Sportivate Helps Young People in Bristol to Try Futsal!
Sportivate is a nationwide campaign that is capturing the excitement of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by providing opportunities for teenagers and young adults (aged 14-25) to receive coaching in a sport of their choice and guide them into regular participation within their community.
Sportivate is organised and managed by the West of England Sport Trust (Wesport) who are the County Sport Partnership for the West of England Area.
The activities take place throughout the year across the West of England. The activities on offer cover a wide range of sports, ranging from netball, rugby, football and dance, through to cheerleading and yoga.
Bristol City Council are working with the West of England Sport Trust (Wesport) to deliver a number of Sportivate projects ranging from Basketball, Dance, Football and Sailing sessions. These sessions can be seen on Get Active Wesport (Wesport’s Club, Facility and Activity Database) by searching ‘Sportivate’.
In partnership with Bridge Learning Campus, Bristol City Council and Wesport, Bristol City Community Trust has provided young people in Bristol the opportunity to take up sport as part of the legacy promises made by organisers of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Bristol City Community Trust has used the Sportivate funding to provide sustainable sporting opportunities in futsal.
The FIFA recognised format of five-a side football is the way children in Brazil and Spain learn to play football. The simple formula of fewer players and a smaller pitch ensures players touch the ball more often and have to make more decisions. Already growing in England, the sport is set to explode across the country and The Trust is at the centre of the work in Bristol.
Yet to be named an Olympic sport, there have been numerous campaigns to make futsal an Olympic sport in time for London 2012. Although this seems to have been overlooked, there are fresh efforts across the world to ensure futsal is part of the 2016 Games in Brazil.
The regular futsal sessions which have been held at Bridge Learning Campus and run by the Trust’s England International Ian Parkes, have been a huge success. The aim of ensuring participation in the Sportivate sessions becomes sustainable has been successfully achieved. Since being introduced to the game, the eight players pictured have now signed up to enter a team into a regular Futsal Youth League soon to be held at Action Indoor Sports in Whitchurch.
This project has also explored the Olympic and Paralympic values of respect, excellence, friendship, courage, determination, inspiration and equality, with the young people learning important life skills through their participation in this new sport.
Sarah Mcleod, Wesport Sportivate Lead said:
“This project demonstrates how local community organisations can really make the most of the Sportivate funding on offer in the West of England. Bristol City Community Trust ran an incredibly successful futsal project, this success was very clear to see, with all 8 participants committing to continue participating regularly in a Youth League as a result of the Sportivate sessions.”
For more information about Sportivate please visit www.wesport.org.uk/sportivate or contact Sarah Mcleod - Wesport Project Officer (Sportivate, Coaching & 2012) Email: Sarah.Mcleod@uwe.ac.uk or Direct Tel: 0117 328 6265.
