support towards Richard’s effort by following the link to his Crowdfunder page below. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/three-charities-walk?fbclid=IwAR12Xn5ShXLzOMEHz030caL70B_ewt8-t0tWhDUsB6pHFe06A0CaMD4iED4

If you are interested in becoming involved with Lothian Disability Sport as an athlete, coach, volunteer or committee member then please contact LDS Officer Jack Brodie on admin@lothiandisabilitysport.com or 07885 549 173.

Glasgow Wheelchair Tennis Starlet selected for LTA Support Programme

A promising young tennis player from Baillieston, Glasgow, has been selected for the LTA’s top support programme for junior wheelchair players.

Robertson, 15, is one of 12 high potential players chosen for the LTA Wheelchair National Age Group Programme (NAGP), which provides a variety of coaching, competition and educational support.

The programme is designed to educate and develop players as they transition through the LTA’s World Class Wheelchair Tennis Performance Pathway, allowing them to be best prepared to become elite international athletes.

As part of the NAGP, Robertson will have access to training and tournament guidance from LTA coaches, training camps, home training visits from LTA coaches and support to maintain a sport/life balance.

Robertson began playing wheelchair tennis at Scotstoun Leisure Centre in Glasgow when she was 11 and in normal circumstances she would still attend weekly wheelchair tennis sessions at Scoutstoun. However, webinars organised by the LTA have been an important part of her routine during lockdown

She is a three-time Scottish junior champion and in 2018 won the junior doubles title at the LTA’s British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships with fellow Scot Ruari Logan.

Players who continue to show high potential at the end of their NAGP support will advance to the next stage of the pathway, the World Class Wheelchair Tennis Performance Programme, which currently supports multiple Grand Slam champions Gordon Reid, Alfie Hewett, Jordanne Whiley and Andy Lapthorne.

Rob Cross, LTA Wheelchair Performance Head Coach, said: “I would like to congratulate Ellie on her selection for the NAGP this year. She has shown great potential and now has access to a fantastic package of support which will hopefully allow her to develop even further, both as a player and a person. While we have a track record of producing high performing wheelchair tennis players in this country, the standards of the sport across the world continue to advance and this programme is designed to help us stay ahead of the pack and maximise the potential of our best players. The LTA World Class Wheelchair Tennis Performance Pathway provides a seamless route for our highest potential players to progress from junior competition to playing major tournaments. I wish Ellie and the other players selected for the NAGP every success as they continue their journey this year.”

Robertson said: “I am delighted about being picked for the NAGP, I am aware of the work and commitment that being part of this group will ​involve and will give 100 per cent dedication to it. I am really excited to be part of the group and look forward to the opportunities it will bring.”

For more information about the LTA Player Pathway and ten-year Performance Strategy, visit www.lta.org.uk.

South Lanarkshire Disability Sport – nominations have re-opened!

2019 Sports Performer Awards:

For a limited time, South Lanarkshire Disability Sport are once again welcoming nominations for the 2019 Sports Performer of the Year Awards.

This is a great opportunity to recognise the sporting achievements of 2019 and if you missed out first time round you can submit a nomination by clicking the link below.

All applications already received will be considered and there is no need to reapply.

Good luck to all nominees.

South Lanarkshire Disability Sports – Sports Performer and Team of the Year 2019 nomination form

*Closing date for online entry will be Monday the 18th May 2020 and winners will be announced on Monday the 25th May 2020.

Fife athlete making the most of his home environment

Staying home and staying active is the key message of the moment. The Taylor family has adapted the side entry point to their home to create a perfect training environmenet for Carter. This is a time for creative thinking and this a perfect example of what can be achieved with a little bit of quality home DIY.

Strength and conditioning training is so important to Carter as a top classs water skier, swimmer and athlete and this is clearly evident by his upper body definition. Carter has his own indoor gym thanks to generous support from friends. The pull ups bar is a brilliant addition to the training stations he now has available at home.

Thanks for sharing Taylor family and well done Carter.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

A Message from the Goalball Family to the World

Firstly, a massive thank you to two of Winchester Goalball Club’s finest, Geoff Harmer, for putting this brilliant video together, and Adam Knott, for playing the music for the Goalball Family to ‘sing’ along to.

We hope that you all enjoyed watching the Goalball Family version of Three Little Birds as much as we did making it.

We wanted to share something that was fun and a little bit silly, but also has positivity and togetherness in abundance. The lyrics to this song offer us all a message of hope that we can get through this together, as well as the motivation to come out the other side to the best of our ability.

Please keep reaching out to us via the usual channels and sharing what you have been getting up to. We hope that everyone is staying safe. http://goalballuk.com/

 

Online Coach Workshops

During lockdown, SDS is providing the opportunity for coaches to explore different concepts in short segments online.

The session themes have been selected to meet requests from coaches over the past year. There is no cost for these sessions – apart from your time.

If you are unable to attend on the specified dates and times, the content will be available to stream after each session.

You can register on the form below, or for more information please contact us on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Inclusion Activity Cards

Do you need new ideas to continue being active, or would you like to know where to start? We have produced these activity cards which will are now available to download from our website here.

The cards were originally aimed at people leading sessions but also work brilliantly for us all in our homes. There are a number of activities which could be used:

  • in a warm-up;
  • to introduce fundamental skills;
  • for striking and fielding type activities and games;
  • for net, court and wall-based games; and
  • for invasion games.

Each card identifies the different ways in which the STEP – Space, Task, Equipment, People – principle can be applied to modifying, adapting and progressing a session, and provides specific top tips relating to the effective inclusion of participants with impairments.

The STEP Principle video provides more information:

The Activity Inclusion Model video highlights inclusion in physical activity and sport:

You can download the PDF here: STEP and AIM

Over the next few weeks we will show how we have adapted the activities to do at home. For example:

  • Use socks instead of ball
  • Use a ribbon or old shirt for a target.

The most important thing is to have fun, fun and more fun!

Reason to be cheerful for Disability Sport Fife

To day I am delighted to report that we now have over 6,000 Facebook followers. Prior to lock down the 2020 Annual Awards and AGM of DSF (SCIO) was set for Monday 27th April. Not surprisingly it has been postponed but I had set a target of trying to attract 6,000 followers by the date of the AGM. Thanks to your support and feedback we have hit the target and I thank you most sincerely for your loyalty. We are still pursuing 6,000 “likes” but we require another 100 visitors to click the “like” button before we can have a double celebration.

I am pleased that we are followed by visitors from all over the world. It is particularly pleasing when participants, support staff and volunteers who have moved on return to pass comment on a particular article. To days article on the 2009 Games has brought a lot of retired Fife Council staff, athletes and volunteers back in touch. Facebook is the main communication platform for Disability Sport Fife and during lock down it has become even more influential and important.

My mission is to try and keep the Facebook page fresh. More recently I have been featuring junior members, DSF coaches, DSF volunteers and great occasions from the past that have influenced our movement. I obviously report news and highlight ways in which our members are active at home. I share news and activities from other areas and organisations and highlight opportunities for our participants and volunteers to be active at home. Fife Sports and Leisure Trust gym staff and others have been particularly active along with DSF coach Pamela Robson plus son Olly. Pamela is also providing zoom sessions for our younger members. It is hugely important that our members and friends try to remain active at home during lock down.

Once again thank you for your support. Please share details about our page with your friends and families. If you can afford the time there is a section on the page that offers you the opportunity for feedback. Stay home and stay safe. The family will be together again soon.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

Para badminton role model retains Fife title

Mary Wilson lives in Edinburgh but for a period lived in Fife and during that time she became member of Disability Sport Fife. Mary has never lost her affection for DSF and over the years has competed in the Fife Track and Field Championships, Fife Lawn Bowls Championships, Fife Swimming Championships and Fife Badminton Championships.

Mary is an all rounder but her first love is Para badminton and over the past five years or so she has committed fully to trying to secure a place in Team GB for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Mary has travelled extensively to international Para badminton events to gain experience and ranking points. Mary has fund raised vigorously to enable this to happen and I am sure would be the first to say thank you to the many individuals and organisations that have helped her along the way.

Disability Sport Fife considers Mary a perfect role model for women’s sport and consequently values her presence at any event she is available to enter. Her positive influence on DSF members on the court or field of play is of the highest order. Not only is Mary an exceptional sportswoman but the manner in which she conducts herself rubs off on all our other sportswomen in particular.

Mary is captured in this photo receiving the Fife Ladies Open badminton trophy from guest of honour Julie Hogg, at the 2020 Fife Badminton Championships held at Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

Congratulations to GASC coach

Disability Sport Fife was pleased to see retired Fife Council teacher Helen McKay being recognised for her volunteering work as a teacher and coach with Glenrothes Amateur Swimming Club.

The occasion was the Kirkcaldy & Central Fife Sports Council annual awards at Fife College earlier in the year. Helen is a very popular and highly valued member of the GASC team and it came as no surprise she was recognised on the night. Helen is inclusive in ethos and practice and DSF members who are members of GASC have benefitted from her support and experience.

There was a period when Helen was part of the Disability Sport Fife swim coaching team offering support for adult improvers at Cupar Swimming Pool. Responsibilities with GASC increased and understandably Helen had to leave the DSF team but her influence at the time was very significant.

I captured Helen on the night in this photo with Paul Noble MBE, Treasurer and Trustee of Disability Sport Fife (SCIO). Congratulations Helen.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees