BSUK delivers softball in schools through Matalan and the Youth Sport Trust
Tue 25 Oct 2011
The new school year is well under way and BaseballSoftballUK is continuing to work with the Youth Sport Trust and clothing retailers Matalan on the delivery of Matalan yoUR Activity, part of the Matalan Sporting Promise initiative.
Matalan yoUR Activity is already proving to be a huge success for BSUK, with secondary schools in the North West, London and the South East delivering softball activity to young people through the programme.
BSUK has developed specific resources for the programme, in the form of an interactive DVD that supports training directed at school staff and young people. The aim is to get more young people at secondary level involved in leading and coaching sessions in softball and creating out-of-hours clubs to grow participation.
Expansion
Softball is one of only nine sports involved in this programme, which aims to expand to more than 400 schools next year.
Matalan Sporting Promise Programme Ambassador Sir Steve Redgrave defined the aims of the programme when he said: “Matalan yoUR Activity concentrates on secondary schools and on young people who may not want to do traditional mainstream sports.”
BSUK sees the Matalan Sporting Promise initiative as a way of engaging a whole new generation of young players with softball. And thanks to Matalan, BBF and BSF adult members can also benefit from exclusive discount offers that will be announced shortly.
Matalan Sporting Promise
Matalan Sporting Promise, in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, is committed to getting more young people taking part in more sports.
The programme consists of two strands of work. The first aims to support primary school teachers in improving the PE experience for all children through the Matalan TOP Sport strand.
The second, which is where BSUK involvement is concentrated, will engage young people at secondary level by giving them the opportunity to take part in non-traditional sporting activities through the Matalan yoUR Activity strand.
The nine sports involved in this strand are parkour, ultimate frisbee, orienteering, street cheer, dodgeball, rowing, jump rope, tchoukball and softball.
For more information visit www.matalansportingpromise.co.uk.
