Information Bulletin
26 April 2004
Shetland Gymnastics takes a leap forward
Scalloway School Games Hall was bustling with activity on Saturday and Sunday with taster sessions for gynmastics, led by three visiting coaches from Scottish Gymnastics.
Over 25 children from ages seven upwards took part in the sessions on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, learning basic skills and progressions such as cartwheels, vaulting, forward rolls, display routines and paired balance work. Aroung ten interested adults also took part, assisting with coaching and supervising individual activities.
Gymnastics is considered to be an activity that take sin some of the most fundamental elements of physical education - co-ordination, balance, strength and flexibility. Saturday also saw a six hour specialist course for local PE teachers, with a specific emphasis upon teaching gymnastics in schools.
The purpose of the weekend was to raise the profile of gymnastics in Shetland and to generate local interest in the sport. The visit was also linked to preparations for the 2005 NatWest Island Games, which has a long established gymnastics programme. It has been proposed that the 2005 gymnastics event also includes a 'development' competition for the first-time gymnastics participants, such as Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles.
Lynn Milne, President of Scottish Gymnastics, and one of the visiting coaches, felt the weekend's objectives had been achieved - "There was an excellent turn-out of enthusiastic children and adults for the weekend which bodes well for the future of gymnastics in Shetland."
With the interest shown this weekend, Scottish Gymnastics plans a return visit to Shetland later this year, during the weekend of 10th/12th September, to deliver a Foundation Level Coaching Course. It is hoped that this introductory coaching course may support the formation of the local club and could also be linked to gymnastics workshops and a schools competition on the same visit.
This project has been co-ordinated by the Community Development Service of Shetland Islands Council and Scottish Gymnastics and is part-funded by the Scottish Executive's 'Quality of Life' initiative.