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Leisure Development Services
 SPORTS
DEVELOPMENT
The Sports Development Section provides East Ayrshire residents with
opportunities to become involved in the world of sport at a level which
is best suited to their circumstances and aspirations.
Sports Development Team
Rugby Development Officer
SFA Community Coach
Youth Sports Development Officers
Club, Coach and Volunteer Development Officer
Sports Motivators
Events/Initiatives
Sports Council
Sports Coaching
Professional Advice
Internal/External Partners
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games - Show your support
Sports Development Team
East Ayrshire’s Sports Development team goes by the brand name
of New Sporting Futures. The team is set-up to deliver sport across 3
main themes: Priority Sports, Priority Groups and Sporting Infrastructure.
PRIORITY SPORTS:
The Sports Development Team delivers a range of Sport-Specific Programmes
including:
• Sports-Specific
Participation Centres for Athletics, Basketball and Football.
• School-Based Sports
Coaching, Leagues and Competitions for various sports including Rugby,
Basketball, Athletics and Football.
• Holiday
Sports Programmes that provide either taster sessions in sports such
as Golf and Tennis or more developmental programmes for Basketball and
Athletics.
PRIORITY GROUPS
The Sports Development Team has in recent years been responsible for the
development of several high profile activities and programmes which target
specific groups and communities, including:
• Premier
Night League Programme which offers informal football activities on
most Friday nights of the year in 7 venues throughout East Ayrshire.
• The Streetsport Express which is a mobile sports unit operating
during April to September each year
• StreetSport Cages are outdoor multi-use games areas that have
been installed in 19 communities of East Ayrshire (this will soon rise
to 21). The sports team offer weekly
night time football and basketball activities at these facilities
throughout the year.
• The Sports Development Team offers work experience opportunities
to young people throughout the year. An alternative curriculum programme
is also delivered on an annual basis which enables young people to participate
in a range of activities and learn skills that could help them pursue
a career in sport or leisure.
• Tailored programmes of sport and active leisure are delivered
to a range of excluded groups across East Ayrshire, including Rathbone,
East Ayrshire’s Youth Strategy; and an intensive programme to engage
young people accommodated within one East Ayrshire’s Residential
Units in local sports clubs and activities.
SPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE
The Sports Development Team is responsible for assisting with the local
development of Clubs, Coaches and Volunteers –
otherwise known as the sporting infrastructure. Without well qualified
coaches and volunteers the Sports Development Team would not be able to
deliver any of the above programmes. Similarly, strong voluntary sports
clubs are essential in ensuring that opportunities exist for both participation
and excellence level sport.
This includes the organisation of Coach
Education programmes, Child Protection procedures for sports clubs
and providing advice on issues such as Funding and Club Development.
This work is carried out in partnership with East Ayrshire Sports Council
which offers Sports Clubs the opportunity to access free or reduced access
to coach education; regular updates & bulletins in relation to Sports
Development and access to Grant Aid.
None of the work of East Ayrshire’s Sports Development Team is
delivered in isolation. The development of dynamic, honest, and trusting
multi-agency partnerships is central to the success of the programmes
listed above. The key partners involved in the work of Sports Development
locally include other Leisure Development projects and teams, Strathclyde
Police, East Ayrshire’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team and Social Work
Services, local voluntary sports clubs and national Governing Bodies of
Sport.
Rugby Development Officer
The post of Rugby Development Officer is held by Chris Murphy. His role
is to recruit and educate coaches, increase participation and improve
performance in the sport of rugby.
Activities currently provided are:
- New image rugby sessions at primary schools
- Contact rugby sessions at secondary schools
- Primary and Secondary School Festivals
- Secondary Schools Cup
- Coach Education Courses
The current progression route for young rugby players in East Ayrshire
is
S1/S2 Pathway Teams
Under 15's Ayrshire Kestrels
Glasgow Under 16's
Glasgow Under 18's
Click here
for the Ayrshire schools league tables and results
For further information contact Rugby
Development Officer
SFA Community Coach
The development of our national sport is essential for the future success
at the highest level and locally the role of the Community Coach is highly
significant in developing grass roots participation. The post is currently
held by Paul McDonald who is based at Kilmarnock Football Club.
East Ayrshire has a very healthy programme of community football-related
activities and caters for pre-school, primary school, secondary school,
special educational needs and adults. The range of activities on offer
varies from basic participation centres to more specific advanced coaching
centres and from fun festivals to representative squads.
There is also an extensive programme of football coaching organised during
the school holiday periods and links have been established with the local
boys club associations.
Recognising the growth in popularity of football among girls and women
in Scotland there is also a specific programme in place for this group.
Girls’ Participation Centres are available for 5 – 12 year
olds in various venues throughout East Ayrshire where the emphasis is
on learning the skills of the game in a fun and safe environment. Building
on this early participation, there is a Development Squad Programme which
focuses on technical and tactical development of female footballers at
U13 and U15/17 age groups. East Ayrshire also boasts a highly successful
Women’s Football Club – FC Kilmarnock who field senior teams
in the Premier and Divisional Scottish Leagues in addition to a junior
section for U11, U13, U15 and U17.
Throughout the whole programme Kilmarnock FC, SFA and East Ayrshire Council
are promoted individually and as a strong partnership. The role of the
local professional football club is significant in encouraging healthy
lifestyles amongst young people and various projects have been implemented
in the community.
Add to this a comprehensive programme of coach education courses for adults
and East Ayrshire's investment in the SFA Community Scheme, in conjunction
with Kilmarnock FC, definitely promotes the collective slogan that "WE
MAKE A DIFFERENCE". For more information contact Paul
McDonald
Youth Sports Development Officers
The posts of Youth Sports Development Officers are held by Lindsay McMahon
and Louise West. Their role is to allow more young people the opportunity
to participate in sport and physical recreation.
Activities currently
provided are:
Sports specific development programmes are also on offer. Young people
are selected to attend development camps where they receive high quality
coaching and information on topics such as nutrition and injury provision.
The key sports are:-
- Basketball
- Badminton
- Athletics
For further information contact the Youth
Sport Development Officers.
Club, Coach and Volunteer Development Officer
The Club, Coach and Volunteer Development Officer Post is part of the
New Sporting Futures Project. His role is to support sports clubs and
help them to develop and become strong sustainable providers of quality
sporting activity.
The Club, Coach and Volunteer Development Officer will support clubs
by:
- Providing advice on organisational structures including constitutions,
management structures and development plans.
- Giving advice and direction on funding both locally and nationally.
- Guidelines on Child Protection
- Booklets providing advice and guidance to volunteers and coaches at
clubs
Coaches are supported through:
- Sports Specific Coach Education Courses
- Generic Coach Education Courses such as Sports Coach UK and First
Aid
- Mentoring and Employment opportunities
- Tracking and support to ensure progression and development through
Coachbase
Volunteers are given advice and support through:
- Generic Education Courses
- Supporting resources like Child Protection Guidelines
The Club, Coach and Volunteer Development Officer also sits on the Executive
Committee of East Ayrshire Sports Council, the representative body for
sports clubs in East Ayrshire. East Ayrshire Sports Council is a volunteer
driven body that supports clubs and acts as a voice for all affiliated
voluntary clubs in East Ayrshire. The Sports Council awards grants to
sports clubs for Starter grants, Development grants, Equipment grants
and Event sponsorship as well as presenting awards to individuals and
clubs for outstanding contributions and achievements in sport. These annual
awards include The Jim Higgins Youth Sports Personality Award, Service
to Sport Award and Performance of the Year Award.
For further info see Sports
Council or contact Club,
Coach & Volunteer Development Officer
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games -
Show your support
A campaign to encourage the whole of Scotland to back the bid to bring
the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Scotland has been launched. Scotland faces
competition to host the 2014 from Abuja, Nigeria, and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The Commonwealth Games Federation will announce the name of the 2014 host
city in Sri Lanka in October 2007. To show your support please click on
the logo which will take you to the official Glasgow 2014 site.
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