Child-first coaching celebrated at wheelchair basketball session
Activity Alliance CEO Adam Blaze was amongst those present at a wheelchair basketball session led by Paralympian Siobhan Fitzpatrick as part of the Play Their Way campaign.
With Paralympic action in Paris capturing the attention of the nation, GB Paralympian Siobhán Fitzpatrick joined the Play Their Way campaign in the West Midlands for a special wheelchair basketball session with young players from her former club. The Warwickshire Cubs held a training session to highlight the vital role child-first coaches play in helping disabled children and young people have positive and enjoyable experiences of sport.
The Loughborough Lightning player, who was part of the Team GB Wheelchair Basketball team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, took part in the inclusive session with disabled and non-disabled young players at North Solihull Leisure Centre. The event was also supported by Activity Alliance as one of the founding members of the Children’s Coaching Collaborative (CCC) – the collection of organisations behind the Play Their Way campaign. The CCC aims to build a nation of child-first coaches where the individual needs, rights and enjoyment of children are prioritised in sport and physical activity.
Recent research by UK Coaching highlighted that 81% of young people said that being coached increased their enjoyment of sport, with almost two thirds saying it made them less likely to drop out of it. Those currently coaching disabled children are often already embedding child-first principles, such as making efforts to understand a child’s individual needs and adapting to their feedback - providing a blueprint for other coaches to learn and develop from. A child first approach, which focuses on the individual needs of children and young people is regarded as even more critical to giving disabled children positive experiences of sport and physical activity.
Adam Blaze, Chief Executive, Activity Alliance, said:
"We know how important a child-first coaching approach, where fun and enjoyment are prioritised, is to increasing physical activity levels for disabled children and young people.
“In many cases those with experience of coaching disabled children naturally deliver a child-first experience. It is so important that accessibility and inclusion are built in to what we’re doing, and how we facilitate amazing positive experiences for children and young people is a great place to start.
“That’s why we are proud to be part of the Children’s Coaching Collaborative and the Play Their Way campaign to support coaches with whatever they need to help break down barriers. It will set them up to give all children equal opportunities to benefit from sport and physical activity and develop a lifelong love for it.”
The Play Their Way campaign was launched in 2023 to transform the way children and young people are coached by prioritising their rights, needs and enjoyment in a ‘child-first’ approach. The campaign is funded by Sport England and The National Lottery and is led by the 17 partner organisations that make up
The Warwickshire Cubs were founded in 2002 and run junior teams at under 10, under 14 and under 18 level. The club have a particular emphasis on giving older juniors the opportunity to coach and lead sessions for younger players to empower them and help build confidence. The setup has been designed to progress at each young person’s own pace, helping them forge their own path and support their peers through sport and physical activity. Junior players also lead sessions in local schools to help break down barriers and challenge misconceptions about wheelchair basketball and disability sport.
Siobhán Fitzpatrick, commented:
“It was brilliant to be back at my old club this morning and see how much the club has embraced a child-first approach to coaching young players. Coaches are key to disabled children enjoying sport and to both understanding and reducing the barriers to them taking part in it. I love how the young players are also encouraged and empowered to get involved with the coaching here and help shape the sessions – it’s brilliant for their self-confidence.”
Tom Masterton, Lead Coach, Warwickshire Cubs, added:
“We’ve seen a huge growth in the number of junior players at the club in recent years and a big part of that’s down to the strong focus we put on fun and enjoyment, both fundamental elements of child-first coaching, in the way that we run our sessions. We pride ourselves in putting our young people at the centre of their sporting experience and journey and encourage them to be proud of who they are. That’s so important to build confidence and self-esteem.”
The Play Their Way campaign was launched in 2023 to transform the way children and young people are coached by prioritising their rights, needs and enjoyment in a ‘child-first’ approach. The campaign is funded by Sport England and The National Lottery and is led by the 17 partner organisations that make up the CCC.
To learn more about the campaign, access resources and sign up to join the biggest grassroots movement to transform the way we coach our children and young people visit www.playtheirway.org.
