A GROUP of youngsters have been learning how to take part in a Paralympic sport.
Year 11 students from Carr Hill High School & Sixth Form Centre were given a course in the sport Boccia, which is a precision ball sport – very similar to bowls.
Delivered by Stephen Furber, the students and a few members of staff took part in the course, teaching them the rules of the game and how to umpire it, giving the students the ability and confidence to be able to teach Boccia to other students and particularly those with Special Education Needs.
The game involves six players at a time and the aim is to throw coloured leather balls as close as they can to a white target ball or jack. The balls can be moved with hands or feet or if the competitor’s disability is severe with an assistive device such as a ramp.
The information that students have been taught about Boccia is now enabling them to go into local specialist school, Pear Tree in Kirkham. The students are going in every Wednesday to deliver the sport to the students at Pear Tree, increasing their skill set and getting them involved with a Paralympic sport open to people of all abilities.
Student, Tom Callinson said: “I thought I’d take part in the course because it is rewarding to teach others how to play the sport, in particular disabled children.
“It is a great sport and allows everyone to get involved. It is simple to learn and good fun, I even think it should be introduced into the curriculum.”
PE teacher has been leading the Boccia incentive and will be accompanying the students into Pear Tree School.
He said: “The students have really enjoyed the course and are now looking forward to teaching Boccia to other students. Getting the students involved in something like this helps to give them experience of working with others and improves valuable life skills.”
At the end of the course, each student is given a Boccia Leader Award. Due to the great response from students, Mr Doughty is in the process of starting a Boccia club at school to get more students involved in the sport.
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Developing Skills in a New Sport
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