National News

Goalball World Championships & Taster Day

Sheffield, 20^th-25^th June

A Goalball Taster programme is going to be running alongside the World Championships that are being held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield from June 20th – 25th. The free programme is open to School and Community Clubs/Groups and will consist of a 1-hour ‘have a go’ practical session followed by the opportunity to watch a World

Championship game.

Click here for Information about the World Championships

Click here for Taster Booking form

2^nd GB Wheelchair Basketball Development Summer Camp

Dates & Times:

Starts 2.00pm Monday 16^th August & will finish 4.00pm Thursday 19^th August

Participants should arrive & check-in to accommodation by 1.30pm latest

Venue:

Stoke Mandeville Stadium – the home of Wheelchair Sport.

Double Sportshall, on site catering & accommodation will be provided in dorms & catering will include breakfast, lunch & dinner each day

Eligibility:

The camp is open to male & female players of all standards from beginners to experienced;

The camp is for players born between 1^st January 1989 & 31^st December 1996 – ages 13 – 21 years;

All participants must have a lower extremity (limb) disability. If you are uncertain about this or any issue with disability please contact us asap; All participants must be entirely independent & be able to undertake day to day activities without assistance

Coaches:

The camp will be led by GB appointed coaches including GB squad Head Coaches & Assistant Coaches & Club coaches

There will be a Coach Education programme where current & former GB players will undertake some of the coaching to complete their coach awards

Programme:

All FUNdamentals of the game will be covered with early morning skills sessions, individual skills to group/team coaching & match play situations in the evening; Specific stations will cover basic skills, speed & agility work, strength & conditioning, fitness & track sessions;

Players will be allocated to teams & play in 3-v-3 & team competitions each day; Shooting competitions will be held each day; Workshops will cover strength & conditioning advice, Nutrition & Performance Lifestyle;

Cost:

£60 inclusive – covers all above provision.

In addition, a small goodie bag will be provided

General:

A Checklist & full list of Rules & Regulations will be supplied to all participants allocated a place; Parents & Guardians are welcome to watch but players must remain independent & with the camp at all times

What to do now:

Complete the booking form attached & return it to the GB office by 18^th June 2010 with your payment of £60. Places will not be allocated until completed forms & full payment is received.

Payment is non-refundable

The camp is open to 70 players on a first come first served basis - don’t delay to reserve your place.

Once the camp is full, any applications received after will be placed on a reserve list in order of receipt

Click here for a booking form

First UK Wheelchair Challenge
Later this year the UK will host the very first UK Wheelchair Challenge: a charity event exclusively for wheelchair users over 1km or 3km. The inaugural UK Wheelchair Challenge is sponsored by GM Coachwork - Greater Mobility and will take place on Sunday 19th September 2010 at Tudor Grange Park, Solihull. The UK Wheelchair Challenge promises to be an ambitious, fun and welcome addition to the disabled sporting calendar. Not only will 250 entrants get the chance to socialise in a recreational environment, they can also raise money for their favourite disabled charity by getting themselves sponsored to take part.

Being a wheelchair user does not mean you can't be active or take part in an organised sporting event. The primary goals of the UK Wheelchair Challenge is therefore to motivate wheelchair users, encouraging them to get into sport and realise that they can set goals and challenges and reach them.

There will be two options open to entrants, both embracing a 'non-competitive/taking
part' philosophy and catering for all levels of wheelchair ability. The 1km distance will be suitable for all wheelchair users with the emphasis on giving it a go and proving to themselves what they are capable of achieving. The 3km option is a more challenging distance for disabled sportsmen and women (amateur) who have trained adequately for the event.

Although the overall aim at the UK Wheelchair Challenge is for participation there is the option in the 3km distance for entrants to add an extra incentive for completing the course by bringing along a watch and timing themselves. Then competitors can return the following year hoping to complete the course in an even quicker time. Both events will take place on a safe and scenic, purpose built course, suitable for anyone in a wheelchair or power chair, regardless of ability, and if they are unable to propel themselves, on the 1km wheelchair challenge a parent or carer can assist.

Click here for full story

Tennis Foundation

Tennis Foundation delegation investigates blind tennis in Japan
Tennis Foundation Director of Disability Tennis Claire Lavers and TF consultant coach David Knipe returned to the UK at the end of April after a five-day visit to Japan with three visually impaired tennis players and committee members from the Metro Blind Sports Club from London to further investigate the sport of blind tennis.

The delegation met Miyoshi Takei, who founded the sport in 1984, when he was a blind high school student and investigated the sport’s structure in Japan as part of plans to further its development in the UK. They also learnt more about how to coach blind players and expand existing coaching knowledge for visually impaired players.

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EFDS announce New CEO

A new Chief Executive and senior management team have been appointed to lead the organisation and deliver its new strategy to help build an enduring legacy for inclusive sport.

Professor David Croisdale-Appleby OBE, Chair of the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) - the umbrella body of sport for disabled people in England - is pleased to announce the appointment of Barry Horne as the new CEO and three new Directors.

Click here for full story

Motivation Chair

Motivation launch affordable Sports Wheelchair
UK based international disability and development organisation Motivation has developed an affordable sports wheelchair to encourage participation in wheelchair sports.

At an average price of over £1,000, sports wheelchairs are often out of the price range of many individuals. The Sports Wheelchair by Motivation is being launched at the Mobility Roadshow and is available at a fraction of the price of most sports wheelchairs.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) realised some years ago that there was a need to develop grass roots wheelchair sports in developing countries to enable teams of wheelchair basketball and tennis players to bring wheelchair sport in their country to a higher level. Some Paralympic sports rely heavily on equipment and therefore, to compete on a level playing field with teams that have all the facilities, access to affordable high quality wheelchairs is essential.

Click here for full story

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