On Thursday 7 June 2018 Scottish Disability Sport, in partnership with sportscotland, hosted the Better Movers & Thinkers and Bilateral Integration Workshop through the SDS National Coach Development Programme. The workshop was a huge success hosted in the Central region at Grangemouth High School. We were very fortunate to have the esteemed Dr Andrew Dalziell tutoring the workshop and sharing his knowledge and expertise in this field to coaches and volunteers from across the country .

Key Outcomes from this workshop included:

•  The importance of developmental factors in athlete performance.
• The impact that developmental factors can have on athlete’s performance
• The importance of Executive Function Skills (EFs) to everyday life
• Practical workshop demonstrating physical intervention exercises that can aid performance

With the ongoing success of the SDS National Coach Development Programme and the video conferencing links, Cheryl Lappin (Scottish Disability Sport RDM), Heather Lowden (Scottish Disability Sport Coaching and Education Manager) and the SDS regional team will be hosting additional disability specific workshops throughout 2018 – 2019. Details will be circulated in the coming months.

To find out more information on SDS Coach Development Programme or disability sport in Central Scotland, please contact: Cheryl Lappin – cheryl.lappin@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577 830360.

I wrote recently about the death of the great John Clark from East Lothian who excelled in wheelchair fencing and basketball and was also a world renowned coach of his time. John was the only wheelchair athlete I can recall who received the BANC Dextrosol coach of the year award. In addition John was a fine man who taught me so much when I switched from mainstream coaching to coaching athletes with disabilities in 1975.

Recently I spent an afternoon with Jean Stone MBE, honorary vice President of Scottish Disability Sport, and one of the most highly respected volunteers in international Para sport in the world. The Scottish Paraplegic Association (SPA) was the most influential organisation in the development of wheelchair sports in Scotland and Jean and John were leading volunteers within that organisation.

Jean and I discussed lots of subjects and reflected on the significant role played by John in the development of disability sport in general. John was a true champion and a friend to many. Planning and preparation were at the forefront of his daily routine. Volunteers do not come any more efficient than John and we have the journals to prove this. John will be sadly missed by many.

John Clark was one of the most influential and accomplished of Scottish wheelchair athletes who played a critical role in the development of all areas of disability sport in Scotland. I had the pleasure of working with him at multi sort training weekends at Tulliallan for the SPA and Scottish Spina Bifida Association. There was no more respected coach than John Clark

Outstanding Lothian Paralympic swimmer and wheelchair racer Wilma Lawrie wrote “An incredible, dedicated gentleman who changed and improved the lives of so many with his skill and knowledge. He encouraged, cajoled and celebrated our achievements with humour and gave so much time to disability sport. I feel honoured to have known John from my early teens when he first taught me fencing at school, and remember the training weekends with basketball, table tennis and swimming along with the morning warm ups on the parade ground at Tullialan, and the many years of Thursday evening pool sessions at St David’s HS, Dalkeith.”

Photo: John Clark – BANC coach of the year

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability sport Fife.

The Peak, Stirling Sports Village will play host to the 2018 Wheelchair Basketball Regional Junior Championships on Saturday 23^rd June.  The event will offer an exciting opportunity for young people from across the country to represent their region.

The Wheelchair Basketball Regional Junior Championships, sponsored by RGK wheelchairs and supported by Scottish Disability Sport and Lord’s Taverners, will provide the chance for existing players and individuals who are interested in trying the sport the opportunity to participate with other young people from across Scotland. 

There will be teams entered into the under 13 and under 19 age categories and all players will be supported throughout by an experienced coach in a fun and friendly environment.  Experience of playing the game is not essential.

Details of the event can be found below –

Date:     Saturday 23^rd June 2018

Venue: The Peak, Stirling Sports Village, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ

Time:    10am – 6pm

For further information or if you are interested in registering for this opportunity, please contact basketballscotland Disability Talent & Pathway’s Manager Tina Gordon on tina.gordon@basketball-scotland.com or 07734 845 950.

The event flyer can be downloaded below:

Accessible Table Tennis

Accessible Yoga

Broadwood Tennis

Chair Aerobics

Three weeks of taster sessions have been organised in partnership with Active Stirling, Scottish Power Chair Football Association, Scottish Disability Sport and Forth Valley Disability Sport.

Date of first session: Saturday 9th June 2018

• Time: 1.00pm – 3.00pm
• Venue: Wallace High School, Airthrey Road, Stirling FK9 5HW
• Age group: School age pupils and adults 16+ years

The hope is to develop a powerchair team which could compete with the National League and Scottish Cup.

If you or any individuals you know are interested please contact: graham.harvey@fvds.org.uk / 01786 466486

Sunday 8th July 2018
Grangemouth Stadium, Grangemouth. FK3 0EE 11.00am – 4.00pm

This year our event will be Special Olympics Scotland invitational and the day will also include the FPSG Scottish Athletics Sprint Relay Championships. Any Scottish Athletics affiliated athletes may submit an entry for the Sprint Relay Championships.

Please see attached list of events on offer and enter athletes accordingly. An athlete should be listed as Ambulant/PD, VI or LD along with their event and current best time or weight thrown and distance. Special Olympics athletes may throw 3Kg for women and 4Kg Special Olympics athletes wanting to compete at this level should input these weights on the entry form.

Athletes may enter a maximum of four events and one relay.

Events may be combined to make viable races however separate medals for LD, PD and VI will be awarded.

Please note the club throw is for athletes with a physical disability only. The softball throw and standing long jump are for lesser able athletes who cannot throw javelin or do a running long jump. Athletes entering the 50m event may not participate in 100m or 200m track events including the relays and athletes taking part in the walking events cannot compete in running events.

Please complete entry form and e-mail to forthvalleyflyers@btinternet.com entry fee for these will be collected on the day or post completed entries along with payment of £3.00 per athlete (made payable to Forth Valley Flyers AC) to:-

Ann Finlayson
24 Bruce Terrace
Cambusbarron
Stirling
forthvalleyflyers@btinternet.com
07886 600659

Closing date for entries Friday 25th June 2018

Forth Valley invite 2018

FVF Entry Form 2018

 

Disability Sport Fife (DSF) is working with the well-established and highly respected “Bums off Seats” programme, plus national partner Paths for All, to introduce health walks to the DSF programme of weekly sessions. DSF hopes to promote and encourage member organisations and individual athletes to take advantage of Bums off Seats local health walks that are currently available across Fife to all sections of the community.

This initiative is part of the Get Out and Get Active (GOGA) programme that DSF has signed up to with support from Scottish Disability Sport and Spirit of 2012. GOGA in Fife will inspire inactive children, young people and adults with a physical, sensory or learning disability, plus significant others, to access and enjoy active recreation inclusively. GOGA in Fife is inclusive in ethos and practice and will involve Disability Sport Fife key partners.

On behalf of GOGA in Fife, Vivienne McNiven from Active Fife tutored a third Walk Leaders Training Course at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre on Wednesday 23rd May. The overall plan is to identify a group of local people over the age of 18 who are trained to promote and lead inclusive health walks on an ongoing basis. A health walk is a short, local walk usually lasting between 30 and 60 minutes and ½ to 2½ miles long. Once trained, the attendees will join a network of over 6000 volunteers throughout the UK. The training is recognised by the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health.

In attendance at the most recent GOGA in Fife walk leaders course were representatives from West Fife Community Support Services, Auchmuty HS, Fife Cultural Trust, Fife Council Social Work Department etc. All attendees are committed to leading inclusive walks and/or encouraging inactive individuals with disabilities to be active. The most recent GOGA in Fife “walk in the park” attended by over 50 participants with severe and complex needs and their buddies is a clear indication that, offered the opportunity, there is a willingness among many to be active.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife