Press Release
Primary Athletics Zone for Shetland pupils
An exciting new project is kicking off this month across Shetland for children in Primary 5, 6 and 7. “Athletics Zone” is a joint project between Active Schools, Shetland Recreational Trust and Shetland Amateur Athletics Club and is a fun introduction to athletics for pupils of all abilities.
Athletics Zone is taking place from January to March in Unst, Whalsay, Aith, Scalloway, Lerwick and Sandwick. A large indoor athletics event is scheduled for Sunday 18 March where all the Athletics Zone children will be invited to take part in individual and team competitions.
At the sessions, children will be able to try out a range of activities including “speed bounce”, vertical jumps, the javelin and relay races. The races are a real favourite as children get to use the ‘reversa boards’ which rebound them when making their turn at each end of the hall.
Leisure Centre Staff and volunteers recently took part in training delivered by Martin Leyland and Elaine Park from the Athletics Club who also created a resource pack based on the Sportshall programme and Scottish Athletics’ Run, Jump and Throw activities. The Athletics Zone leaders will use this pack to deliver the sessions.
James Johnston, Active Schools Manager said, “we are delighted to be working in collaboration with the Athletics Club and Recreational Trust to provide this opportunity for more young people to take part in Athletics and provide a pathway to the club itself.”
The project forms part of Shetland Amateur Athletics Club development plan and Elaine Park said:
“The Club has been looking for new ways to bring athletics to potential athletes across Shetland and working alongside Active Schools and the Shetland Recreational Trust has turned this project into reality. We are really excited to see what young talent this initiative brings out among the upper primary age group at the competition in March. We are also delighted to see a voluntary coaching commitment to the project in Brae and Sandwick”
Shetland Recreational trust have provided the main source of staff for the project and scheduled Athletics Zone in to their programming in many centres. Diane Legget, Health and Fitness Manager said:
“Athletics in Shetland has developed to a very high standard over the years and produced some top class performers. Along with the sporting achievements, children have benefited from being able to participate in track and field events both within and outwith Shetland, providing opportunities to compete and giving them a core element of fitness which carries across to all other sports they may partake in. We are keen to establish development programmes to encourage new participants, offering them springboard courses using our excellent facilities and staff expertise”.
For more information contact your local leisure centre or by calling Active Schools on 01595 744 006