The Institute of Sport and Recreation Management
eNews
ISRM's email bulletin to the sport and recreation industry.
If you would like to be added to the eNews subscriber list, please email enews@isrm.co.uk with the subject title 'subscribe'.
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ISRM eNews issue 157: 18 June 2009 |
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The International Paralympic Committee, in partnership with the World Academy of Sport in Manchester, has created the IPC Academy to improve educational standards within sport throughout the Paralympic movement. It aims to ensure that executives, administrators and officials have an educational centre that is sensitive to their needs and in touch with trends and developments, providing world class programmes (read more). |
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Results of research conducted by Sport England reveal a high level of satisfaction from people taking part in grassroots sports. Regular participants from over 40 sports gave an overall satisfaction rating of 80.3 out of 100 across 10 areas, including coaching, exertion and fitness, officiating, facilities and value for money (read more). |
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Statistics show that the over-65 age group is the least active because they think it is too late to make a difference. Yet evidence shows that six months of regular exercise increased VO2 max by 30 per cent in 60 to 70-year-olds. Exercise even helps you live longer - Harvard University found that men who burned 2,000 calories a week through exercise lived two-and-a-half years longer, on average, than sedentary men (read more). |
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July 2010 sees the start of registration for the scheme with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) for new entrants and those moving jobs. From November 2010 it will be mandatory for those groups to have ISA registration before they start work. ISRM is heavily involved in influencing how the new scheme will work for those delivering sport (read more). |
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Sports technology institute at Loughborough A new sports technology institute at Loughborough University is using the latest scientific findings and research to improve sporting performance. It is hoped the £15m centre could make a significant difference to the 2012 medal tally. The ISRM has pledged to hold early talks to look for ways in which it can work in partnership with the sports technology institute (read more). |
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The British Journal of Sports Medicine's new guidelines say children and teens must be strictly monitored and activities restricted until injuries are fully healed. These restrictions include no return to the field of play, no return to school, and no cognitive activity (read more). |
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Burnham pledge on physical activity in the NHS New Health Secretary Andy Burnham has said he wants primary care trusts to put more money into swimming, gym sessions and cycling. He argues that disease prevention must become a major focus for the cash-limited NHS. 'I will make it a personal priority to embed in the NHS culture the promotion of physical activity,' he vowed (read more). |
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A partnership between the Government and sportswear giant Adidas to create gyms in the community is to be rolled out across England, following a successful launch in London (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 156: 4 June 2009 |
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The results are in for the 2008 CPD programme (read more). |
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Officials are facing concerns around security at the Commonwealth Games taking place in New Delhi next year (read more). |
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Recession hits activity levels in America Americans are cutting back on fitness activities and healthy eating in an attempt to save money during the economic downturn (read more). |
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Alcohol and trampolines – a recipe for disaster The British Medical Journal reports that as the summer arrives, there is likely to be an increase in children visiting hospital for trampoline-related injuries, especially after bouncing with adults who have been drinking (read more). |
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Forres Swimming Pool in Inverness was closed for two days following an incident where vandals drained thousands of gallons of water from the pool (read more). |
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BMJ - sport injury prevention and health protection The British Medical Journal Group will launch themed editions of the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) in September 2009. This move is supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 155: 21 May 2009 |
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Village-green cricket is under threat from a county court ruling (read more). |
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Following a number of deaths in the swimming stage of triathlons, experts are questioning whether the demands of the sport are too much for the average person (read more). |
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One in six people polled admitted that they have urinated in a pool (read more). |
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Table tennis gets a celebrity profile With A-list followers like Susan Sarandon, Matthew Broderick and Ed Norton, it seems the latest celebrity pastime – table tennis – is officially cool (read more). |
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The benefits of grassroots and community sponsorship are increasingly visible (read more). |
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The National Association of Karate and Marshall Arts Schools (NAKMAS) is supporting autism awareness initiatives (read more). |
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Ellie Simmonds: from Walsall Baths to the Olympics (read more). |
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The ISRM’s famous poolside poster ‘Will Patrons Kindly Refrain from….’ features on BBC1’s The One Show on 27th May at 7pm (read more). |
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Wanted – two female cold water swimmers A production company is seeking cold-water swimmers to act as body doubles (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 154: 6 May 2009 |
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Findings of the sports coach UK – Coaching Workforce 2009 – 2016 study (read more). |
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Free basketball training is being used in deprived areas of Leeds to improve the self esteem of youngsters (read more). |
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The government has produced an Outdoor Play Campaign Toolkit for local authorities (read more). |
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Research shows that 6,000 sports clubs are threatened with closure due to pressures of the recession (read more). |
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British handballers are moving to Germany for increased competition and improved funding (read more). |
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Practical guidelines on the control of noise in music and entertainment settings (read more). |
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ISRM has teamed up with The Leisure Database Company (read more). |
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Free outdoor gyms are steadily increasing in Britain's parks (read more). |
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Advice for community groups to help during the downturn (read more). |
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A new poster for Health and Safety Law is available now (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 153: 1 April 2009 |
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New workplace rights have come into force (read more). |
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UKSport is studying how the American NFL searches for future talent through psychologically profiling children (read more). |
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The future for the Beijing Bird's Nest and Water Cube is being debated (read more). |
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A u-turn means gardening and dance are to be included in physical activity targets (read more). |
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A Physical Activity Programme Board is to oversee the delivery of increased participation programmes (read more). |
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Conservatives champion school sport The Tories have promised an increased focus on school sport (read more). |
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The share of lottery cash to SportEngland has dropped from £213 million to £134 million in the past 10 years (read more). |
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What's the role of culture in the Olympics? A Guardian article asks the question (read more). |
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Government plans to fight obesity One year on, the Healthy Weight Healthy Lives report pledges further action (read more). See also Resources section below. |
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Vetting and barring scheme registration delayed Correspondence from the Head of Vetting and Safeguarding Policy Unit on the delayed introduction of vetting and barring scheme registration. (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 152: 25 March 2009 |
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How safe should sport be? Questions are being asked following the death of actress Natasha Richardson and a Scottish child's paralysis from playing rugby (read more here and here). |
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Women's sport is not receiving equitable media coverage or treatment, according to a report (read more). |
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The LGA calls for councils to ditch jargon in their communications (read more). |
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Sue Campbell is re-appointed as chair of UK Sport, and plans an end to disputes by governing bodies over funding (read more here and here). |
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The ISRM promotes university links (read more). |
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Healthy Food, Exercise, Keys to Cancer Prevention (read more). |
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Community sports clubs benefit from cuts in water utility charges (read more). |
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British Swimming agrees a £15 million sponsorship deal with British Gas (read more). |
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Playing fields are being safeguarded from development (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 151: 10 March 2009 |
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Increased physical activity in middle age reduces mortality to the same extent as stopping smoking (read more). |
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Up to £30 million is to be made available to fund grassroots sporting projects in London as part of the 2012 legacy (read more). |
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Innovative ideas are being sought for a piece of sports equipment, technique or programme to improve sports performance (read more). |
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Water coolers in gyms and leisure centres may be putting people’s health at risk (read more). |
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The risk of childhood asthma is doubled for those who have lengthy daily stints in front of the TV (read more). |
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The creator of a giant inflatable that killed two women at a fair has been convicted of breaching health and safety rules (read more). |
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A 25 per cent increase in deaths through obesity is just the tip of an unreported iceberg (read more). |
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Medical check-ups for men are to be provided at football matches (read more). |
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Find all the latest official news on the Olympic developments in the Podium newsletter (read more). |
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Governing bodies of sport are being urged to use government-funded apprenticeship programmes to replace funding cuts to athletes (read more). |
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Questions in the House of Commons What steps is the government taking to promote sport for people with a disability (read more)? What plans does the government have to assist local authorities to participate in the free swimming schemes (read more)? And what effect will holding Olympic events in Essex have on levels of participation in sport in the county (read more)? |
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ISRM eNews issue 150: 25 February 2009 |
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Vale of Glamorgan Council has launched a health and safety investigation after a 14-year-old girl sustained burns to 70 per cent of her body by using an unstaffed tanning booth (read more). |
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Doctors are amazed about a toddler who has made a normal recovery after 20 minutes at the bottom of a pool (read more). |
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The Daily Telegraph has called for a petition to prevent the closure of 60 UK sports facilities (read more). |
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The Republic of Ireland has seen a shift away from traditional Gaelic sports towards gyms (read more). |
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An unhealthy lifestyle more than doubles your risk of a stroke, a report has found (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 149: 11 February 2009 |
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A pilot scheme in Leeds is taking activities on to the streets as an alternative to gang culture (read more). |
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Two fifths of district councils reject 'free swimming' (read more). |
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Olympic funding from UK Sport has been finalised (read more). |
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Questions in the House of Commons What funds are available for people on low incomes (read more)? |
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Views from the USA on the formative roles of children's play (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 148: 3 February 2009 |
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How the Active Durham campaign is improving health through sport (read more). |
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The British Medical Journal has issued a warning on 'tan jabs' (read more). |
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Local authorities have been urged to think before banning ball games (read more). |
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The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) has reported a trend towards local authorities returning to using in-house services (read more). |
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Sports schemes for troubled youth criticised Audit Commission chairman Michael O'Higgins has claimed the government's grants to sports schemes for troubled youth are a 'dog's breakfast' (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 147: 28 January 2009 |
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Questions in the House of Commons The role of sport in the DCMS annual report (read more).Government support to community sports clubs (read more).Sport and health, with a comment from Len Almond (read more). |
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New direction for community sport Sport England's new Communities Directorate has a specific focus on local government and county sports partnerships (read more). |
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School sport is good for fitness, but how children eat and play at home is key to obesity rates, report finds (read more). |
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Some water companies have shown compassion to charities over water rates (read more). |
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Credit crunch affects golf and fitness Signs of the recession starting to bite have emerged in the Irish golf and fitness industry (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 146: 22 January 2009 |
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Is the government's latest pledge to cut obesity falling on deaf ears (read more)? |
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Safeguards are being put in place against repetitive head trauma from heading footballs (read more).
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The Liberal Democrats have criticised the government's achievement in getting minority groups involved in sport (read more). |
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A temporary pool is being used to provide swimming lesson opportunities for schools (read more). |
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Premier League football clubs are helping the government to boost sports participation by young people (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 145: 15 January 2009 |
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Little miss chatterbox? Girls and boys take part in play in different ways, study shows (read more). |
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Extreme dream North Cornwall District Council is using extreme sports to promote physical activity to young people (read more). |
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Helping hand British Handball is looking for support in Germany and Denmark (read more). |
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Scottish swimming There has been 'no progress' on national free swimming in Scotland, according to Scottish Labour (read more). |
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The nifty fifty The Telegraph has published 50 alternative ways to boost wellbeing without using a gym (read more). |
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Funding sport in the community Sport England Guidance on how SportEngland intends to distribute £213 million per year in community sport from April 2009 (resources). |
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ISRM eNews issue 144: 9 January 2009 |
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Judo throws weight around The British Judo Association has made its case for influencing participation in sport (read more).
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Winners and losers revealed The Active People Survey has revealed the winners and the losers in adult participation rates from 2006 to 2008 (read more). |
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Can the government really reduce obesity? The Change4Life campaign – a critical appraisal from The Independent newspaper (read more). |
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DCMS Games update A second Government Olympic Executive newsletter has been published (read more). |
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Olympic sports win funding SportEngland has awarded £480 million investment to 46 sports to deliver sporting opportunities for all (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 143: 17 December 2008 |
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More sport for all More people from lower socio-economic backgrounds are taking part in sport, according to the DCMS Taking Part survey (read more). Meanwhile, Sport England's Active People survey shows that half a million more people are playing sport in England than in 2006 (read more here and here). See the results of the survey here. |
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Take a bow Sue Campbell CBE has been introduced to the House of Lords as life peer Baroness Campbell of Loughborough (read more). |
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A weighty issue Further to a report in last week's issue of eNews (read more), the results of a second obesity survey have highlighted the increase in the problem among children (read more). |
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Swimming tribute Liverpool Aquatics Centre has unveiled a plaque to a local swimming hero (read more). |
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Play away The government's £235m Play Strategy will give all councils in England access to money for play areas (read more here and here). |
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Getting tough New maximum penalties have been introduced for breaches of Health and Safety law (read more). |
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Approaching FAST The Department of Health has launched a national campaign to increase stroke awareness (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 142: 9 December 2008 |
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Let's work together People who work with children in sport and fitness are urged to work together with the CWDC (read more). |
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Taking table tennis seriously The future of table tennis in the UK is in the balance, after a possible lack of funding from UK Sport's Olympic elite funding package (read more). |
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Child's play Trevor Brooking makes the case for football funding to go to under 11s (read more). |
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Does money talk? Olympic and elite performance is not just about the money (read more), but sports funding is a sensible investment (read more). What's more, the chief executive of UK Sport believes that 2012 funding decisions are a positive step forward (read more). |
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A sporting chance Volunteering your time to help teach children sporting activities in summer camps in the USA could be a great way to spend your summer (read more). |
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True cost of obesity One in three adults will be obese by 2012, and the cost to the economy in 2002 was £7.4billion, a report has revealed (read more) and here is the research report. |
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ISRM eNews issue 141: 5 December 2008 |
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Submissions due! Your ISRM CPD submission is now due – click here to join the list of ISRM accredited members or email trish@isrm.co.uk. |
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Law of attraction Research shows better-quality facilities will attract more women into sport (read more).
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Change4Life up and running The government has launched its long-awaited scheme to encourage healthier lifestyles (read more). |
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Cash to fight flab Stockton Borough Council is offering grants to encourage youngsters to take up outdoor activities (read more). |
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Sinking feeling Lessons from the ill-fated development of the Clissold Leisure Centre (read more). |
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Training grants Swimathon grants of up to £1,000, to fund training and development, are now available (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 140: 26 November 2008 |
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VAT victory Sporta has won the battle for leisure trusts on the VAT question (read more). |
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College funding SportEngland is to help finance a college sports centre in Ipswich (read more). |
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Tracking for training Global positioning systems are being used to enhance training for athletes (read more).
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McHealth High-street food chains are setting an example with healthier-eating choices (read more).
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Questions in the House A question on the inclusion of the Swimming Forum in free swimming consultations (read more).
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Swimathon training grants The new Swimathon Foundation Grants Scheme website has now gone live (Click here to follow link to website). |
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America awaits According to an article in the Times, US colleges are head-hunting Great Britain's athletes, following their 2008 Olympic success (read more). |
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2012 Games benefits The president of the International Olympic Committee has outlined the benefits of the UK hosting the 2012 Olympics (read more). |
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Make plan plainer, says BMJ The Government's latest strategy to tackle the growing obesity problem requires plain talking, according to an article published in the British Medical Journal (read more). |
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Relocatable Swimming venues The Olympic Delivery Authority is seeking responses from local authorities regarding its plans to develop five relocatable swimming venues for the 2012 Games (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 139: 19 November 2008 |
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Questions in the House of Commons Which consultants are involved in the 2012 Olympics? (Read more) How will the Department of Health's Change4Life campaign make a difference to families? (Read more) |
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Big squeeze on school furniture Schoolchildren have outgrown the tables and chairs which were designed for pupils in the 1960s, according to a Guardian report (read more). |
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Walking the line Overweight parents in Manchester may be offered incentives to walk their children to school, use public transport and get fit, according to the Daily Mail (read more). |
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Risking it Kids need adventure as part of their development, says a major new study (read more); while adventure sports enthusiasts react to criticism over the mountain marathon event (read more). |
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Gender issues Is it time that the BBC Sports Personality of the Year was a woman? Read more. |
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Making waves Swim coaches in Australia are recommending that FINA should consider banning the controversial new high-tech swimsuits (read more). |
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Gold medal for ISRM Conference Olympic gold medal-winning rower Zac Purchase thrilled and inspired delegates at the ISRM Conference and Exhibition at Alton Towers last week. For full reports, see the December issue of Recreation. Copies of many of the presentations will appear on the ISRM website soon. |
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ISRM eNews issue 138: 4 November 2008 |
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Questions in the House of Commons What has been done to implement the recommendations of the Audit Commission’s report in 2006 into public sports and recreation services? (Read more.)Who was consulted on the free swimming initiative? (Read more.)Will there be free swimming lessons as well as free swimming? (Read more.) |
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Saying go or saying no? In the wake of the Original Mountain Marathon weather chaos, a Guardian article looks at the decision that faces every sporting event organiser (read more). |
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Improving the legacy A number of the governing bodies for sport have emphasised the importance of ensuring that the most is made of the 2012 legacy, in order to benefit sports participation in the long term (read more). |
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Credit crunch to squeeze sports investment The imminent recession is likely to impact on private and commercial investment in sport, according to an article in the Times (read more). |
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ISRM Conference 2008 There has been a great response in terms of bookings for the ISRM Conference and Exhibition 2008 at Alton Towers. It will offer a fantastic opportunity to network with fellow professionals in unique and relaxed surroundings. We are looking forward to seeing all of you there (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 137: 28 October 2008 |
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Safety first for resort pools The ISRM has been consulted to provide advice to swimming pools at a coastal resort on how to improve safety following a drowning incident (read more). |
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Fat chance for obesity New evidence has emerged on the role of different types of fat in the body, which could help us understand the causes of obesity (read more). |
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Bids in for sport funding The governing bodies of sport have submitted their proposals on increasing participation in their sports in line with the Government's and Sport Council's new strategies to improve sports participation. This is part of their bid for SportEngland exchequer funding (read more). |
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Gold muddle for 2012 The credit crunch has caused a re-think in the provision of Olympic facilities (read more).
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Splashing out for swimming Questions have been posed in the House of Commons on who is to get lottery and exchequer funding for elite and competitive swimming, as well as funding for swimming teaching and coaching (read more here and here). |
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Promoting health and wellbeing Questions have also been asked in the House of Commons about the possible exemptions from the Community Infrastructure Levy for developments that promote improved health through physical activity and sport. Further questions were asked on the planning requirements to support the promotion of health and wellbeing through physical activity (read more here and here). |
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Sport for all Gerry Sutcliffe has given a written answer to a question on the role of the governing bodies in delivering a world class community sports system (read more). See Bids in for sport funding. |
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ISRM Conference 2008 - Have you booked yet? There are only a few places left on the ISRM Conference and Exhibition 2008 at Alton Towers. Book now for this event, which offers a fantastic opportunity to network with fellow professionals in unique and relaxed surroundings (book here). |
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ISRM eNews issue 136: 17 October 2008 |
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Active body, active mind New research findings have shown how aerobic exercise can benefit ageing brains (read more).
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Squash in? Squash has been making its case for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games (read more).
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Healthy competition Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has committed £30 million to employ 225 ‘competition managers’ in schools to help bring back competitive sports (read more). |
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Open spaces Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has provided a Written Answer to a question in the House of Commons on the protection provided for the open spaces that communities need under Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 (read more). |
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Free swimming in the spotlight There have been several questions in the House of Commons on the free swimming initiative. See the links here, here, here and here. |
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Participation on the rise Four million more children are doing two hours of sport a week at schools in England than was the case in 2002 (read more). |
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ISRM Conference 2009: have you booked yet? There's only a few weeks to go now until the ISRM Conference and Exhibition 2009 at Alton Towers. Book now for this event, which offers a fantastic opportunity to network with fellow professionals in unique and relaxed surroundings. (Book here). |
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ISRM eNews issue 135: 9 October 2008 |
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Providing more pedal power Sporting excellence website offers advice on the importance of strength training for cyclists (read more). |
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New chairman for British Swimming Leading strategy consultant Alistair Gray appointed to spearhead board until London Olympic year (read more). |
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Father died trying to save girl Accidental death verdict on drowning in river where rescue equipment had been removed (read more). |
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London 2012 calling Government urges businesses to take advantage of Olympic and Paralympic opportunities (read more). |
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Squash set to toe the line World Squash Federation set for restructure to align itself with other international sports bodies (read more). |
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The kids are all right Play England finally announces plans to involve children in London 2012 movement (read more). |
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America issues exercise guidelines Federal government document advises population on the health benefits of physical activity (read more). |
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Book now for ISRM Conference 2009 Have you reserved your place yet for the ISRM Conference and Exhibition at Alton Towers on 12 and 13 November? There are only a few places left for this event, which offers a fantastic opportunity to network with fellow professionals in unique and relaxed surroundings. (Book here). |
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ISRM eNews issue 134: 1 October 2008 |
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Sue's Lords appointment Sue Campbell CBE, chair of the Youth Sport Trust and UK Sport, has been appointed to the House of Lords in recognition of her contribution to sport (read more). |
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Safety checks A new vetting and barring system designed to safeguard children will have a major impact on staff working with youngsters. Read more here and here. |
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Plug pulled on pools Cutbacks in the Irish sport and leisure industry mean a planned regeneration of the country's swimming pools has been put on hold (read more). |
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Sports coach jailed An English cricket coach has been given a six-month prison sentence for child pornography offences (read more). |
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Playing it safe Revised safety standards on children's play equipment have been released, giving the most up to-date guidance on allowing children to play safely while also encouraging risks (read more). |
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The secret of success A new course – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, run by FranklinCovey – promises to help you to become more effective and boost your relationships and career (read more). |
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Conference is coming! Attend the upcoming ISRM Conference and Exhibition at Alton Towers on 12 and 13 November and, among many other things, you'll have the chance to find out about how to develop your personal performance and ways that you can motivate your staff (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 133: 26 September 2008 |
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Victorian splendour A Times report has highlighted the work of the Victorian Society's campaign, led by Dr Ian Dungovell, to save and preserve the UK's precious stock of Victorian and Edwardian pools (read more). |
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Bladder worries deter women from sport A weak bladder is putting many young women off participating in sport, or prompting them to give it up altogether, suggests research published ahead of print in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (read more). |
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Stay positive in pregnancy A new study from Pennsylvania State University in America suggests that pregnant women who stay active and are positive about their changing shapes are protecting themselves from depression (read more). |
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Heart skips a beat The British Heart Foundation is calling for potential tutors to deliver their practical skipping workshops to teachers and youth leaders (read more). |
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Should teachers do more? A Loughborough University study has been critical of the role played by PE teachers in promoting health and physical activity in secondary schools (read more). |
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Crime doesn't play Revealing evidence from Canada based on a lifetime review has shown that young people who are engaged in sport are less likely to participate in criminal activities (read more). |
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Nominate a hero The BBC is calling for nominees for its Unsung Hero award (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 132: 9 September 2008 |
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Missing the point? 'The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has failed to understand the real meaning of the Beijing bounce and is ill-equipped to deliver wider participation in sport in the run-up to 2012 unless Gordon Brown steps in to lead from the front'. So says Derek Mapp, the outspoken former chairman of Sport England, the body charged with investing in and promoting community sport in England (read more). |
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UK children's physical activity levels hugely overestimated UK children's physical activity levels have been greatly overestimated, with true levels likely to be around six times lower than national data suggest, finds research published ahead of print in the Archives of Disease in Childhood (read more). |
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UK Olympic technologies power ahead Britain is leading the London 2012 technology race, says a report (read more). |
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Active body, active mind Exercise may help prevent age-related memory loss according to Australian research (read more).
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Cold cure A cool water bath could boost post-exercise recovery, according to a new report (read more).
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Poor standards The poor state of London's council-run sports facilities has been exposed by the Evening Standard (read more). |
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Scotland off the scale More action is needed to tackle Scotland's soaring obesity epidemic, says a report (read more). |
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Forget netball, try Pilates Loughborough, Britain's premier sports university, is calling for schools to replace competitive sports with individual activities (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 131: 4 September 2008 |
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Vetting and barring A sportscotland report has revealed that, contrary to popular belief, volunteers don't mind new child protection vetting procedures (read more). |
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Legacy concerns London's legacy missing link could be the difference between 2012 success and failure, say sports governing bodies (read more). |
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Taking the aqua running plunge Aqua running claims to offer all the benefits of conventional jogging, but without the risk of impact-related injuries. Rachel Holmes swallows her embarrassment and takes the plunge (read more). |
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Handball in the frame UK Sport toughens up on handball in bid to compete for London 2012 (read more).
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Park life Let children play in office car parks, says NICE (read more). |
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Breaking down class barriers Can tennis be made less middle class (read more)? |
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Wage news What's new with the National Minimum Wage (read more)? |
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Five hours a week Sport England's £36m investment to get more young people doing five hours of sport per week goes nationwide (read more). |
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ISRM Conference Update The first in a series of updates as we count down to the ISRM Conference at Alton Towers on 12 and 13 November (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 130: 20 August 2008 |
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Cycling’s standard-bearers The Olympic success of Britain's cyclists has been no coincidence – and other UK sports need to learn the lessons fast, as this piece from The Times points out (read more). Cycling teams from all over the world admit they have been left behind, including the Germans who described themselves as a Mickey Mouse operation by comparison (read more). |
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Olympics' impact on obesity Leader writers such as The Guardian’s Jackie Ashley highlighted the potential wider impact of Britain's Olympic success – not least in helping tackle obesity (read more), as news emerged that clumsy kids could be at higher risk of obesity in later life (read more) and the Local Government Association warned that local authorities might start intervening more often in obesity cases (read more). |
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Money counts National Lottery funding has played a key part in Britain’s success, with the high medal count a direct result of the money that first started to be seriously invested eight years ago. More here. |
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Political implications The political impact of Britain’s success is explored by The Independent’s renowned Westminster commentator Steve Richards, as he reflects on the fact that, ‘for the first time I can recall in my adult lifetime’ there is a consensus that public investment has made a pivotal difference (read more). |
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Funding questions Britain's swimmers have enjoyed an excellent Olympics. But there's much more to do – and much more funding required, says former gold medallist Anita Lonsbrough (read more). Another sport that is even more worried about future funding is gymnastics (read more). |
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Cultural lessons The commitment of elderly Chinese people to take part in exercise in public spaces should provide inspiration for London 2012, says The Guardian’s Marina Hyde (read more). |
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Help us with industry research ISRM and the Institute of Qualified Lifeguards (IQL) are carrying out some industry research to find out more about the training needs of people in the sport and recreation industry, particularly lifeguards and duty managers. There is still time to take part, with the results being revealed at the LIW and ISRM Conferences. All responses will be anonymous. Duty managers – click here General/operation managers – click here Senior managers – click here |
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ISRM eNews issue 129: 14 August 2008 |
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Olympic technologies As the world’s nations compete for Olympic medals, a Guardian report looks at the most advanced sports technologies being employed to ensure success at the Games (read more). |
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Too much protection? A new study has revealed that people have not been put off volunteering with children, despite the recent introduction of tougher child protection measures (read more). Meanwhile, The Independent has questioned whether such regulations have now gone too far (read more). |
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Bouncy castle injury appeal On 8 July 2008, the Appeal Court allowed an appeal against a parent who had hired a bouncy castle for a birthday party for their child. A child received serious injuries as a result of children of various sizes somersaulting on the bed. The initial judgment was that insufficient supervision had been provided. This appeal now overrules that judgment (read the findings in full). |
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Man cleared over canoe death The owner of a Powys outdoor pursuits company has been cleared of health and safety breaches in relation to a customer who drowned when the canoe he had hired overturned in choppy waters in 2004 (read more). |
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Don’t come home empty handed! British athletes competing at the Beijing Olympics may or may not have been boosted by the words of Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe as the event got underway. He said he hoped the record levels of money invested in them would be reflected in improved medal success (read more). |
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Countdown to inaugural National Sports Conference Sporting icon Roger Black is scheduled to appear alongside leading figures from the sports industry at the first-ever National Sports Conference between 23-25 September. The conference is part of Sports Development Week (read more), which runs alongside Leisure Industry Week at the Birmingham NEC (read more). |
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Conference 2008 – early bird deadline approaching! Don't forget, the ISRM Conference and Exhibition is taking place at Alton Towers on 12-13 November 2008 and you can take advantage of the special early bird discount rate when you book before 31 August (read more). To download a booking form, click here. |
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ISRM eNews issue 128: 29 July 2008 |
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Olympic medal strategies China has invested an estimated £8 billion in its athletes and coaches for the Beijing Olympics, and the host nation is aiming high in terms of medal success (read more). Meanwhile, Britain’s modest goal for fourth place in the London 2012 games could already be in jeopardy, as statistics show a three per cent drop in participation in sport in the capital city, equivalent to 160,000 fewer people exercising regularly (read more). And a report in The Independent has warned that the British medal-winning strategy will simply serve to encourage elite participation in sport, at the exclusion of ordinary, working-class people (read more). |
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Caffeine hit? Despite its removal from the banned substances list four years ago, a study has revealed that at least a third of UK athletes use caffeine in the belief it will enhance their performance, says a report by BMJ Clinical Evidence (read more). |
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Missing evidence The Government has admitted in a Written Answer that there is little evidence that the GP Exercise Referral Scheme has had any clear benefits in terms of improving participants' physical fitness, although it remains committed to providing the scheme to help manage specific health conditions (read more). |
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Swimming technique A US study, cited in The Guardian, has revealed that the vast majority of swimmers employ an ineffective technique, and as a result, won’t see any significant fitness benefits (read more). |
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DCMS strategy Culture Minister Margaret Hodge has set out her department's plans to streamline the work of the four key agencies involved in delivering the arts, sports and cultural agenda in the UK. The regionally based agencies, including Sport England, will work more closely together to bring about five identified priorities (read more). |
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Early Bird discounts for Conference Don't miss this year's ISRM Conference and Exhibition, from 12-13 November, at Alton Towers. It's your chance to network with a range of influential figures from the world of sport and recreation management, to hear from top speakers, including Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe, and to view a host of exhibitors' stands. There are plenty of social opportunities on the agenda too, including the Conference dinner. Don't forget, there are Early Bird discounts if you book before the end of August (read more). |
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Olympic report reaction UK Sport has given its response to the Public Accounts Committee’s recently-published report Preparing for Sporting Success at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Beyond (read more). See the Resources section for full copies of this report and for the Committee's further report Preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. |
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ISRM eNews issue 127: 23 July 2008 |
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Counting down to Beijing UK Sport has matched up top technology experts with elite British performers to give them a winning edge (read more). Meanwhile, women are hotly-tipped to be the stars of this year's events, and could overtake the men in the medals table for the first time (read more), which will be great to witness if visitors can actually get to events. Tight security and high prices are reducing the demand for tickets and travel to Beijing (read more). |
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2012 critics rubbished Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has dismissed critics of London 2012 overspend (read more), while experts warned that London could face the same post-Olympics wasteland that struck Athens after the 2004 event (read more). |
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Scottish victory The International Children’s Games - known as the ‘mini Olympics’ - will be held in Lanarkshire, Scotland in 2011. Scotland beat Singapore and South Korea for the rights to stage the event (read more). |
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Chop and change careers Turning a sporting passion into a career could be a reality, especially if you practise martial arts. The sport has seen a huge rise in popularity thanks to films, video games and adverts, and teaching jobs are in demand (read more). |
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Positive stroke for swimming An important memorandum, designed to create a successful framework for British swimming, has been signed by British Swimming, UK Sport and the English, Scottish and Welsh Institutes of Sport. The hope is that the initiative will create a strong and open partnership between the organisations to benefit swimming (read more). |
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Lifeguards charged following drowning Two lifeguards have been charged with failing to carry out their duties after a man drowned in the University of Wolverhampton’s swimming pool. The man had been using the pool to aid his recovery from a spinal injury when he died in 2006 (read more). |
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Swim free-style Free swimming for the over 60s means that people in that age group who wish to swim at any time throughout the year when they would normally be admitted to the pool for public swimming, and in accordance with local programming, should not be charged (read more).
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ISRM eNews issue 126: 17 July 2008 |
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Scientific tips improve performance Portuguese researchers have published the findings of their study into how swimmers can improve their butterfly stroke technique (read more). Meanwhile, there is further evidence that sodium bicarbonate may help competitive swimmers move faster through the water, probably due to its lactic-acid neutralising properties, which prevent muscle fatigue (read more). But it’s not the only substance that can help athletes’ muscles. Caffeine is apparently the key to fast muscle recovery after a workout (read more).Elsewhere, researchers at Loughborough University have discovered that a protein found in saliva may help give early warning of potential illness, which could be used to monitor the wellbeing of sports professionals, and others whose good health is paramount to performance (read more). |
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Olympic pool controversy In response to concerns raised over the costs and difficulty of building the Zaha Hadid-designed Olympic Aquatic Centre in London (read more), the Olympic Delivery Authority has insisted the development is ahead of schedule (read more). |
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Fat, moi? A BMJ study has revealed that more and more people are failing to realise they have a weight problem, despite the fact that the incidences of overweight and obesity are on the rise (read more). |
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UK Sport news UK Sport has published the results of a consultation with the English Institute of Sport (EIS), which has helped develop a new model for sport science and medical service delivery from April 2009 (read more). And it has also announced that a new Centre for Sporting Excellence at Leeds University has been confirmed by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe (read more). |
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Hearts and minds The first National School Sport Week took place at the beginning of July, with more than three million pupils across the country taking part in a range of activities. But in a Telegraph report, Dame Kelly Holmes, ambassador for the event, warned that we were still nowhere near getting sport back into the heart of school life (read more). |
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Sport Scotland SportScotland has produced a factsheet to help make sense of recent child protection legislation in relation to volunteers (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 125: 10 July 2008 |
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Centres set for closure Lee Valley Leisure Pool in Broxbourne, north London, is set to close after it was announced the pool had reached the end of its operational life, despite a major refurbishment in 1998 (read more). Meanwhile, hundreds of people have been campaigning to save Blandford Leisure Centre in Dorset, after the district council announced it would withdraw funding in 2010 (read more). |
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Drowning statistics The number of people admitted to hospital as a result of drowning shows no overall sign of improving, according to statistics released by the Government. However these figures are disputed by both RoSPA and the RLSS both of whom collect their own figures from different sources. Nevertheless this source is difficult to deny and if accurate reveals a cause for real concern (read more). |
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Foiled? Try fencing Fencing might not be top of your list when it comes to Olympic disciplines, but it’s a combat sport which is on the up – and is no longer the preserve of public school boys. Londoner Richard Kruse, one half of the GB fencing team for Beijing, is helping to widen the sport’s appeal by coaching local kids in Camden (read more). |
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Have your say in the fitness industry Here’s your chance to have your say about your job, training opportunities or your pay packet – and stand a chance of winning £250 in the process! The annual UK Working in Fitness survey is open to everyone in the fitness industry, from now until mid-July (read more). |
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Sport for all Following the raft of Government announcements about sport and physical activity in the past few weeks, Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, has penned an open letter calling on local authorities and sporting bodies to work to become part of a new era for sport also included is the detail of the Free Swimming offer (read more). |
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Cash boost for councils Extra funding to the tune of £1.5 million will be made available to local authorities to encourage good practice and help raise standards. Sixteen projects across the country will benefit, from a programme aimed at hard-to-reach groups in Leicester to the healthy communities project in Gateshead (read more). |
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Irish eyes... A leisure manager from Derry, Northern Ireland, has been found guilty of sneaking a look at a woman as she dried herself in the changing area of Templemore sports complex (read more). Meanwhile an extra £15 million funding for Ireland’s first Olympic-sized swimming pool has been confirmed by Sports Minister Gregory Campbell. This will help North Down Borough Council meet the £50 million costs of developing a regional centre of excellence at Bangor, near Belfast (read more). |
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A route to diploma membership of ISRM Rother Valley College has announced new proposals for a Professional Certificate in Management Studies (Sport and Recreation), leading to Diploma Membership of the ISRM. The successful ISRM/City and Guilds Higher Professional Diploma Course, which leads to Membership of the ISRM, will also continue (read more). |
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ISRM eNews issue 124: 3 July 2008 |
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Physical intervention New guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has emphasised the responsibility of employers in ensuring workers have enough opportunities for physical activity (read more). Meanwhile, a researcher from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia has called for more practical intervention in getting people from lower socio-economic backgrounds to exercise (read more). |
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Child protection on the agenda There has been a range of comment on the issue of child protection, in the wake of Government guidance on the proportionate use of CRB checks for volunteers. The Telegraph reported that volunteer groups who use CRB checks unnecessarily will receive Government training (read more). However, in another article the paper suggested that even parents who drive other people’s children to sports clubs will need vetting under new regulations (read more). A Guardian report has highlighted the complexity of protecting children (read more) and an article published by the American College of Sports Medicine has called for parents of elite youth athletes to monitor their children more closely for signs of overtraining (read more). |
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Get active to cut cancer risk It seems the links between exercise and both the prevention and treatment of cancer keep getting stronger. A Swedish study has found that men who walk or cycle for at least 30 minutes a day are 34 per cent less likely to die from the disease (read more). Furthermore, a US study has found that regular exercise before menopause can reduce women’s risk of breast cancer by 23 per cent (read more). The NHS knowledge service found the results of both studies promising but highlighted the importance of other lifestyle factors, such as a healthy diet and not smoking. |
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A long-term study into the health of 307 children born between 1995 and 1996 suggests the current US and UK guidelines for children’s physical activity need rethinking. |
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA) have issued a joint statement on the future of first aid approvals. |
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Help make funding less of a lottery Sport England is inviting people involved in sports at all levels to give their views on how to improve the process of applying for Lottery funding. |
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New pool-side computer software that helps streamline competitive swimmers’ techniques has been developed. It builds on existing glide-analysis technology, offering faster feedback so swimmers can adjust their technique immediately. |
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ISRM eNews issue 123: 25 June 2008 |
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Universities' sporting hopes Universities are increasingly likely to offer top-class sporting facilities in order to attract students. According to The Times more than 1.7 million British students take part in regular sporting activity, and the country's educational establishments now see smart new sports facilities as a major selling point. |
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Risk assessment scuppers sports day A junior school in West Sussex has cancelled its annual sports day because of fears that children will trip over and hurt themselves during the events. The Daily Mail reports that Holmbush First School's headteacher wrote to parents, advising them of the decision, after a risk assessment found the school's new playing field was 'too dangerous' for egg-and-spoon and sack races. |
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Clubs to be held responsible for violent play Sports clubs will have to contend with large increases in insurance premiums following a legal ruling that will make them responsible for any injuries that result of deliberate violence. According to the Daily Mail, the Court of Appeal decided that Redruth rugby club should be held responsible after a skirmish led to player Andrew Gravil suffering a broken eye socket. |
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New Olympic costs warning The National Audit Office has warned that the £9.3 billion budget for the 2012 London Olympics could overrun significantly. The Daily Telegraph reports that, due to a series of 'formidable' challenges such as security costs and uncertainty over financing of the Olympic Village, the official budget for the Games could be 'blown out of the water'. |
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Free swimming under parliamentary scrutiny Parliament has been discussing the subject of free swimming, and the provision of general swimming facilities across the UK. The Government revealed the number of swimming pools that have opened and closed across the UK since 2004 and Prime Minister Gordon Brown confirmed that councils will be able to reclaim any VAT incurred in providing free lessons to under-16s or over-60s. |
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Free swimming high on MPs' agendas as further details revealed The Government's Free Swimming plans caused much debate in Westminster. The Culture Secretary's announcement has still left MPs with plenty of further questions, as these three excerpts from the House of Commons debates show:Swimming debate oneSwimming debate two Swimming debate three Read here about how the scheme will take shape. |
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ISRM eNews issue 122: 18 June 2008 |
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The announcement of free swimming for all by 2012 has been a hot topic in the House of Commons this week. In a Written Answer, Health Minister Dawn Primarolo, confirmed her department would be contributing £40 million to the total £140 million pledged by Government over the next four years (read more). Meanwhile, the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Culture Media and Sport each stated they would be contributing around £30 million to the pot. However, cautionary voices warned that lessons should be learned from Wales' free-swimming pilot, which identified several barriers preventing people from participating in the sport. |
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Adults who take part in hazardous sports only have themselves to blame should they sustain an injury, a court has ruled. In a landmark judgment, which could help protect the recreation industry against future lawsuits, judges overturned a High Court decision that found a leisure centre 25 per cent responsible for a customer's fall from a climbing wall. ISRM will be publishing guidance to members on the implications of this ruling. |
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Drowning tragedy at pool fun day A seven-year-old girl has drowned following an incident at a swimming pool in Essex. Lifeguards leapt to the rescue of the unconscious child after she was spotted under water during a family fun day, but despite resuscitation attempts, she was later pronounced dead at Colchester General Hospital. |
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The new Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has made clear his commitment to sport in the capital, while simultaneously pledging not to allow the Olympic costs to spiral out of control. In an interview with The Independent, Johnson enthused about grassroots sport and claimed he loved watching and taking part, even though he felt he was no good at it. |
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A House of Commons Debate has highlighted the lesser-known impact of cardiac disease on young people. The debate, during Arrythmia Awareness Week, called for mandatory screening to help save lives. |
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An article in The Daily Telegraph has named Keith Mills, former chief executive of the London Olympic Committee, as the firm favourite to take the helm at Sport England. Mills, who oversaw the successful 2012 bid, is tipped to be the organisation's next chairman, a position that is vacant following the departure of Derek Mapp in November. |
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Restaurant and bar workers can celebrate after an Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that the National Minimum Wage should exclude tips and gratuities, as long as they are not paid via a company's payroll system. |
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Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has offered the latest statistics on the numbers of pools opening and closing in England in the past four years – and the final figure is about equal. |
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ISRM eNews issue 121: 11 June 2008 |
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The ISRM has welcomed the Government pledge of free swimming for all by 2012, but cautioned that money must be invested into training for pool managers and employees (read more). Reports in The Times and The Guardian detailed the initial £130-million investment package that will make swimming free to the under-16s and over-60s during the next two years. This includes £80 million to reimburse local pools, and £50 million for refurbishment. Sports Minister Andy Burnham described swimming as 'the perfect antidote to couch-potato culture'. |
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Sport England is to undergo its third restructure in five years, as part of the Government's shake-up of the sector, with £20 million of its budget to be diverted to sports governing bodies for coaching and promotion (read more). The Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR) welcomed the changes, calling for co-ordinated action to ensure grassroots sport develops and thrives. |
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Leaving a legacy Further details of the Government's short, medium and long-term vision for the future of sport in the UK have been revealed with the publication of its Playing to Win strategy and Legacy Action Plan. Both documents highlight the Government's determination to transform Britain into a world-leading sporting nation. |
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Call for a higher priority for sport Lord Pendry, former Shadow Minister for Sport, has called for a new strategy for sport and physical education. He stated during a House of Lords debate that there was still room for improvement, most notably in terms of increasing participation to tackle obesity and poor health. |
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Sportscotland has announced a £780,000 cash boost for grassroots sports organisations in Scotland. Facilities across the country, from Dumfries to Shetland, will benefit, including the renowned mountain bike range at Fort William. |
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The Conservatives have announced plans to scrap the Big Lottery Fund if they come into power, claiming the Labour Government has siphoned off millions of pounds for 'pet projects', rather than spending the money where it is needed. According to a Daily Mail report, David Cameron pledged to restore lottery funding to its original four causes – sports, arts, heritage and communities. |
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ISRM eNews issue 120: 3 June 2008 |
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Walk your way to better health Keeping active can lower your risk of cancer – if you're a man. Scientists found that walking or cycling for at least 30 minutes per day can reduce the cancer death rate in men by a third. |
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Netball is set for a boost thanks to a £227,700 investment in Netball Scotland to help develop the sport in the run-up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. It's the largest sum ever given to netball and is intended to help strengthen performance and create a strong national team. |
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In a bid to attract athletes and teams to the UK in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, more than 170 sporting facilities in the UK will feature in the Paralympics Pre-Games Training Camp Guide, published this summer. The chosen facilities are either capable of hosting a wide variety of sports or have been selected as a centre of excellence for a particular sport. |
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Drinking cold water on a hot day can help make exercise easier by reducing your heart rate, according to a new study. The research by Loughborough University found that drinking cold water while working out lowered volunteers' heart rates by five beats per minute, which could help keep cyclists below their lactate threshold and aid recovery rates. Drinking hot or warm water did not have the same impact. |
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Northern Ireland has launched its strategy for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, aiming to get more young people involved in sport and physical activity at a domestic level. Other targets include getting Northern Ireland to host part of the torch relay and to ensure that at least 10 teams come to pre-training camps in the area, as well as creating a better sports infrastructure. |
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ISRM eNews issue 119: 28 May 2008 |
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It makes business sense to urge your employees to take more exercise, according to a report from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which has issued guidance for employers on promoting physical activity in the workplace. |
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This is the new logo for British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS), a company that is being launched on 16 June to represent the interests of those managing, competing and participating in university sport across the higher education sector. It incorporates two organisations – the British Universities Sports Association and University and College Sport. |
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It’s a dog’s life on the beach These two stories may or may not be linked... First, Leo Hickman writes in The Guardian about Bilbo, Britain's favourite lifedog, being banned from the beach thanks to the intervention of 'faceless bureaucrats' (read more). And secondly, the Marine Conservation Society warns that the number of beaches with excellent water quality is down by 10 per cent compared with a year ago. |
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Concerns over PE teaching in the spotlight The inadequacy of training for PE teachers is highlighted in a feature in The Herald that includes comments from the Association for Physical Education's Professor Margaret Talbot – and focuses on the PE crisis facing schools in Scotland. |
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Get involved in sunbed consultation People working in the sport and recreation industry are being urged to take part in the Health and Safety Executive's review of the sunbed industry. The HSE has published, for consultation, a revised version of its guidance (read more), while a story in The Guardian suggests that the review may lead to young people being banned from using sunbeds. |
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Britain doesn't take sport seriously enough, says a leading academic, who is calling for politicians and others to drop their 'laissez-faire' attitude to sport and start treating it as something to be proactively managed (read more). But it's not all doom and gloom as Sport England stresses its support for three projects that aim to increase sports participation – and which were all nominated for awards at the 2008 Sport Industry Awards. |
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ISRM eNews issue 118: 21 May 2008 |
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From October 2009, people who work or volunteer with vulnerable adults or people under the age of 18 will have to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority. The registration, which is free for volunteers, will affect many sports and recreation employees. ISRM is currently seeking clearer guidance from the ISA on the exact requirements of the legislation. |
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A report in The Daily Telegraph claims red tape is blighting modern-day swimming facilities, with 'nonsensical' rules about lifeguard-to-swimmer ratios preventing more people from getting active. |
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The British Lead Climbing Championships will take place at the 'awesome' George Bancroft Park climbing towers in Blackpool this weekend, for the second year running. The event, which is one of the biggest in the British Mountaineering Council's calendar, should see enthusiasts flock to the town. |
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The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, has published an analysis of the 2007 Foresight report Tackling Obesities: Future Choices, looking specifically at the role local government can play in creating healthier communities. |
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According to a House of Commons Written Answer, a recent survey has revealed up to 46 per cent of women and up to 96 per cent of girls participated in some form of sport in the month prior to the survey being completed (read more). Meanwhile, the Treasury has refused to set a clear date for the publication of the cross-Governmental review into physical activity. |
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The ISRM is holding two swimming pool management workshops this summer – one in Glasgow in June and one in Wales in August. To find out more and book your place follow the link. |
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ISRM eNews issue 117: 14 May 2008 |
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Bouncy castle warning The ISRM has pointed out that operators providing bouncy castles should ensure they are using them in accordance with the ISRM guidance document on inflatables, which is based on original guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (read more). The Institute was responding to a test case where a child who was injured while playing on a bouncy castle won damages against the family who had hired it. Meanwhile, the British Inflatable Hirers Alliance (BIHA) and Times columnist Rachel Johnson have both given their perspective on the case. |
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The Government plans to urge business and trade union leaders to incorporate sport into the national working day. According to a report in The Times, it will encourage them to ensure employees can be involved in high-level sport without jeopardising their careers. |
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Advice after kids' boxing revelations A TV documentary about children being involved in Thai (Kick) Boxing has prompted the NSPCC’s child protection in sport unit to issue advice on the best ways to ensure that leisure services managers do not rent out their facilities to inappropriate organisations. |
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How effective are the volunteers in sports clubs you are involved in running? Find out by measuring the impact of volunteers using a new set of web-based tools designed specifically for sports organisations. |
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Record cash for Scottish projects A range of exercise programmes, including outdoor sessions in parks, lunchtime walks from people's workplaces and walking groups in deprived communities, are among the initiatives that will benefit as a result of extra cash being poured into physical activity initiatives in Scotland. Nearly £12 million will be spent over the next three years as part of the country's physical activity strategy. |
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Trusts and private individuals are now eligible to take part in Sportsmatch, a Sport England programme that encourages grassroots sports participation. |
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ISRM eNews issue 116: 8 May 2008 |
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Are leisure trusts truly independent? An article in The Times has cast doubt over the true level of independence experienced by leisure centres that have been set up as charitable trusts. It argues that some local authorities are 'trying to pull a fast one', getting too involved in the way the centres are run. |
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A study by the Massachussets General Hospital and Harvard University Health Services in America has revealed that 90 days of vigorous exercise can produce significant changes in the structure and function of the heart, depending on what type of activity is undertaken. Read more Meanwhile, an example from Australia highlighted the success of a multimedia campaign which – on a very limited budget – successfully promoted the message: 'To be young at heart – stay active, stay independent'. |
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A £135 million investment into grassroots football has been announced. The Government has teamed up with the FA and the Premier League to deliver the funding package to the Football Foundation over the next three years, improving facilities and creating opportunities. |
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A report in The Herald has highlighted the challenge faced by Scotland in creating a lasting legacy following its hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2014.Read more And an article on the Audit Scotland website looks at both the risks and benefits associated with staging the event. It points out that participation in sport in Scotland is in decline, and that strong leadership will be essential to safeguard the £298 million of public money committed to the Games. |
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Green light for sports academy Government ministers have given the go-ahead for a National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, with the aim of improving the quality of British sports coaching in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games. |
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Sports Coach UK, the national coaching foundation, has revealed a blueprint document for developing a high-quality coaching system in the UK by 2016. The UK Coaching Framework outlines a vision to create a cohesive, inclusive and world-leading system that will help coaches increase participation and improve performance in sport. |
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ISRM eNews issue 115: 23 April 2008 |
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The Government misled the public over the true cost of the Olympic games, omitting key costs from the original estimate, according to a group of MPs. The public accounts committee called the budget 'entirely unrealistic' and said it seemed 'extraordinary' that foreseeable costs were left out of the original £4bn, which has now climbed to more than £9bn. |
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Stunning performances at swimming championships People involved in swimming are reflecting on the impact of this month's World Short-Course Championships in Manchester, which yielded no less than 18 world records - with the British team taking home an impressive 24 medals between them. The young swimming stars held their own admirably against strong competition, with Rebecca Adlington winning the 800m freestyle in a time just split seconds shy of Kate Ziegler's world record. |
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Elite performance director for the British Olympic Association Sir Clive Woodward has brought in leading visual awareness coach Sherylle Calder to help secure British Olympic success. The former England rugby coach previously worked with Calder to help develop his team's hand-eye co-ordination and peripheral vision. |
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Following the British cycle team's recent success at the World Track Championships, cycling has been enjoying a high profile. Sports Minister Andy Burnham visited a Go-Ride cycle coaching session to find out how the scheme is encouraging children into the sport (read more). Meanwhile, British Cycling is calling on the Government to secure the future of road racing, which it says is in decline in the UK. |
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Exercise key to cancer survivors Cancer survivors who are inactive and overweight reduce their chances of full recovery and could be more likely to experience a recurrence of the disease, according to a report in The Daily Mail. A Canadian study found that physical exercise could be particularly important to obese breast cancer survivors. |
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ISRM eNews issue 114: 17 April 2008 |
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Learning and Skills Council to close The Government has announced that the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) will cease to operate from 2010, as part of its ongoing reforms around skills. The £7 billion in funding currently allocated to the LSC will be transferred to local authorities, which will be given responsibility for education and training for 14- to 19-year-olds and ensuring that young people remain in education or training until the age of 18. |
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New laws under spotlight New laws covering corporate manslaughter and employing young people have come under media scrutiny this month. The Times suggests that charity events such as fun runs could be threatened by the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, while the newspaper also predicts problems for restaurants, shops and cafes that employ children, as a result of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act. |
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Benefits of youth exercise Several news outlets are focusing on the importance of exercise for children. Young children who lead inactive lifestyles are five to six times more likely to be at serious risk of heart disease, with danger emerging as early as their teenage years, according to a study. Teenagers would also feel less awkward if they exercised more, according to Manchester Metropolitan and Edinburgh Universities. Also in Scotland, a commitment to ensure two hours' exercise a week for school children has been dropped after councils refused to implement it. |
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Adult exercise on the up The percentage of adults in England who take part in regular sporting activity has grown, with the biggest increase among over-55s. Early results in the second Active People Survey shows that the number of over-16s participating in 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport three or more times a week has increased by more than 350,000. |
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The aquatics centre for the 2012 London Olympics will cost more than three times the original estimate, according to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). The cost of the east London facility is now estimated at £242 million, compared to £75 million quoted in London's winning bid. |
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Exercise helps mental health The British Journal of Sports Medicine has published several studies relating to the benefits of physical exercise. The first suggests that just 20 minutes of physical activity in a week is enough to improve mental health. A second analysis suggests that maintaining physical exercise through middle age may be enough to delay the ageing process by up to 12 years, while a third shows that cricketers who play the most test matches are most likely to live a long life. |
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ISRM eNews issue 113: 8 April 2008 |
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Regulatory changes A number of regulatory changes affecting all businesses have come into force this week. These range from transport to health and safety. Click here for a full list.
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VAT on saunas and spas The Government faced questioning over the contentious issue of back-dating of VAT charges on spas and saunas within public leisure centres, particularly those run by charities. Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe estimated around 22 per cent of leisure facilities that provide spas were run by trusts. |
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Their future in our hands According to a report in the Telegraph, children who are inactive are six times more likely to develop the early signs of heart disease than their fitter counterparts (read more). Meanwhile a story in The Daily Mail revealed that a quarter of 10-year-olds are never allowed to play outside on their own (read more). And a third article examined the impact of the Government’s investment into play areas for children (read more). |
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Playing field sales Kevin Brennan, Minister for Children, Schools and Families, responded to criticism of the Government's controversial agreement to sell 19 school playing fields in 2007. Read more |
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Over-50s more active A Sport England survey has revealed that older people are at the forefront of the current slow-but-steady growth in sports participation in the UK (read more). And the ISRM has launched a new set of posters aimed at helping people who are taking up physical activity to exercise safely (read more). |
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Vetting and barring scheme postponed The implementation of the Independent Safeguarding Act (ISA) has been deferred for one year until October 2009.Read more |
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ISRM eNews issue 112: 2 April 2008 |
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Young British swimming star Fran Halsall has endorsed the new, technologically advanced adidas swimsuits that the UK swimming team helped develop. |
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US pool tragedy leads to tougher legislation A six-year-old girl from Minneapolis, who suffered horrific injuries when she sat on a powerful pool drain last year, has died. Abigail Taylor's case prompted President Bush to sign a law in December banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of unsafe pool drain covers in the US. |
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Referees blow whistle on costs Football referees are calling for a greater level of funding from the FA to help subsidise their compulsory child-protection checks. They point out that cricket and rugby referees don't have to front the cost themselves. |
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Could the British cycling team teach the rest of us a thing or two about winning gold medals? An article in The Independent analyses their success. |
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Exercise is ‘Miracle-Gro’ for the brain A growing body of evidence points to the mind-boosting benefits of regular exercise, which include reduced stress and depression and improved intelligence and memory function. |
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The sports sector is being encouraged to respond to a Government consultation on informal adult learning, such as developing skills through playing or coaching sports, or volunteering at a club. |
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School field sales – ministers criticised More than 70 children's playing fields have been sold or are under threat, despite Government pledges to protect them, according to a Guardian report. Current and former Education Secretaries Ed Balls and Alan Johnson are believed to have personally agreed the sale of 19 school fields last year. |
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ISRM eNews issue 111: 27 March 2008 |
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Heading in the right direction? Sport England chief executive Jennie Price has welcomed the fact that the Department for Culture Media and Sport has broadly agreed Sport England's proposed 'direction of travel' for 2008-2011. The Sport England Board and External Challenge Group have also endorsed the strategy. |
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Pupils on target with PE lessons Eighty-six per cent of schoolchildren now take part in two hours' physical activity every week, exceeding Government targets, according to the 2006-07 School Sport Survey. Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe stated that this was up from 62 per cent in 2003-04. |
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Britain's Olympic boxing chief coach has claimed his team could become as successful as the Cubans by 2012, according to a Guardian report. |
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Olympic funding strategy under fire The National Audit Office has criticised the Government's Olympic funding strategy, arguing that the aim of raising £100 million through sponsorship may not be achievable. |
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The Government's Department for Children and Families has produced a 12-month implementation plan for its Aiming High strategy, which sets out the Government's long-term vision for the future of young people. The plan details the key actions to be taken by all agencies working to improve outcomes for youngsters. |
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The Government has clarified its official position regarding tendering out the management of sport and leisure services, in a written House of Commons answer about leisure trusts. |
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Applications are being invited for the 2008 Nancy Ovens Bursary, which offers the opportunity of further training for leaders and coaches working in the leisure industry. Application deadline is 6 April. |
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ISRM eNews issue 110: 19 March 2008 |
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Self-improvement seems to be the way forward for public sector sports services – which is why it’s worth reading Passion for Excellence, an improvement strategy for public sector culture and sport. The document, put together on behalf of the Improvement and Development Agency and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport - and supported by the Local Government Association - says that ISRM and other professional bodies are essential for delivering the framework. |
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The NHS has released the National Stroke Strategy, a document designed to make services better for people who have had a stroke. It's useful for all those working in the sport and recreation sector to ensure they are aware of how to prevent strokes and how to help quickly in emergencies. |
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Innovation award There's still time to enter the 2008 World Leisure International Innovations (WL) prize, which is awarded to organisations that have demonstrated originality and creativity in coming up with leisure opportunities and solutions that have benefited individuals and communities. The awards are particularly poignant as George Torkildsen, a highly-respected guru of the sport and recreation sector before his untimely death, was one of the first judges on the awards panel. For information about how to enter, click here. |
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How inclusive are you? Funding is now available for the private as well as public sector as part of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative, which seeks to ensure that people with disabilities have as many options when it comes to choosing a fitness suite as non-disabled people. There's more information here. |
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Getting girls energised The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation has published the findings of its Energy Project, which researched girls' use of energy in school, with the aim of getting more of them active.
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Exercise yourself young The benefits of exercise don’t just stop at fitness. According to one study, getting physically active can slow down the ageing process, helping you look and feel younger. Meanwhile, a second piece of research showed that far from leaving us exhausted, a work-out can boost energy levels. |
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According to Guardian football columnist Digger (Matt Scott), Edinburgh's sports facilities are under threat, due to lack of investment, leaving it doubtful that it can achieve its 'active city' aims for 2020. Meanwhile, as a negative twist to Andy Burnham's appointment as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Digger suggested his move out of the Treasury meant sport had lost a great funding ally, as demonstrated by the Budget. |
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Despite claims that certain video games, such as Nintendo Wii Sports, are helping kids get active, they are no match for genuine exercise when it comes to fitness and burning calories, according to a wellness expert. |
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ISRM eNews issue 109: 12 March 2008 |
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The great pool question The ISRM is among campaigners who have long disputed official figures about UK swimming facilities. Following claims the Government vastly over-estimated the number of diving pools in the UK, a report in The Daily Telegraph revealed 40 per cent of the 171 listed pools were either closed or inaccessible to the public and Shadow Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson took the issue to the Commons. But the Government claims £250 million has been spent on pools in the last 10 years. In a Written Answer, Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe stated a total of 354 pools have opened since 2004, while 164 have closed. |
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Meanwhile, Sport England has launched a report on preserving playing fields, adding weight to the feeling among many, including the ISRM, that the nation seems to be more concerned about losing playing fields than swimming pools. |
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Money, money, money Meanwhile, in two House of Commons Written Answers, Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe was given the role of detailing Sport England’s latest funding streams and the amount of money being spent on regenerating school playgrounds. |
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London 2012 news Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell admitted during a Commons debate that she is unaware of figures which claim £1 million per week is being spent on consultants for the Olympics. She claimed that costs for the Games remain within their £9.325 billion budget.Meanwhile, more than 600 UK sports facilities have appeared in the 2012 Pre-Olympics Training Camp guide. The Daily Telegraph focused on some of the venues attracting visiting teams. |
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Health and safety guidance This circular, issued in 2005, was designed to give further guidance on how to interpret HSG179. ISRM are currently in new talks with the HSE on how to interpret the guidance on continual supervision for swimming pools. ISRM are also in talks with European Committee for Standardization and British Standards Institution on the introduction of European Standards for the Design and Management of Swimming Pools and how the guidance should be interpreted in the UK. |
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DCMS says it is keen to reverse the ‘appalling drop-out rate’ of girls in school sport, by encouraging female participation in traditionally male sports such as tag rugby and cricket. |
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Lifeguard opportunities Have you taken advantage of two great events for your lifeguard team? Details of the ISRM Lifeguard Triathlon and National Pool Lifeguard Championships are available here. |
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A lack of funding has led to the closure of crèche facilities in six Edinburgh leisure centres, as councils try to claw back £300,000. |
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ISRM eNews issue 108: 5 March 2008 |
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Sir Steve's big issues Sir Steve Redgrave has been in the news this week, pointing out how impressed he is by the significant number of Olympic hopefuls within the Sporting Giants programme. Meanwhile, in an article in The Times, Redgrave hit out at the rules governing drugs cheats within sport, criticising international sports bodies for a lenient approach towards banning offenders. |
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Sport England strategy Results of a consultation on the future strategy for Sport England have been published. The consultation with key stakeholders, including ISRM, followed Government calls for a more focused role for the organisation. Click here for the summary. |
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Framework for the future Sports Coach UK, the national foundation for coaches, has unveiled a new framework, which highlights the key areas for improvement if Britain is to develop a world-leading coaching system by 2016. |
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The key to Britain's success in swimming could lie in a new computer programme, which is specifically designed to help analyse technique and improve performance faster than previously possible. The system generates instant feedback that can be assessed at the poolside, and provides in-depth data about swimmers' technique. |
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Let's get physical Physical activity could help ward off age-related illnesses, according to two new studies. The first found the incidence of prostate cancer among men with active jobs to be significantly lower than average, while the second revealed that moderate aerobic fitness levels could reduce the risk of a stroke.Meanwhile, as proof that it's never too late to start looking after your health, a third study suggested that men who adopt healthy habits during retirement, such as exercising and quitting smoking, increase their chances of living a further 25 years. |
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Facilities nose dive The Great Britain Diving Federation has added its voice to the campaign against the closure of swimming and diving facilities across the UK. The Government came under fire for muddying the waters over the number of genuine diving pools that exist. This lack of clarity over leisure services was echoed in a written answer by Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State for Public Health, who revealed that there was no central record of the costs or results of exercise referral schemes nationwide. |
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Corporate and commercial member directories now online We are pleased to announce that ISRM members can now access - through the members area of the website - both the commercial members directory, which includes website and email addesses (61 in total), and the corporate members directory, which includes a total of 343 organisations. Both directories are searchable by name, or by simply putting your cursor in the search box and hitting search. This will show all members in that category. Both commercial and corporate member directories will be kept up to date by head office. If you find your details or those of your organisation are inaccurate or out of date, please email info@isrm.co.uk. |
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ISRM eNews issue 107: 28 February 2008 |
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With the cost of the London 2012 Olympics estimated to reach £9.3bn, arts and sports projects are set to miss out on around £440m worth of funding that has been diverted from National Lottery coffers, according to a new report. |
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A new sports investment fund that will provide sustainable finance packages is being made available to not-for-profit recreation organisations. The unique range of loan, grant and support combinations offered by Futurebuilders will be extended to public service groups from April 2008. |
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MPs and peers have been invited to spend seven days each within prominent sports organisations as part of Sport England’s Parliamentary Sports Fellowship Scheme. This second phase of the scheme will see 15 MPs and Lords welcomed into the Football Association and the Lawn Tennis Association, among others, to gain a unique insight into their chosen sport. |
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Did you know that swimming and football are, respectively, the two most popular sports among young women and men? More than 23 per cent of women aged between 17 and 21 regularly take part in swimming, while the figure for the amount of football regularly played by the equivalent male age group is 45 per cent, according to figures from the 2005-06 Active People Survey. |
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Britons are still a long way off meeting the Government’s ambitious 70 per cent Game Plan target for regular exercise, with just 35 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women achieving 30 minutes of moderate activity five times a week, according to the most recently-available figures. |
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Get set for a weekend of protest marches and, hopefully, high-profile debate over the parlous state of Britain’s swimming facilities. In today’s Telegraph Duncan Goodhew brands the situation a 'scandal', while Stephen Franks, of the Swimming Teachers Association, refers to it as a 'national disgrace'. |
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ISRM eNews issue 106: 20 February 2008 |
| Will the 2012 Olympic Games really be the sustainable event it has promised to be? Shaun McCarthy, chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London, debunks the jargon about emissions, regeneration and partnership working. |
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A Scottish town is to receive a new £10.6 million pool, but it is feared that the development – in Montrose, Angus – will be to the detriment of other sports projects in the area. |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan's frank testimony has added weight to research that shows running can help beat depression. The snooker star claims it is the 'best therapy ever' and has helped turn his life around. |
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A Sheffield newspaper and local boxing club have teamed up in the fight against bullies. The Star and Sheffield Boxing Centre have united to deliver a campaign through the press, in schools and in the local community. |
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Researchers at Loughborough University are calling for greater investment in professional coaching schemes in order to ensure that the UK can meet its targets for sports development by 2016. A three-month study found that too great a proportion of coaches are unpaid volunteers due to a shortfall of paid positions. |
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Nakmas, the UK governing body for martial arts, has issued a warning over a lack of insurance among non-registered martial arts clubs. The association is urging karate club members – and the parents of younger members – to ask questions to ensure they are protected. |
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ISRM eNews issue 105: 13 February 2008 |
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Lifeguards at a Surrey swimming pool are up in arms after being banned from having social conversations with colleagues and customers, according to a report in the Woking News and Mail. |
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The new Secretary of State for Culture and Sport, Andy Burnham, received a rave review in the Daily Telegraph, while the appointment of Philip French as his special adviser has been welcomed by Guardian columnist Matt Scott. Meanwhile, Burnham is already facing up to the question he’ll probably be asked more than any other in his current role – how can the Government develop the legacy for mass participation in sport that is expected to result from the London 2012 Olympics? |
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Policy change for Youth Sport Games The Youth Sports Trust has agreed to lay on special events for children with learning disabilities at the Youth Sport Games – following complaints from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The Games already feature events for youngsters with physical disabilities. |
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Joined-up challenges on obesity Turning round the trends in child obesity requires drastic changes in behaviour and a level of joining up that the public sector finds extremely difficult to achieve. An interesting piece in The Guardian highlights this and some of the many other challenges. |
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Unborn babies are being added to a waiting list for heavily subscribed swimming lessons, according to a BBC report. |
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Exercise and the elderly The benefits of exercise for older people have been highlighted in two reports this week. The first shows that the life expectancy of the over-70s is not only determined by their lifestyle when they were younger – while the second says that looking after your health is three times more important than your genes in improving your chances of having an active life in your 90s. |
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Grassroots funding ‘paying off’ Make an investment in football facilities – and more people will play the game. This is the conclusion of a report by the Football Foundation which shows a 21 per cent increase in football participation at facilities that were upgraded as a result of their investment. |
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Sport Relief – get stuck in The countdown is on to Sport Relief 2008 – and there are some materials here that will help you publicise any events you are involved in organising. |
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ISRM eNews issue 104: 5 February 2008 |
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Olympics round-up A new school might be built at the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games (read more), while concerns over funding rumble on. These are among a number of items in this week’s Olympics round-up. ODA defends pay (The Telegraph) Games loan to be repaid by 2022 (BBC) Anger over aquatics centre (The Times) |
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Football’s grassroots failings Whatever the result in Wednesday night’s England’s match against Switzerland (which is taking place as eNews is mailed out), it seems to be generally accepted that Britain’s young footballers are suffering from something of a skills deficit. An interview in The Daily Telegraph with Sir Trevor Brooking, the Football Association’s technical director, examines some of the grassroots problems. |
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Schools’ sporting challenge The amount of progress made in encouraging schools to take part in school sport was debated in the House of Commons last week, while Kelly Holmes has suggested that a shift away from traditional clothes could revolutionise girls’ sport. But finding enough teachers and coaches to improve school sport may be the biggest challenge of all. |
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‘Punter power’ is the way forward for Britain’s sports and arts institutions, says Andy Burnham, the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in his first interview since taking over the post. |
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Some of the world’s leading experts in coaching, sports medicine and sports science spoke at the Irish Institute of Sport’s inaugural high performance conference. |
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Sport and health roundup If you want to live nine years longer, then go for a daily jog (read more). This is among a whole batch of items here that highlight the impact of sport and physical activity on the nation’s health. Obesity toolkit - (IDEA) Walking cuts colon cancer risk (Reuters) Get in shape! (Intelihealth) GPs too busy to offer advice (The Times) Bosses in the spotlight (The Independent) Activity 'reduces ageing' (inthenews) |
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Funds to end ‘no ball games culture’ A report about additional Government money being made available to help sports colleges improve their facilities (read more) is among a number of items here on funding for sport – at home and abroad. English cricket gets £30m boost (BBC) International inspiration (UK Sport) Sport worth £15 billion (Sport England) |
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The UK’s first playground specifically for older people has opened in Manchester. |
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ISRM eNews issue 103: 30 January 2008 |
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Future choices to beat obesity Further to our report last week, there are more details here on the Government’s £372 million strategy to promote a healthy society across all life stages and sectors – from education to health, sport to transport – in a bid to curb the obesity epidemic. |
| Britain is struggling at sport because we are short of quarter of a million professional coaches, according to a report in The Times. |
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Scottish sports merger defended The plan to bring together sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport will cost less than previously estimated, the Scottish Sports Minister has claimed. |
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More than £400,000 was spent on funding the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation in 2006-07, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This was just one of a number of investments aimed at promoting greater levels of physical activity among women, a House of Commons Written Answer reveals. |
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Former Sports Minister Kate Hoey notes in The Daily Telegraph that six-and-a-half hours were allocated for sports-linked debates in Westminster during one week alone, suggesting that perhaps sport really might be starting to move up the political agenda. |
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British swimmers looking for continuity in the build-up to the Beijing Olympics will be relieved to hear that Michael Scott’s six-month role as national performance director for swimming has been extended through until after the Games. Meanwhile, a permanent replacement for Bill Sweetenham is still being sought. |
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TV game show to boost funds for sports charities A new digital TV game show promises to raise money for UK sports and recreation projects through lotto ticket sales. In Sweden – where the format originated – the show has raised almost £1bn for charities and sports organisations since 1991. |
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ISRM eNews issue 102: 23 January 2008 |
| National targets to drastically increase activity among children are being planned by the Government, which is pledging to offer youngsters five hours of ‘organised exercise’ a week, as well as providing funding to ten so-called ‘fit towns’. |
| Remember the moving promises from Sebastian Coe about the 2012 Games inspiring a new generation of sports enthusiasts around the globe? Now Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced the development of ‘International Inspiration’, starting with five pilot schemes in India, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Palau and Zambia. |
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Judging by the raft of Government announcements about obesity this week, it’s perhaps not surprising that a special Cabinet committee for health and wellbeing has been established, including 10 secretaries of state. |
| A new £17 million Olympic-size swimming pool is to open soon on Merseyside, following hard on the heels of the unveiling of a new 50-metre facility in Cardiff. |
| Children were among a group of swimmers taken to hospital after a chemical spillage at a swimming pool in east Leeds. |
| Any further increase in the Olympic budget will not come from the National Lottery budget. This was the promise made by Culture Secretary James Purnell in the House of Commons this week as he announced the latest 2012 funding proposals, some of which has involved money being diverted away from other causes, including Sport England. |
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There were plenty of interesting insights into Parliamentarians’ views on participation in sport – and particularly school sport – during a House of Commons debate this week. |
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ISRM eNews issue 101: 16 January 2008 |
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Olympic hopes and fears Opportunities for regional centres to act as training venues - and inevitable claims and counter-claims about funding issues - are among the Olympic-related stories hitting the headlines this week.
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Still unclear about the Government’s strategy for participation in sport and physical activity? Some clarification of the role to be played by the Department of Health in promoting physical activity among older people has been offered in a House of Commons written answer. |
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Is behaviour at kids’ football matches getting worse? Or are more matches being abandoned because referees are refusing to put up with the outrageous antics of some parents. The Independent is one of a number of newspapers to report on so-called ‘turf wars’. |
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50 per cent increase in value of sport Don’t underestimate the economic value of sport. According to Sport England, it’s worth more than £15 million a year to the nation’s economy. |
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The sad truth about Jones’ legacy The shame of sprinter Marion Jones – and the impact of her cheating – has been debated at length this week, not least by The Telegraph’s Sue Mott, who points out the implications for the whole sport of athletics. |
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Counting the cost of sub-standard pool water A Scottish local authority has admitted full responsibility for a cryptosporidium outbreak at one of its public swimming pools – and faces a £100,000 compensation bill. |
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Need help at your facility? Contact ISRM Consultants... It’s the start of a new era for ISRM Consultants, with a range of new services. CLICK HERE for more information. |
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ISRM eNews issue 100: 9 January 2008 |
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We’re 100-up! This issue marks a century for eNews, which is brought to you by the ISRM team each week and is designed to be a snapshot round-up of items of interest – some obscure, others right in the public eye – for those of us working in the sport and recreation profession. We’re always interested to receive your feedback, so do email us any thoughts at enews@isrm.co.uk. |
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Bang on message for 2008 The findings from two surveys will encourage people to think about ways to improve their health this year. First, improved diet could save 70,000 lives a year (read more) and second, taking exercise and eating and drinking the right food can add 14 years to your life (read more). |
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The Liberal Democrats are highlighting concerns that property developers are exploiting a loophole in rules designed to protect playing fields, according to a BBC report. |
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Pointing the way forward? Are you looking for clarity about the Government’s strategy for the future funding of sport – and its views on increasing levels of sports participation? If so, Sports Secretary James Purnell’s letter to the Local Government Association may help (read more), along with some interesting written answers from Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe that reveal how much some organisations are receiving from Government (read more). |
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Swimming updates A number of swimming-related items of interest have been in the news in recent weeks. Jurors at an inquest into the death of a schoolboy were unable to decide what caused an 11-year-old boy to drown at Thame Leisure Centre, in Oxfordshire (read more), while firefighters fought a blaze in a swimming pool plant room at a house in North Sydmonton in Newbury (read more). Meanwhile, Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has spelt out the levels of central funding support for life saving organisations (read more), and what steps his Department is taking to encourage people to participate in swimming (read more). |
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Olympic countdown It’s only a few months now until Beijing – and just four years to London 2012. We’ve got a range of links on stories relating to the Olympics here.Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell written ministerial statement - Olympic Delivery Authority budget (DCMS)Vocational Training: Sunderland (David Lammy, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills)Army in running to host British Olympic camp in final days before London games (Guardian.co.uk)Five reasons why Britain can win Olympic gold (Telegraph.co.uk)Uncertainty threatens to drag Thorpe down (Telegraph.co.uk) |
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ISRM eNews issue 99: 18 December 2007 |
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Treasury’s sporting role In all the publicity about the changes in the way that sport is organised and funded, the role of the Treasury in the new set-up has not received much coverage. But, according to a written answer given in the House of Lords last week, ‘Her Majesty’s Treasury is leading the development of a cross-government physical activity strategy for all’ (read more). Meanwhile, more evidence of the threat facing Sport England came in Health Minister Dawn Primarolo’s response to a separate question (read more). |
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Costs in the Lawn Tennis Association’s elite development department shot up by 68 per cent last year – not least because of the high salary paid to Andy Murray’s former coach Brad Gilbert, according to press reports. |
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Olympics chief talks through budget cuts Slashing the cost of the Olympic stadium, cutting £50 million off the roads and transport infrastructure bill - and scrapping a temporary fencing facility - are among the ways that London 2012 organisers are keeping the project in line with its financial targets. John Arnitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, told The Daily Telegraph that organisers had to cut almost £800 million from the budget to stay on track. |
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Anyone running a sports venue will be interested to hear about new fingerprint recognition systems introduced at the Carnegie Leisure Centre and the Pitreavie Stadium in Dunfermline, Scotland. It’s believed to be the first time the hi-tech bio-metric security ID scanners have been installed at sporting venues. |
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It looks like Sportscotland is to escape – at least, partially – the cull of quangos announced by the Scottish National Party when it came to power last May. According to reports, Ministers have been impressed by the argument that a single organisation is needed to drive forward improvements in Scottish sport. |
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Most 11-year-olds are now reaching the National Curriculum target of being able to swim 25 metres – but some groups of pupils are missing out, according to an Ofsted report of primary schools (read the report). It says that schools need to involve families and religious institutions to get more youngsters swimming. |
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Could we be seeing an end to the ‘no ball games’ culture in Britain’s schools and playgrounds? This seems to be one of the aims behind the Government’s new Children’s Plan, which claims that £385 million will be spent on improving playgrounds and youth clubs over the next three years. |
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Questions over Olympics’ equal opportunity policy While 160,000 people have registered their interested in becoming a volunteer in the 2012 London Olympic Games, Conservative MP Angela Watkinson raised the case of her constituency secretary who was told that she was ‘too old’ when she tried to offer her services. Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has apologised for what she described as a ‘shocking and no doubt wholly unintended offence’. |
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How’s your plain English? The Local Government Association marked National Plain English Day by publishing a list of 100 words that public bodies should not use if they want to communicate effectively with local people. From ‘can-do culture’ and ‘cautiously welcome’ to ‘top-down’ and ‘transformational’ we’re sad to say that we’ve heard almost all of them – and used quite a few too… |
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The average monthly direct debit for public gyms in London is £37.46, while for private gyms it is 46 per cent higher at £54.62. This is among the findings of a new report from the Leisure Database Company. |
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ISRM eNews issue 98: 11 December 2007 |
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Women’s participation set to tumble The amount of women taking part in sport and exercise is set to fall by 5.5 per cent by 2017, according to a major new report. Sue Tibballs, chief executive of the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation, said she hoped the report would alert Government, the media and the sport, health and education sectors to the scale of the challenge involved in reversing the current trends . ‘We will be using this report to stimulate a debate in the sport sector and beyond about how more women and girls can be encouraged to become and stay active.’ |
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A £50 million campaign to regenerate competitive cricket in state schools is paying off, an independent study has revealed. Researchers from Loughborough University’s Institute of Youth Sport found that Chance to shine, which works through cricket clubs to provide 50 hours of coaching and competition for each school, had brought widespread benefits on the playing field and in the classroom. |
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Active parents, active children? Active parents are more likely to raise more active children, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal. The report suggests that helping parents to increase their physical activity may promote more activity from children by the time they are 11 or 12 years old – although it acknowledges that the amount of proof about links between active parents and active children remains ‘modest’. |
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Another authoritative voice has entered the debate about the rights and wrongs of pushing child athletes to the limit. Reacting to the story about an eight-year-old Chinese girl who ran 4,000 kilometres over two months, a senior representative of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education has expressed his concerns. ‘They are children, their bodies are still developing, and they are vulnerable to the consequences of over-training.’ |
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Feeling depressed? Then take more exercise. This is a conclusion to be drawn from new findings, published in the journal Nature Medicine, which show that exercise seems to increase the production of naturally occurring brain chemicals with anti-depressant effects. |
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It’s worth being physically fit – even if you’re overweight. According to a new study, overweight and obese elderly people outlived their contemporaries – even the thin ones who weren’t physically fit. ‘There is perhaps too much focus on body weight, and fitness is only an afterthought,’ said one of the researchers in findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
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Maintaining physical activity in middle age means people will have better physical abilities as they age. This is among the findings from a UK study that proves a direct link between levels of physical activity in middle age and physical ability later in life – regardless of body weight. |
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Heatstroke and the tragedy of a charity cyclist A cyclist died while taking part in a charity ride on one of the hottest days of the year, an inquest heard. It was revealed during the hearing that an ambulance took an hour to reach 31-year-old Patrick Royle after he came off his mountain bike towards the end of the 58-mile trip from south-west London to Oxford. |
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Fund to help keep kids out of trouble The Government is putting up funding worth £420 million to pay for more places where young people can get active – instead of causing trouble. The funding, allocated across the country by Children’s Minister Beverley Hughes, will pay for projects such as skate parks, basketball courts and music workshops in disadvantaged areas where young people are at risk of getting into trouble. |
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It’s CPD submission time Have you completed your CPD submission yet? All submissions, which are sponsored by Arch Water Products, are due to be finished by the end of December. Click here for ideas and inspiration. |
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ISRM eNews issue 97: 5 December 2007 |
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Mapp’s parting shot Soon after the Government indicated a change in direction for Sport England - as reported in last week's eNews - the funding body's chairman, Derek Mapp, resigned. Mapp, who had only been in the post for 13 months, said he felt that Sport England had been making progress in its drive to get two million more people active by 2012. It has been announced that Richard Lewis, the former executive chairman of the Rugby Football League, is to carry out a full review of Sport England’s funding priorities (read more). Meanwhile, Jennie Price, Sport England’s chief executive, has paid tribute to Mapp (read more). |
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Mini-tennis, seen as integral to the Lawn Tennis Association’s plans to develop a better talent pipeline, is not all it’s cracked up to be. This is the charge from a body representing many of the UK’s tennis coaches, which says the National Competition Framework, using orange, red, green and yellow balls and multi-sized courts, might also be flawed. |
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Welsh pools to close Two swimming pools are to be closed in Wales, it has emerged. The facility at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff is to be turned into a judo centre (read more), while Torfaen council has revealed that it plans to close Blaenavon pool, because of the high cost of repairing damage to its roof that was caused by storms in January (read more). |
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One-third of the office-based staff at UK Athletics – up to 40 people - are set to lose their jobs. Announcing the restructuring plan, chief executive Niels de Vos, said the governing body had become a ‘little bit public sector’, in that it had ‘expanded to fill the available space’. |
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The words ‘legacy’ and ‘Olympics’ seem to go hand-in-hand in many circles – and now the Government has launched a new £40 million fund, called Legacy Trust UK, to promote the arts and sport to young people and communities. |
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Fears over missing £100 million The Government needs to raise an extra £100 million from the private sector for the UK’s elite athletes – or Britain’s target of finishing fourth in the medals table will be ‘difficult to achieve’. This is the warning from UK Sport chairman Sue Campbell, who has warned that £100 million of the £600 million package has yet to be found. |
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ISRM Conference and Exhibition 2007 - see the photos! Photos from this year's Conference and Exhibition - held at Center Parcs in Sherwood Forest - are now online in the gallery. Conference presentations are also available to download as PDFs. |
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ISRM eNews issue 96: 28 November 2007 |
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Badminton has seen a revival in popularity following the rise of Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms to become the world's number one-rated pair. More than 12,000 youngsters are due to take part in this year's National Inter-Schools Championships – twice the number that entered last year. |
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The Department of Health and the Home Office are joining forces to work on a campaign aimed at highlighting the dangers of drinking too much alcohol. The Know Your Limits campaign also aims to get across the message that excess alcohol can result in a 'beer belly' or a 'wine waist'. |
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Despite the success of several professional boxers in recent months, supporters of boxing are struggling to have it included on the National Curriculum as part of the physical education module. The Edexcel Foundation is claiming that injuries inflicted in boxing are intentional, meaning the sport is unsuitable for assessment at GCSE level. |
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'Runner's high' is good for the heart Opioids – endorphins and other substances released during physical exercise – may help protect people from heart attacks. While the 'runner's high' has been recognised for some time, the University of Iowa now says that these opioids may be responsible for the cardiovascular benefits of exercise. |
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Warning over post-Olympic drop-off Sports leaders have raised fears that the 2012 Olympic Games will fail to rejuvenate participation in sports once the event is over. The chief executive of British Swimming and the chairman of UK Athletics have both expressed concerns that a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' will be lost. |
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School leavers abandoning sport The government has admitted that there is a huge drop-off in participation in sport after youngsters leave school. Questioned by Lib Dem MP Don Foster, Gerry Sutcliffe of the DCMS published figures showing that 80 per cent of 17 and 18-year-olds are involved in active sport – compared with just 52.3 per cent of those aged 19 and over. |
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Cultural shift needed on female sport About 80 per cent of women do too little exercise, according to a report that also says men are twice as likely to be involved in competitive sport. Following the report, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for a 'cultural change' to change females' attitudes to sport. |
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The Government has been accused of a U-turn on plans to get two million people active – so more money can go towards producing sports champions of the future. The culture secretary James Parnell reportedly wants to water down plans to increase participation in sport. |
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ISRM Conference 2007 - Download the presentations At the core of the 2007 Conference were keynotes presented by first-rate speakers, exploring how the culture of sport, recreation and health is developing in the UK. These presentations are now available to download from the ISRM website. |
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ISRM eNews issue 95: 22 November 2007 |
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In all the hullaballoo surrounding the unveiling of London’s Olympic venue, the BBC asked: what do stadiums really say about the countries they are in? Some, like Chile’s national stadium, become associated with political oppression while others, like Lord’s cricket ground are written into the mythology of opposing teams. Meanwhile, one critic has described it as ‘probably one of the most architecturally underwhelming stadiums there has ever been’. |
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Relocatable venues are being rightly trumpeted as a key pillar underpinning the London 2012 organisers’ strategy for legacy planning. But it’s not just a question of looking for users who can potentially take over whole venues – Sport England has written to potential future users of the individual elements that make up a venue. So, if you might be needing various types of seating, sports surfaces and lighting in just over four-and-a-half years’ time, see the letter attached and also visit the relevant Sport England web-page: http://www.sportengland.org/2012venues |
| An impressive two-fifths of the UK population – equivalent to 4.6 million adults - have received sports coaching in the past 12 months. And, as the frequency of participation increases so does the use of coaching. These are among the findings of a major survey carried out by Sports Coach UK, the National Coaching Foundation. |
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ISRM Conference hails sport's 'golden decade' Speakers at the ISRM Conference last week hailed the sold-out event at Center Parcs, near Nottingham, as the launch-pad for a ‘golden decade of sport’ in the UK. And Pauline Kelleher, the Institute’s new President, highlighted how ISRM had taken some massive steps forward over the past year. ‘We are increasingly fit for purpose and continue to be the market leaders in developing and delivering new products, services, standards and initiatives to our members and the wider industry,’ she said. |
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News that the Welsh Assembly Government is to wipe out the Wales Millennium Centre’s £13.5 million debts and treble its annual funding revenue will have been viewed with interest by people involved in delivering sport in the country. If the Government is prepared to do that for the arts, will it show a similar generosity with sport? |
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It’s been a bad week for Her Majesty’s Customs and Revenue, so if it wants to regain some popularity, at least in sporting circles, it should think about reviewing its policy over pursuing leisure trusts for unpaid VAT. This was a point made very clearly in an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons. |
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Evidence base for benefits of exercise If you want to lose a lot of weight – and keep it off – walk briskly for almost an hour a day, or carry out some other regular physical activity. The annual meeting of the United States Obesity Society heard that, perhaps unsurprisingly, a large body of research now points to the benefits of exercise in tackling people’s weight problems. |
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ISRM eNews issue 94: 7 November 2007 |
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It’s bite-your-nails time for Glasgow as the city waits to hear whether it will host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The decision will be announced on Friday, with the Nigerian capital, Abuja, offering the only competition. The biggest stumbling block for Glasgow may be the fact that, as yet, the Games have never been held in Africa - a trend that many in the Commonwealth are keen to reverse. |
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Funding boost for Scots coaching Whatever Friday’s decision, Scottish sport has had one boost this week – with the news that it is to benefit from a new £5 million investment in coaching over the next four years. The lottery funding will help with costs for 8,500 volunteers and pay towards the training of elite athletes. ‘It is critical that we provide coaches to help our elite athletes realise their medal potential,’ said Julie Bracewell, chair of Sportscotland. |
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A west Midlands sports scheme has been heralded as a shining example of how diverse communities can best live and work together. Equalities Minister Barbara Follett paid the tribute when visiting the Local Leagues project in Balsall Heath, which has grown to involve more than 1,400 children and young people in 42 sessions each month. |
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On yer bike for a spot of polo The latest sport to be making a comeback in urban Britain is Bike Polo, according to a report in The Guardian. But, as the paper points out, the social aspects surrounding the game are a far cry from those enjoyed by people who have traditionally focused on the equestrian version of the game. The sport enjoyed its heyday in the 1930s, apparently. |
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The big three The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has outlined how it will measure progress towards its three Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets. Find out more here. |
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Paula Radcliffe wasn’t wearing an iPod or other type of MP3 player when she stormed to victory in the New York marathon on Sunday – unlike many amateur runners who trailed in behind her. This was despite the ruling from USA Track & Field, the sport’s governing body, that MP3 players should be banned because they pose a safety issue. New York police decided not to stop contestants from wearing the musical devices, which are becoming ever-more popular with joggers and runners in the UK and across the world. |
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The largest ever study into lifestyles and cancer has concluded that carrying excessive body fat greatly increases your risk of cancer. The study, conducted by the World Cancer Research Fund, gathered together evidence from 7,000 previous studies to look for common factors, and found that being overweight was particularly significant. As a result, the Fund has recommended that people seeking to reduce their risk of cancer should ensure they stay slim, and avoid alcohol, processed meat like bacon and ham, a limit consumption of red meat to 500g a week. |
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ISRM eNews issue 93: 30 October 2007 |
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VAT ruling 'undermines' anti-obesity drive Tax officials have warned all the UK’s public gyms that they need to levy VAT on their full membership fees. Critics say the move – which follows a court case in Scotland – will undermine efforts to tackle the UK’s obesity problems (read more). Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Kate Hoey MP says this shows the Treasury is not signed up to tackling obesity or it ‘would be zero-rating all local authority sport’. |
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Understanding the nation’s sporting motivations If you want to understand more about targeting your marketing at specific groups of people, why not visit the market segmentation section of the Sport England website? There you will find out more about people like Leanne, a ‘supportive single’, Kev, a ‘pub league team mate’ and Terry, a ‘local old boy’. These are three of 19 types of people who have been identified to help us understand the nation’s attitudes and motivations – specifically, why they play sport and why they don’t. |
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Child-protection manual ‘too complex’ Guidelines in a new child-protection manual for young golfers are unnecessarily complex, according to the Yorkshire Golf Union. It is among a number of counties that say they are prepared to forego development funding from Sport England, rather than adopt the manual, called Safeguarding Children in Golf. |
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UK Sport has launched a long-term strategy for the ‘Prevention of Doping in Sport’. Seeking to influence attitudes and opinions towards drug-free sport among the sporting community, it focuses on three core areas of prevention – education and information; science and information; and research. |
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Call for change to exercise guidelines The Government’s current exercise guidelines are threatening the nation’s health. This is the claim made following a study by British scientists which says that the current guidelines – 30 minutes’ moderate exercise five times a week – leads most adults to wrongly believe that moderate exercise is more beneficial than vigorous exercise. |
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Tackling the sickies The way that exercise can improve health levels is highlighted in two new reports. One, from East Sussex County Council, shows how the authority managed to reduce sickness rates, while improving the health and well-being of its staff (read more). The other highlights how just three months of daily, vigorous physical activity in overweight children improves their thinking and reduces their risk of becoming diabetics (read more). |
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Olympics news Three Olympic items this week. At least nine new Olympic-sized pools could be opened before London 2012, according to Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe (read more); Sport England has outlined how it plans to make a number of sporting facilities for London 2012 ‘reusable venues’ (read more); and rugby-loving Olympics chief Jacques Rogge has taken a swipe about the quality of play at the Rugby World Cup while warning that the seven-a-side version of the game faces an ‘uphill battle’ to become an Olympic sport (read more). |
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ISRM Conference – late places available Center Parcs has released a few extra rooms for the ISRM Conference and Exhibition in Sherwood Forest on 14 and 15 November. But these unexpected spaces are only available until 12 noon this Friday (November 2). So please call 01509 226474 NOW for further information, or to book. |
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ISRM eNews issue 92: 24 October 2007 |
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Planning a major public event? It’s that time of year when local authorities are co-ordinating a number of major events – and there’s plenty of advice being doled out in the build-up. The Government is urging organisers of major fireworks events to ensure they earn the recognition they deserve by carrying out some concerted local media promotional activity (read more). Meanwhile, the country’s health and safety boss is calling on people organising Remembrance Day parades to make sure they are not ruined by needless bureaucracy. |
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Another school pool closes – despite the best efforts of campaigning MP Kate Hoey, who tabled a written House of Commons question about the fact there are no plans to replace the swimming pool at a school that is being redeveloped in London. Education Minister Jim Knight replied that Lambeth council took the view that using its allocated funding to replace the pool at Stockwell Park School ‘would not represent good value for money’. |
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How can we identify and develop talented athletes? There are some – but certainly not all – answers to this often-asked question in a new paper from a group of academics who give a perspective on best-practice in the United States. (more info). Meanwhile, closer to home there are some encouraging signs from a survey of school sport carried out by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which claims that participation levels have increased from 62 per cent in the first survey in 2003/4 to 86 per cent in the latest survey. |
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We see plenty of scare story headlines about the so-called obesity crisis – but if you want some hard-bitten academic insight, take a look at this report from the Foresight Programme of the Office of Science and Technology, which examines the many reasons for this growing problem. |
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Former triathlete Cathy Hughes has taken on a new role designed to help ensure that London 2012 leads to an increase in sports participation. Hughes has switched from her position at Sport England to become sport participation and legacy manager for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG). She will focus on ‘making connections’ between LOCOG and all the sport providers in the UK. |
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Trainers that aren’t worth the money There have been a number of interesting reports published in the past few days concerning sport, not least a study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggesting that expensive trainers are not worth the money (read more). Other reports that have caught our eye include: |
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ISRM eNews issue 91: 17 October 2007 |
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Fine words There has been plenty of high-profile Government rhetoric in recent weeks that should, in theory, encourage anyone from local authorities who is involved in delivering sport. Highlights included Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe launching RAMP, a new athlete mentoring programme that targets young people from deprived areas who are at risk of getting involved in anti-social behaviour (read more), and Hazel Blears, Communities Secretary for England, telling a meeting of local authority chief executives that, ‘in the face of global challenges, local government can be the solution’ (read more). Meanwhile, if you want to let the Government know your particular concerns or views about preparations for London 2012, the Culture Media and Sport Committee has issued a call for evidence that covers a wide range of important topics, including legacy use of venues and how British athletes are likely to perform at the Games (read more). |
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Despite the encouragement offered by certain individuals in Government (see top story, left), a reality check came with Chancellor Alistair Darling’s Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). While the former included nothing for sport and recreation, the CSR settlement for the Department for Culture Media and Sport included the promise that its budget would increase to £2.2bn in three years’ time. But, as the Central Council for Physical Recreation points out, it remains unclear how much of DCMS’ settlement will be dedicated to increasing youth participation in sport. |
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More in the apparently non-stop diet of warnings about the obesity timebomb in the UK, with evidence on the Government’s own doorstep that children are eating too much junk food and not doing enough exercise. But it’s not all doom and gloom. The Queen Mother Sports Centre in Westminster is espousing the benefits of its free MEND active lifestyle programme (read more), while new evidence from the United States suggests that such programmes make a genuine difference and help get children into shape. |
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Almost 80 per cent of patients referred to an exercise referral scheme in Northern Ireland did not complete the course. As part of the Big Lottery-funded Healthwise initiative, people were referred by a GP, nurse, physiotherapists or other health carers to get involved in physical activity and given free access to a fitness facility at a local leisure centre. |
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How can the private sector use sport to empower individuals, alleviate poverty, improve health and create social change? This is the subject of Shared Goals 2, a report produced for business managers involved, or looking to be involved, in sport for development, as well as interested government agencies and stakeholders. |
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It’s that time again – go and check out October's Myth of the Month from the Health and Safety Executive. |
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It’s not just the trademark crouched stance that makes the difference for Jonny Wilkinson when he’s kicking for goal. According to a medical journal, the most successful kickers, like England’s talisman, are those who swing their non-kicking side arm across their chest as they kick. So, watch closely on Saturday evening… |
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Latest Recreation published The postal strikes may have delayed its delivery by a few days but the latest issue of Recreation, the ISRM’s magazine, should now have been delivered. It includes a report on the UK School Games, a feature on the little-known sport of tchoukball, the latest in Marcus Gelder’s essential series on leadership in the sport and recreation sector and much more. |
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ISRM eNews issue 90: 9 October 2007 |
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More co-ordination at a national and regional level would help reduce future burdens on local authorities that result from the work of the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This is among the findings of a report into DCMS, which was carried out by the Lifting the Burdens Task Force. It said a key priority was for the department to improve co-ordination of the work of its non-departmental public bodies (which include UK Sport, Sport England and the Olympic Delivery Authority). |
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Doubts over boxing’s links with brain injury Theories that boxing leads to brain injury are being questioned in new research. Doctors in the UK have called for a complete ban on the sport – both amateur and professional. But a study published on the British Medical Journal website suggests that the evidence linking amateur boxing and chronic brain injury is ‘not strong’. |
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Another theory being challenged in the British Medical Journal is that fizzy drinks have a long-term impact on childhood obesity. Those of us involved in tackling obesity may be somewhat disheartened to know that an education programme which successfully cut children’s weight levels - by teaching them about healthy eating and discouraging fizzy drinks - was no longer effective three years after the intervention came to an end. |
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Parents are failing to face up to the fact their children are overweight, according to research from University College London, which was published as local health bodies started arranging to weigh and measure children in reception classes (aged four to five) and Year Six (aged 10-11). According to a report in The Times, only six per cent of parents with overweight or obese youngsters agreed this was the case. |
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Anyone involved in managing people or a business needs to be aware of a raft of new laws that have come into force this autumn. They include changes to statutory holiday entitlement (more info), an increase in the National Minimum Wage (more info) and developments in company law through the new Companies Act (more info). Meanwhile, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has replaced the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) (more info). |
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Are you looking for the latest information and guidance about commissioning work and services in the local authority sector? If so, a guide produced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountability (CIPFA) should offer you the help you need. CIPFA’s Commissioning Joint Committee has released the latest version of its popular and comprehensive Standing Guide to the Commissioning of Local Authority Work and Services. |
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ISRM Conference – book now for final few places! An inspirational speaker will close this year’s ISRM Conference and Exhibition, which is to be held at Center Parcs, Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 November. Norman Croucher, former Man of the Year, will share the story of how he set out to climb one of the world's highest mountains - even though he has two artificial legs. Meanwhile it has also been confirmed this week that QUILL, a band that has entertained delegates at many past ISRM conferences, will be returning this year to perform following the much-anticipated medieval banquet on the Wednesday evening. There are only 12 full delegate places left for the event - as well as a limited number of day tickets. So book fast |
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ISRM eNews issue 89: 3 October 2007 |
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Boy, 7, drowns at Scottish pool A seven-year-old boy drowned this weekend at a local authority-run swimming pool in Dundee, Scotland. Luke Hutton was reported missing at the Olympia Leisure Centre at about 6pm on Saturday – and was later found at the bottom of the main pool, which had been covered over. An investigation is underway, led by representatives from the police and the Health and Safety Executive. |
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Fitness improves kids’ asthma management Scientists have found another group that benefits from physical fitness – children with asthma. A study in the American College of Sports Medicine shows that youngsters who improve their physical fitness are likely to be able to control the disease better and enjoy an improved quality of life. |
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Exercise as good as drugs in tackling depression And there’s further evidence from the United States of the beneficial effects of regular exercise, with researchers saying it may work as well as medication in improving symptoms of major depression. In a study of 202 depressed adults carried out by a university in North Carolina, investigators found that those who went through group-based exercise therapy did as well as those treated with an antidepressant drug. |
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‘Scandal’ of primary school PE teacher training Almost half of newly-qualified primary teachers receive only six hours or less training to teach PE. Despite the fact that increasing numbers of pupils are studying PE as a GCSE subject, The Daily Telegraph reported that the Association for Physical Education regards the standards of teaching at primary level are a ‘scandal’. |
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Worries over funding for community sport The concerns of community sports leaders about funding have hit national newspaper headlines this week. The Daily Mail reported that Sport England had put the Sportsmatch scheme – which matches new sponsorship money pound for pound – ‘into cold storage’. It said those looking for Sportsmatch funding had been told by Sport England that there was no money left to allocate for the 2007-08 financial year. |
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ISRM eNews issue 88: 26 September 2007 |
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£11 million youth sports boost A ground-breaking youth football project is to be expanded following its success in cutting anti-social behaviour. The £11 million roll-out of Kickz – a partnership of 30 professional football clubs - will see more than 12,000 teenagers across the country being given the chance to take part in sports sessions three nights a week. Meanwhile, the Government has announced a campaign to recruit 10,000 voluntary community sports coaches in 70 of the most deprived areas of the country. |
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Following research featured in last week’s eNews – about youngsters’ poor exercise levels – Guardian journalist Peta Bee spotlighted some top tips for parents to help them get their kids off the sofa. Bemoaning the fact that ‘we’re a nation of fatsos’, her advice includes buying children sporty toys, staging mini-sports events with their friends and walking them to school. And, she says, perhaps the most important priority for parents is to set an active example themselves. |
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They’d rather die than take exercise More depressing news about people’s willingness to avoid exercise – with a YouGov poll suggesting that not even the threat of an early death is enough to get most adults off the sofa. Fewer than 40 per cent of people questioned in the survey said they would do more exercise if their life depended on it, while latest figures from the British Heart Foundation show that only a third of people take enough exercise to achieve the minimum recommended amount. |
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Young people who hate sport are taking exercise – thanks to a new computer dance programme. The BBC reports that Dance Revolution is aimed at girls who are not interested in traditional sports. It involves laying out removable mats in a studio, and getting participants to follow instructions from a computer on a large screen. |
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Martial arts helps kids ‘stand up to bullies’ Young martial artists are being helped to tackle bullying and child abuse through a new ‘Safe Kids’ campaign. The National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools, which is launching the campaign, claims martial arts can give kids the confidence to stand up to bullies or avoid difficult situations. |
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ISRM eNews issue 87: 19 September 2007 |
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Worrying statistics on youngsters’ activity levels More than 97 per cent of 11-year-olds in the UK are not taking enough exercise, according to figures to be featured in a specialist publication from the British Medical Journal. Researchers monitored the physical activity levels of more than 5,500 11-year-olds in south-west England over seven-day periods, finding they were around twice as physically active as adults, but were still not spending the recommended hour-a-day taking part in moderate to vigorous physical activity. Meanwhile, the Archives of Disease in Childhood also report that children are likely to become obese more quickly if their mothers are fat. |
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Exercise helps tackle diabetes Taking part in regular exercise might help children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes reduce their risk of future heart and blood vessel disease. German researchers found that, of more than 20,000 patients ranging from three to 18 years old, the most active had the best long-term sugar control. |
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Aussies’ activity and dietary failings Only five per cent of Australians are meeting their country’s national physical activity and nutrition guidelines, according to figures to be published in the International Journal of Obesity. It also reports that Australians who perceive they are overweight are less likely to take part in physical activity – suggesting public health strategies should focus on helping people overcome this perception. |
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The rising costs of the 2012 London Olympics are likely to have a negative impact on future funding for sport’s national governing bodies. Thirty-two governing bodies share £315 million under the current funding package, from 2005 to 2009, but this is unlikely to be repeated, according to Paul Kelso, who writes Guardian Sport’s ‘Digger’ column. He adds that the next funding round will focus less on traditional sports, as Sport England seeks an increase in grassroots participation. |
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Glowing report for Glasgow bid Features such as world-class competition venues, an excellent games village and a strong existing transport infrastructure are among the factors helping Glasgow build a lead in its bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The technical evaluation report from the Commonwealth Games Federation was less positive about the rival bid – from Abuja, Nigeria. |
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'Go on, get out of your armchair' European citizens are being urged to make physical activity part of their daily lives, through a new TV advertising campaign. Millions of football fans are seeing the ads, launched jointly by the European Commission and UEFA, because they are being shown during this season’s televised Champions League matches. |
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The sports division of the Government’s Department for Culture Media and Sport has 37 posts allocated to it – and a total administration cost of £1.6 million a year. This was among the facts revealed by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe when he responded to a Parliamentary question about the workings of the department. He estimated that 35 per cent of total staff time was spent on policy development, 35 per cent of time on direct ministerial support and 30 per cent on non-departmental public body support. |
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ISRM eNews issue 86: 12 September 2007 |
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The latest issue of Relay, from the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit, focuses on topics including: a call for victims of child abuse in sport to come forward; signing up to keep children safe; a framework to support safety; the right training for coaches; and learning from research. The NSPCC’s Steve Boocock says that listening to and learning from experiences is key to the development of safeguarding practices in sport. He will be speaking at this Friday’s ISRM Sport Excel seminar on the subject. (There are a few places available for the seminar; contact 01509 2264794 for details) |
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Call for a ban on 'cage-fighting' The increasingly popular sport of cage-fighting should be banned, according to the British Medical Association (BMA). Events such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, held in London last weekend, pit different fighting styles against each other in caged rings. ‘As a civilised society we should be campaigning to outlaw these activities,’ said the BMA’s Dr Vivienne Nathanson of a sport that has been described as ‘human cockfighting’. |
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Debates rumble on about doping in sport and the rights and wrongs of Christine Ohuruogu’s gold medal performance in the World Athletics Championships. The Times’ trenchant columnist Martin Samuels has launched a diatribe against ‘the mealy-mouthed apologist ramblings that were the currency in Osaka’, arguing that the ‘dwindling significance of athletics in the public mind’ is because nobody believes in its authenticity any more. |
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Ever wanted to hold a fireworks spectacular? Your event would do well to match the spectacle of the finale of the Edinburgh International Festival, but you can pick up some best-practice tips from a a fascinating article on the BBC website which highlights how the organisers used ‘synchronicity, sympathy and symmetry’ to combine 100,000 fireworks and more than 50 musical instruments. |
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Gene that controls body fat levels Scientists hope they might find new ways to fight obesity and diabetes, after discovering that a single gene can keep in check the tendency to pile on fat. The University of Texas team manipulated the gene, called adipose, to alter the amount of fat tissue laid down by fruit flies, worms and mice. If the same effect could be achieved in humans, it could explain why so many people struggle to lose weight. |
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British swimming could be left rudderless in the run-in to the Beijing Olympics, following the unexpectedly early departure of Bill Sweetenham from his role as national performance director. Tributes to Sweetenham have poured in since he asked to step down for family reasons – but his tenure has not been without controversy. |
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A young girl has drowned in the swimming pool at the Dome Leisure Complex, in Doncaster. Reports said the five-year-old, who was pulled unconscious from the water and pronounced dead later at hospital, had been with a group of family and friends. A Dome complex spokesman said it followed ISRM guidelines about children being accompanied by an adult. |
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ISRM eNews issue 85: 5 September 2007 |
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In the latest on a theme that is bound to be repeated plenty of times between now and 2012, two Olympic promotions have been banned. Firstly, double Olympic gold medal winner Daley Thompson was told he cannot promote Little Chef’s Olympic Breakfast. Then a butcher from Weymouth – home of the 2012 sailing events – was ordered to take down a sign showing five sausage rings in the shape of the Olympic logo. |
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With children going back to school this week, unsurprising news has emerged from a new study showing that pupils who do more physical education have significantly smaller waistlines. What is more surprising is the extent of the differences. The study, to be published next month, will show that boys in secondary schools with three PE sessions a week have waists about 3cm (1.2in) slimmer than boys doing one or two sessions. |
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Is sport really male-oriented and male-driven? This is the view put forward in a major New Statesman feature that points out how, in the highest-profile women’s sports, British women are ‘limping along behind the pack’. Written before Christine Ohuruogu’s recent triumph at the World Athletics Championships, it points out that 40 per cent of girls drop out of all sporting activity by the time they are 18. Elite athletes and industry bodies fear sport is losing touch with an entire generation of young women in the UK, it suggests. |
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Cost-cutting measures in swimming pools, which are leading to a lack of proper supervision of divers, are a key factor in Britain’s poor performance in the sport. John Whitby, former boss of the GB Diving Federation, says most lifeguards are being ‘paid the wages of fast-food workers’ and would rather ‘just sit and watch’ – one of the reasons, he claimed, why British divers have only six boards left to train on. |
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Obituary: Gordon Smith M.Inst SRM Dip. We are sad to report that Gordon Smith, a well-known former Sport & Recreation Manager and member of the ISRM, has died at the age of 79. |
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Take part in this online consultation and help shape Sport England's Plan for Community Sport 2008-2011. |
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Should sports and leisure centres stock so-called 'junk food' - such as sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks - in their vending machines? This is the subject of our cover story in the September issue of the ISRM's Recreation magazine, which will be mailed out next week. Receiving Recreation is one of the benefits of joining ISRM. See details below. |
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ISRM eNews issue 84: 30 August 2007 |
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Call for open water swimming tests A teenager’s death has led to a coroner calling for pupils to be required to prove their ability to swim in open water before taking part in school adventure holidays. Northamptonshire coroner Anne Pember made the suggestion during the inquest into the death of a 17-year-old who drowned in a river in South America during a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition. |
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Can’t lose weight? Blame your parents If you exercise hard, but cannot cut down your weight – you can blame it on your parents. According to American researchers, genes have a major impact on people’s receptiveness to exercise, meaning that exercise may be a waste of time for one person in six wanting to tone up their body. |
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The Daily Mail reports that former Minister of Sport Richard Caborn is currently touting around his memoirs to publishers. ISRM Trustees and others who dealt with the Minister and his officials during his six years in the hot seat will be particularly interested to read the final version. |
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A boxing club is wrong to ban women, according to the sport’s governing body. The Amalgamated Boys Club in Guernsey told The Guernsey Press that it cannot accept female members, because separate training areas and toilets would be needed. But the Amateur Boxing Association said it would not back the club if it was challenged through the courts. |
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Players, parents and coaches need to be better educated about how to deal with rising summer temperatures. This is the view of experts in Texas, who warn that a rise in body heat of just two or three per cent can weaken a player’s performance. And not much more is needed to put their health in danger. |
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There are obviously a few health and safety concerns, but it looks like these Japanese bathers are enjoying themselves at a wave pool in Tokyo. Take a look at this video, posted on the C Scout Japan web-site, unless you suffer from motion sickness, of course… |
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ISRM eNews issue 83: 21 August 2007 |
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Experts suggest exercise guidelines have been misinterpreted A group of leading public health experts are revising their widely-adopted recommendation that 30 minutes of gentle daily exercise is enough. According to a report in The Guardian, they now argue that adults need to add jogging and twice-weekly weight training sessions if they want to cut their risk of heart disease and obesity. |
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Small bouts of exercise can lead to longevity Despite the story above, it’s still worth remembering that ‘any movement helps’. Research from the American Council on Exercise shows that exercising at a moderate intensity or doing daily activities such as running errands can probably lengthen your life. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the researchers found that death rates went down as daily energy output went up. |
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Emphasise health benefits of exercise, not appearance Continuing on a similar theme, fitness instructors are being urged to focus on the health benefits of exercise – rather than how it can improve people’s appearance.A study of women concerned about their body image found they were unlikely to attend exercise classes where instructors said the workout would help improve their appearance. However, the women – who also reacted negatively to mirrors in a workout room - enjoyed the sessions more when the instructor focused on the health benefits. |
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Pool closed after bacterium discovery A Scottish public swimming pool was closed because the water was contaminated with a bacterium. ‘Slightly raised’ levels of pseudomonas, which can cause skin rashes and ear infections, were found at the pool in Arbroath and bosses at Angus Council opted to temporarily close the pool as a precaution, although the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group advised there was no need to do so. |
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Physical activity can play a significant role in helping people suffering from mental health problems. This is the finding of a Canadian exercise psychologist, who is also calling for more dialogue between physical activity and mental health professionals. |
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Warning over threat to veterans sport Sports clubs and local authority sports providers could find themselves tied down in endless red tape under the planned new Equality Act. The Guardian reports that campaigners are lobbying Government officials to make sure the Act does not have unintended consequences for sport because of the way it discriminates on ability, age and gender. Veterans’ teams may be under particular threat, according to the Central Council for Physical Recreation. |
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Eleven of sport’s governing bodies in Scotland are to share £2 million as part of a drive to improve levels of participation and performance.The new Scottish Government is also backing Glasgow City Council’s £14.2 million Scotstoun Stadium project with £4.5 million. It is the latest of 10 projects to receive stage two approval under a £50 million national and regional sports facilities strategy. |
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Private equity eyes Esporta as owner faces £150m losses The holding company behind health club operator Esporta has been placed into administration, leaving its entrepreneur owner Simon Halabi facing losses of as much as £150m. The Independent reported that private equity bidders are ready to make a move for the business, with former chief executive Neil Gillis said to be in talks about returning to run the chain of 54 clubs. |
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ISRM eNews issue 82: 7 August 2007 |
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Swimmers told they can cover up Pool bosses in Surrey are testing a new policy that allows people to cover up more of their body when swimming. Swimmers at Woking’s Pool in the Park can wear leggings or Lycra-based tracksuits, with both long and short sleeves, as well as swimwear specially designed for Muslim women. The new rules reflect concerns that some people are put off swimming because they have to show more of their body than they want to… |
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Admit it, do you use too much jargon when communicating with customers or residents? Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council has launched Junk the Jargon Week, aiming for a drastic reduction in the amount of jargon used by employees. As part of the purge, 1,568 examples of jargon were removed from the council’s website. |
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Sport England has launched a review of its equality policy - as part of its drive to have two million more people taking part in sport by 2012. The review will focus on ensuring that women, people with disabilities and those from ethnic minority backgrounds are being encouraged to participate in sport. |
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Verdict reinforces 'cotton wool culture' Teachers’ leaders have hit out at the UK’s litigation culture after a headmaster was judged responsible for the death of a three-year-old boy who was injured in the school playground. A court decided James Porter was wrong to allow pre-school children access to a flight of steps from which Kian Williams jumped as he pretended to be Batman. |
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Confused Olympic responsibilities ‘Just who is in charge of the London Olympics?’ This was the question raised in Guardian Sport’s ‘Digger’ column, which highlighted that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s website still proclaims it is the ‘lead government department for the 2012 Olympic Games’ – despite the fact that Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell is now based at the Cabinet Office. |
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Minor county, major cricket facilities Cricketing opportunities for people living in Devon will improve when a new £2 million indoor cricket centre opens in Autumn 2008. The centre at the University of Exeter, which will have four indoor nets and a video analysis suite to assess players’ techniques, will boost Devon’s reputation as one of England’s leading minor county teams. |
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Pool lifeguards and other staff members swung into action when GL1 Gloucester Leisure Centre was turned into an Emergency Rest Centre during the worst floods to hit the city for a century. Staff spent more than 3,000 hours responding to the crisis, accommodating 700 stranded people and, when tap water supplies dried up, handing out vital bottled water supplies to residents. |
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Due to an additional accommodation allocation from Center Parcs, early bird discounts now extended until 14 August. There are limited places, so BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment. |
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Keeping children ?Safe in Sport? Parents and carers are being given clear advice on how to ensure that sports clubs are using the right child protection measures. ‘Safe in Sport’ is a new leaflet put together by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and supported by the NSPCC. It explains the questions that parents need to ask to check that sports providers are managing their child’s sporting development in as safe an environment as possible. |
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ISRM eNews issue 81: 1 August 2007 |
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The Government has pledged to ensure there is a youth club in every neighbourhood, in an effort to reduce teenage delinquency. Children's Minister Beverley Hughes has highlighted the potential benefits of structured activities for young people, which can help them to develop better social and emotional skills. |
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'Allow Tour doping,' says commentator Doping should be allowed in cycling's Tour de France, according to one commentator who has witnessed the recent 'media-fest of allegation, innuendo, recrimination and scandal. Julian Savulesco, writing in The Daily Telegraph, claims that doping is now 'part of the spirit of Le Tour' and that medical advances mean some drugs will be almost impossible to detect in the future. |
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Participation in sport should be encouraged more in England as the nation prepares to host the 2012 Olympic Games, says a Daily Telegraph sports writer. Jennie Price, writing in the newspaper, says that though we are a great sporting nation in terms of watching, talking and supporting, some 50 per cent of the nation participates in no sport whatsoever. |
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Christie chosen for street initiative Banned athlete Linford Christie has been chosen as a figurehead for a new organisation aimed at uncovering talent in inner-city areas. Christie's company Nuff Respect has been awarded a grant on the basis that it does not make a profit, as part of Sport England's Street Athletics initiative. |
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Due to an additional accommodation allocation from Center Parcs, early bird discounts now extended until 14 August. There are limited places, so BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment. |
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Sales of school playing fields have been largely stopped since new laws were introduced in 2004, the Government claims. Schools are now banned from selling off their playing fields if other community groups use them - and also have to prove they are genuinely surplus to needs if they want to make a sale. |
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued new guidance to swimming pool operators in time for the school summer holidays. This follows the HSE investigation into the deaths of two teenagers who drowned at the Metropolitan Police Training College in Hendon, north London, during a summer play scheme in 2002. |
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Leaked report warns of obesity timebomb Half of all primary school boys will be obese by the year 2050, according a leaked report commissioned by the former Department of Trade and Industry. The paper claims that adult and childhood obesity in England will carry on rising until there are big changes in the population's lifestyle - and official government policy. This could lead to dramatic increases in heart problems, strokes and diabetes. |
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ISRM eNews issue 80: 25 July 2007 |
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The ISRM has re-iterated its position on the use of arm bands in swimming pools after media coverage led to several leisure centres banning their use. The Institute advised that anyone blowing up arm bands and rubber rings is at risk of catching germs - but some pools across the country have stopped providing the flotation devices following the statement. |
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Parents are being told that they should stop 'wrapping their children in cotton wool' and let them take part in traditional kids' activities such as conker-fighting and snowball fights. The new secretary of state for children, Ed Balls, said that childhood is 'a time for learning and exploring' and that children should be encouraged to get out and take part in as many activities as possible. |
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Weight-lifting 'good for the heart' Weight lifting can have many benefits for those suffering from heart disease - and is a very safe activity if guidelines are followed. That is the opinion of the American Heart Association, which this months stated that resistance training enhances aerobic fitness with 'the added benefit of increased functional capacity and indepedence'. |
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Concern as cardiac death reduction slows Deaths from heart disease are no longer being reduced significantly, leading to scientists' concern over the 'disquieting' trend. According to the journal Heart, rates have been dropping steadily over the past two decades - but there was virtually no fall in death rates aged 35-44 between 2000 and 2004. |
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Alcohol-related admissions treble The number of people being admitted overnight to hospital for alcohol-related visits has trebled since changes to licensing laws. The Emergency Medicine Journal also reports that visits associated with assault related to excess alcohol have doubled between March 2005 and March 2006. |
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Tighten sports structures, says minister Current youth sports structures are 'confused' and may risk burnout among young competitors with too many demands on their time. Culture secretary James Purnell has held meetings with several national sports organisations in an effort to create a 'world-class' structure to prepare for the 2012 Olympic Games. |
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Tennis training damaging spines Young tennis players are risking damage to their spines because their training is too intense, according to a report by the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Scans on 33 players at a national tennis centre, all aged 16 to 23, showed that 28 of them had various spinal abnormalities in the lower back - some of which were irreparable. |
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ISRM Conference - early bird offer ending soon! Book before the end of July to take advantage of the early bird rate for the ISRM 2007 conference at Center Parcs and save 20% on the conference fee. |
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ISRM eNews issue 79: 17 July 2007 |
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ISRM Conference - book now and save 20% Book before the end of July to take advantage of the early bird rate for the ISRM 2007 conference at Center Parcs and save 20% on the conference fee.At the core of the 2007 Conference will be keynotes presented by first-rate speakers who will explore how the culture of sport, recreation and health is developing in the UK. Attracting a high profile audience of strategic and operational managers from across the sector. Don’t miss the opportunity to network with colleagues and leading suppliers at this unique event. |
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High levels of chlorine in swimming pools represent a higher risk during summer months, according to the Health Protection Agency. During April and May there were more than 140 incidents of people being exposed to too much chlorine - with around 20 per cent requiring medical attention. |
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Increased participation in sport is the top priority of new sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe, who has stated that he will involve other government departments in his quest for a more active nation. The minister has also dismissed fears that funding the 2012 Olympics will mean a lack of cash for grass-roots sporting initiatives. |
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Five hours of sport for schools Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced a £100m campaign to ensure that every child has the chance of five hours' school sports each week. The pledge came as Brown called for a 'united team effort' in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics in London. |
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At the age of 16, Sam Townsend was clinically obese. Just five years later - thanks to the talent team at GB Rowing and plenty of hard work - he is 16 stones of pure muscle and pushing hard for a place in the 2012 Olympics in Beijing. |
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Children at 250 schools in deprived areas are to be given pedometers to encourage them to be more active. The Department of Health scheme will see some 45,000 pedometers being distributed after a pilot scheme showed they were very effective in helping less active children to become fitter. |
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ISRM eNews issue 78: 11 July 2007 |
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LTA set for shakeup after dismal Wimbledon The poor showing of Britain’s tennis professionals at Wimbledon has generated a storm of adverse coverage, with reports indicating that Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper is determined to effect a revolution in British tennis. Draper told The Observer that he was ‘exasperated’ by the lack of hunger for success among the top-rated British players, and said he was considering a ‘boot camp’ regime for them that emphasised hard work and physical fitness – including possibly sessions training with the Royal Marines. According to The Guardian Draper is also considering rebranding the LTA because of its association with years of failure. And The Daily Mail reports that the LTA is seriously considering cutting off most funding to the older generation of British tennis players to refocus efforts on young hopefuls… |
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Met Police fined over teenagers? pool deaths The Metropolitan Police has pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and safety Act following the deaths of two teenage boys at a police swimming pool. The boys had been attending a youth scheme event organised jointly by the police and Barnet Council, at which only a single lifeguard was present. The teenagers were found at the bottom of the deep end after the lifeguard had been called away to deal with a minor accident… |
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Lift ban on sports pistols, Hoey urges The former Minister for Sport, Kate Hoey, has written an open letter in The Daily Telegraph to the new Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, asking her to relax the ban on hand guns for target pistol shooters introduced following the Dunblane massacre. Her letter is part of a campaign to boost the chances of Britain’s competitive shooters in the 2012 Olympics… |
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Sutcliffe gets top sports job as Jowell keeps Olympics Following Gordon Brown’s reshuffle, Gerry Sutcliffe has become the new Minister for Sport, replacing Richard Caborn, who has been appointed as the ambassador for the 2018 World Cup bid. As The Guardian reports, Sutcliffe had been tipped for the sports job when Kate Hoey left in 2001, but was beaten then by Caborn. However, the sports brief is in confusion after the reshuffle saw the outgoing Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, lose her job to James Purnell, but keep her Olympic brief – which she will run from the Cabinet Office, although her 70-strong team of civil servants will be based back at her old Department… |
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£20m ?community kitties? pledged within five years The new Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, is planning to allow local residents to control up to £20m of their local council’s budget, which they can spend on building new play areas, improving neighbourhoods, and other community-benefiting initiatives… |
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US swimmers to take on Europe?s finest in pre-2012 warm-up competition Swimming chiefs on both sides of the Atlantic are thrashing out plans for a pre-2012 competition between the USA and Europe – and it is possible that Australia might be invited to create a three-way contest. If it goes ahead, the event would take place in 2011 at London’s new swimming sports centre being built for the Games the following year… |
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ISRM eNews issue 77: 25 June 2007 |
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Two leading sports chiefs have made outspoken attacks on the Government’s handling of sport. Derek Mapp, the recently-appointed chair of Sport England, used an interview with The Independent to declare that "there seems to be far too much politics coming into sport and I am determined not to allow it to happen".read moreMeanwhile, the former chief executive of Sport England, Roger Draper, has condemned what he calls "the black hole" at the heart of sport funding. Speaking in his present capacity as chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, Draper accused the Government of focussing on school sport at one end of the spectrum, and elite sport aimed at 2012 at the other – and ignoring everything in between… |
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Three squash referees ?is the way forward? Graham Waters, the Director of the World Squash Federation’s rules and refereeing committee, has declared that he believes the sport needs to accept that using three referees is the way forward. The new system has been trialled at a number of major events with, according to Waters, ‘positive results’… |
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Think-tank calls for return of home country football championships A leading think-tank has urged the revival of football championships for Britain’s Home Countries as part of a drive to boost national pride in British sporting achievements. A report by the Opinion Leader Forum urged the return of the championships – last played in the 1983-84 season – as a symbol of national unity… |
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The Women’s Sports Foundation has produced a factsheet dealing with the issues surrounding women and coaching, which highlights the positive influence women coaches can play in encouraging more women to participate in sport and physical activity. The factsheet also outlines the major differences in coaching styles between men and women… |
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Will skateboarding be part of 2012 Games? The International Olympic Committee is considering a proposal from the International Cycling Union that skateboarding be introduced as an Olympic discipline in time for the 2012 Olympics. If accepted later in the year, the Olympics skateboarders would be performing in the new velodrome being built at Stratford in east London… |
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Young athletes surveyed on doping in sport UK Sport has released the results of a survey of the attitudes of young athletes (aged between 12 and 21) towards doping in sport. The survey found that 97% of athletes felt that fair play in their sport was ‘important’ or ‘very important’, although only 74% described themselves as ‘informed’ or ‘well-informed’ about doping control procedures… |
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Physical activity ?cut back? by parenthood Research conducted in America has found that becoming a parent for the first time dramatically reduces the amount of sport or physical activity undertaken. The researchers tracked almost 850 young men and women from the age of 24 for two years, to see what effects getting married and having children had on their activity levels. They found that while the whole group’s average activity levels declined over the two years, those who became new parents during the study ended up doing far less physically than those who remained childless… |
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Exercise cuts osteoporosis risk for ageing men Men who take regular exercise significantly reduce the risk of breaking bones in old age. Whilst it is well established that exercise cuts the risk of osteoporosis in women, a long-term study in Sweden is the first to discover the same phenomenon in men as well. Osteoporosis affects around one man in five aged 50 or more… |
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Human growth hormone ?does not promote performance or strength? Scientists in Australia have developed a range of tests that more effectively spot athletes who have been taking human growth hormone (HGH) with testosterone in an attempt to build muscles and improve performance. However, during their work the researchers were surprised to discover that HGH by itself does not have any beneficial effect on athletes’ performance… |
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Active children ?more likely to excel at exams? A decade-long study has found that children who exercise regularly are up to eight times more likely to get good GCSE results than their sedentary peers. As reported by The Times Educational Supplement, the study, undertaken by the Manchester Institute of Sport and Physical Activity, tracked 3,500 pupils… |
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?Epidemic? of inactivity among inner-city children Work conducted among inner-city children in Leicester has concluded that inactivity is reaching epidemic levels. Half of those surveyed spent four hours or more each day watching television or playing computer games… |
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Extra sport helps rowdy pupils School pupils who were disruptive in class or who were struggling with their school work improved significantly after being given extra sports activities during lunchtimes or after school. A study by the Institute of Youth Sport at Loughborough University found that their attendance records improved and levels of reported disruption decreased… |
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Bangor gets Northern Ireland?s first Olympic pool Northern Ireland’s first Olympic-sized swimming pool is to be built at Bangor. It will be built by spring 2010, in time for Ulster swimmers to train for the 2012 London Olympics. Belfast put in two bids which were rejected in favour of the proposal from North Down Borough Council… |
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Government to ban sex discrimination in private clubs Private clubs that discriminate against women will no longer be able to do so under new legislation being planned by the Government. The move recognises that current sex discrimination laws are focussed very tightly on the workplace, and ignore routine discrimination against women in many social or sporting situations. Golf clubs in particular are notorious for limiting women’s access to facilities or for denying them the right to take part in running the club… |
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Working together for healthy children Local authorities and schools in California have combined their efforts to counter the growing epidemic of child obesity. California is a state where nearly 30% of children and teenagers are either overweight or obese – and the figure is more than twice what is was a decade ago. The state’s Local Government Commission has put together a brochure which provides examples of effective action being taken across the state to tackle the issue. Meanwhile, another American organisation, the National Association of Counties, has published its own study along the same lines, focussing particularly on the problems of the Afro-American and Latino communities… |
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?Park Life? report reveals strong need for improvement What is being described as the first-ever satisfaction survey into Britain’s parks has revealed that facilities are often inadequate and poorly maintained, with many parks being regarded as unsafe by local residents. Only 43% of almost 20,000 respondents were ‘broadly satisfied’ with the park or green space closest to where they lived… |
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ISRM eNews issue 76: 12 June 2007 |
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2012 logo launched amid controversy The London 2012 organisers found themselves awash with controversy after they launched the new Olympic logo for the Games. As The Guardian reported, the most difficult moment came when a number of television viewers claimed they had suffered epileptic seizures while watching the associated promotional video clip. However, long before then, the logo had been subject to a hail of criticism, led by MPs: Tory MP Philip Davies said the design was "childish" and "a pathetic attempt to appear trendy", whilst LibDem MP Bob Russell described the logo’s £400,000 design cost as a "spectacular waste of money"… |
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Could Wembley be the athletics stadium for 2012? A top sports consultancy has recommended in a report to the Football Association that the new Wembley Stadium be temporarily repurposed as an athletics stadium in 2012 (at a suggested cost of £30m) rather than spending £600m on a brand-new stadium at Stratford. As budgets overrun, the idea is raising interest, according to The Times. The suggestion is just the latest issue around the 2012 Olympics, and comes hot on the heels of ferocious rows over soaring budgets and accusations of "ram-raids" on National Lottery funds. But the man in charge – Paul Deighton, a former senior executive at Goldman Sachs – has told The Daily Telegraph that he has every intention of sticking to the task... |
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David Lloyd leisure empire sells for £925m Whitbread has sold off its David Lloyd leisure chain for a reported £925m to property developers London and Regional Holdings. Founded by the tennis player David Lloyd in 1982, the chain has 370,000 members registered in 60 clubs… |
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Leicester named ?2008 European City of Sport UK? Leicester has won the right to represent the United Kingdom in a European-wide network of sporting cities during 2008. The award followed a two-day inspection of the city’s sporting facilities and programmes by a panel of judges… |
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Have your say on the future of community sport Sport England has created a survey asking people involved in community sport to comment on its activities in the sector, and seeking to find out how respondents feel Sport England could improve participation rates. Click here to have your say and influence the future of our sporting framework. Meanwhile, Sport England has produced a 16-page presentation explaining in simple terms what its brief is, how it meets that brief, and how its work slots in with that of the Youth Sport Trust and UK Sport. To download the presentation, click here. |
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Anxious parents restrict children?s play... Parents worried about the state of the modern world are restricting their children from playing unsupervised outside the home. A survey carried out by the Children’s Society found that almost half of parents say children must be 14 or more before they can be safely allowed to play outside – and that this is having an adverse impact on their quality of life… |
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...while anxious planners strip the life out of our streets Excessive worrying about ‘compensation culture’ and over-concern about health and safety issues are leading planners to create bland and featureless urban landscapes, according to CABE, the Government’s advisers on good practice in urban architecture... |
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Exercise referral ?gets results? A new study published by the National Institute for Health Research has found that all types of exercise referral by GPs tend to produce improved levels of physical activity in patients – regardless of whether the referral is limited to advice alone, or is a formal programme carried out in a leisure centre or by a qualified instructor… |
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Survey suggests swimming improves bond with babies A survey carried out by the children’s charity Tommy’s has found that the bonds between parent and baby can be strengthened by going swimming together. According to the survey, nearly one in five parents regards swimming as their favourite activity with their child… |
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FA rethinks rules on mixed-sex football An energetic campaign by an 11-year-old girl to let her keep playing in her mixed-sex football team has forced the Football Association to consider whether it should relax the rules. As the Daily Mail reported, Minnie Crutwell lobbied Ministers and FA chief executive Brian Barwick, and even contributed to a Commons committee report on the issue… |
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British Swimming ?seeking six world-class coaches? The Times has reported that British Swimming is actively headhunting six world-class coaches to replace Bill Sweetenham when he departs in 2008. According to the report, each potential coach is being offered between £150,000 and £200,000 a year, with the plan being to set up at least six elite coaching centres around the country… |
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Ted Cantle on sport, culture and cohesion Ted Cantle, associate director of the Government’s Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) – and also author of the Government-commissioned report into the race riots of 2001 – has given an interview in which he explores the role of sport and culture in improving community cohesion… |
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Inner-city kids ?not exercising enough? A British Heart Foundation study has discovered that children living in inner-city areas are not getting enough exercise. Researchers found that more than half of inner-city schoolchildren spend more than four hours a day watching TV or playing computer games, and that only 12 per cent of girls say they do any kind of physical activity during school break times… |
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Supplements ?reduce muscle damage? A study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research has suggested that carbohydrate and protein supplements do not appear to improve exercise performance during weight training – but do significantly reduce muscle damage caused by resistance exercise…. |
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Child Protection in Sport newsletter published The Child Protection in Sport Unit has published the second edition of Relay, its newsletter. Topics covered include bullying in sport, vetting and barring schemes, and the skills needed to keep children safe in sport… |
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ISRM eNews issue 75: 30 May 2007 |
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Brown plans £300m ?raid? to fund sport and cultural centres A consultation document published by the Treasury this month details how Gordon Brown plans to use £300m sitting untouched in dormant bank accounts to fund a new national network of around 700 sports, youth and arts centres. As reported by The Daily Telegraph, the money would be redistributed by the Lottery Fund… |
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David Cameron pledges more cash for sport David Cameron, the Conservative Party leader, has promised more money to sport if the Tories are voted back into office. In his first speech on sport since becoming leader, he claimed that the National Lottery had been raided too many times to fund the Government’s ‘pet projects’, and he pledged to return Lottery money to its original good causes – sport, the arts, heritage and charities… read moreMeanwhile, writing in The Observer, Mr Cameron states that sport should be run by those within the industry, and he described the role of government as ‘a funder and enabler, not a micro-manager’… |
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A personal trainer for everyone... Sheffield’s physical activity campaign – called ‘The People’s Movement’ – has launched a free Personal Trainer podcast, which allows people to download their very own six-month exercise programme. This contains videos broken down into seven simple stages, with the aim that people who have until now done very little exercise will be able to run continuously for 30 minutes… |
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?Sink? schoolkids uplifted through physical activity An article in The Guardian records how the vision of a headteacher has revitalised a failing school by placing physical activity at the heart of its programme. What’s more, as Julie Bradley explains, the introduction of organised physical activity has had the effect of radically improving the school’s Sats results… |
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Weight training ?reverses muscle ageing? Research published in Canada indicates that a twice-weekly workout with weights allows over-65s to reverse signs of ageing in their muscles. As reported by the BBC, the research found that regular resistance training produced as much molecular activity in the muscles of older people as in 20-year-olds… |
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UK?s Cultural Olympiad will be the ?world?s best ever? The Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has promised that the UK’s Cultural Olympiad – which begins in 2008 and runs until the 2012 Games – will be the best that the world has ever seen. In a speech made in Liverpool, next year’s European City of Culture, Ms Jowell also announced that an independent Legacy Fund would have £40m to spend on the Olympiad… |
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Getting ready for a smokefree England With just over a month to run until England’s enclosed public places and workplaces become legally free of tobacco smoke, a new website has drawn up guidance and resources for managers of facilities that will help then get ready for this historic event. The website includes legal information on duties imposed on managers by the new regulations, details of enforcement activities, and case studies… |
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Government publishes Quirk Review into community assets The Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has published the Quirk Review into making best use of community assets. As previously reported in this enewsletter, the review led to speculation that disused buildings such as former hospitals, schools and even pubs could end up being bought by local people for as little as £1… |
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Active People Survey presentation published Sport England has prepared a PowerPoint presentation of the key findings of its Active People Survey, which is the largest single research study ever undertaken by phone in the UK. The survey ran for 12 months across 2005 and 2006, with at least 1,000 interviews taking place for each local authority in England… |
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Innovative NZ scheme cuts rugby spine injuries A report in the British Medical Journal details how a sports injury education scheme for coaches and referees has significantly reduced the number of spinal injuries suffered by the country’s rugby players… |
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Fresh sports PhD bursary from Leeds Met Leeds Metropolitan University has invited applications for a PhD research bursary addressing one of three sports-related areas. The three potential research topics are:
For further information, click here. |
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Commons debates community use of school sports facilities The House of Commons has debated community access to sports facilities in schools. As the Sports Minister Richard Caborn pointed out, such access had to be seen in the light of the £45bn planned to spent over the next 15 years on the Building Schools for the Future programme, which is designed to remodel or rebuild England’s entire stock of secondary schools… |
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2012 construction boss tells politicians to ?stop meddling? John Armitt, the incoming construction boss for the Olympic Delivery Authority, has told politicians to stop meddling in the project and let the professionals get on with completing the job. According to a report in The Guardian, Mr Armitt warned that it was vital people realised that if the build of the venues and Olympic Village is to be completed on deadline then they couldn’t keep changing their minds on critical decisions every few months…click hereMeanwhile, The Daily Telegraph has carried a report on the condition and usage of the Olympic facilities created in Athens for the last Olympics – and says that, far from finding a thriving legacy, it found dereliction and neglect… |
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The National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) has, after more than 80 years, decided to change its name. The charity’s chief executive, Alison Moore-Gwyn, says that the change reflects the fact that the organisation’s role has shifted beyond community playing fields to embrace other recreation and physical activity areas including playgrounds and other leisure spaces… |
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DCMS publishes directory of sporting and cultural bodies The Department of Culture Media and Sport has published a directory giving details of the activities of all 63 public bodies that help deliver the department’s strategic aim and objectives. These include three public corporations, two public broadcasting authorities and 57 non-departmental public bodies… |
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ISRM eNews issue 74: 15 May 2007 |
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Brown ?considering radical shakeup of sport? A report in The Daily Telegraph has suggested that Gordon Brown’s plans for becoming Prime Minister include a root-and-branch shakeup for sport. According to the newspaper, plans being discussed include separating out the management of the 2012 Olympic Games and shifting it to the Cabinet Office, and taking responsibility for sport away from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport completely... |
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Funding threat to underachieving Olympic sports The Telegraph has reported that Olympic sports that fail to meet their targets on the road to 2012 face the possibility of having their funding removed. The newspaper’s article states that from the autumn each sport’s governing body will be assessed every three months on how well they are managing their sport and whether they are on target to deliver the required number of medals… |
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BHF launches its ?30 minutes a day? campaign The British Heart Foundation has launched a new campaign aimed at persuading the over-50s to become physically active. Entitled ‘Get your 30 mins a day, any way’, the campaign aims at educating older people into the physical benefits associated with even such everyday activities as housework… |
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ISRM announces 2007 Conference and Exhibition ISRM is to hold its 2007 Conference and Exhibition at Center Parcs in Sherwood Forest on Wednesday and Thursday 14 and 15 November. Information on speakers and details of how to book will be published on ISRM’s website shortly… |
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HSE guidance for line managers on dealing with stress at work The Health and Safety Executive has published new guidance for line managers on reducing stress levels in the workplace, and draws a clear distinction between pressure – which can often spur staff to greater achievements – and stress, which may result in staff suffering from stress-related illness… |
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National Evaluation of LEAP completed The final report has been published on the effectiveness of the Local Exercise Action Pilots (LEAP). These pilots were aimed at increasing participation levels in physical activity among the general population… |
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Sport England invests almost £40m in sports clubs and coaches Sport England has announced that it is to spend more than £38m on sports clubs and coaches between now and 2010. It is anticipated that this funding may end up supporting fro than 650 extra coaching places… |
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Getting women and girls to do more physical activity The Women’s Sports Foundation has set up a website to gather examples of initiatives that have successfully encouraged women and girls to increase their participation in sport and physical activity. The website examines the barriers to participation, and serves as a repository of best practice… |
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Consultation on the Community Asset Fund The Cabinet Office has put out to consultation the plans to establish a Community Asset Fund, which aims to increase opportunities for local communities to manage or own their own assets, including public buildings. To download the consultation document, click here. It was reported today by the BBC that disused schools and swimming pools might eventually be sold to local communities for as little as £1 as part of the scheme… |
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?Taking Part? ? the latest results from the survey The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has published the latest results from Taking Part, its huge national survey of participation in culture, leisure and sport activities. The 119 pages of the report are split into 11 chapters, and can be found here. The chapter on participation in sport has been produced by Sport England… |
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Fat-burning pill ?on sale in six years? Scientists in the US have predicted that a pill that burns fat by raising body’s metabolic rate will be on the market within six years. According to the report in The Times, the pill could help people stop themselves from becoming obese… |
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Glasgow launches its bid for Commonwealth Games The city of Glasgow has handed in its formal bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Costing £288m, with 80% funded by the Scottish Executive, the Games would regenerate a number of brownfield sites across the city and would create 1,000 dwellings that would be turned into homes after the Games were over… |
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New sport and recreation management degree course launched The University of Derby is the latest to establish a degree course in sport and recreation management that is built around the ISRM Certificate… |
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Fight diabetes with exercise, not pills Researchers writing in the British Medical Journal have argued that prescribing drugs to ward off incipient diabetes is indefensible, and that medical professionals should instead be looking to lifestyle changes – such as losing weight and increasing levels of physical activity – for their patients… |
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Parks for People conference details announced GreenSpace, the charity for parks and open spaces, has published the programme for its Parks for People conference, which takes place in London on 19 June… |
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Regular exercise ?may ward off Parkinson?s disease? Research carried out in the US by the Harvard School of Public Health has found that people who are more active may have up to 40% less chance of contracting Parkinson’s than those with a sedentary lifestyle. The results emerged from a cancer prevention study into more than 143,000 people… |
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Answer some questions ? and you could win £1000 for your pool! Readers of eNews, who include people working at all levels in the swimming industry, have been asked to help compile a HUGGIES® Little Swimmers® questionnaire. All entrants will be in with a chance of winning £1,000 for their pool. All you have to do is answer a series of straightforward questions – the closing date is 31 May 2007… |
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2012 Games 'a heaven sent opportunity' Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, made a speech to the Central Council of Physical Recreation defending her record on the management to date of the 2012 Games, describing them as a heaven sent opportunity to increase sports participation.... |
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ISRM eNews issue 73: 1 May 2007 |
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Answer some questions ? and you could win £1000 for your pool! Readers of eNews, who include people working at all levels in the swimming industry, have been asked to help compile a Huggies® Little Swimmers® questionnaire. All entrants will be in with a chance of winning £1,000 for their pool. All you have to do is answer a series of straightforward questions – the closing date is 31 May 2007… |
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Physically active elderly women ?at less risk of arthritis symptoms? New research suggests that as little as an hour a week of physical activity can help stave off the painful symptoms of arthritis in elderly women. The research, carried out in Australia at the University of Queensland, focused on the health benefits to women in their 70s… |
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How effective is the ?placebo effect? in boosting athletes? performance? A paper in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine has called for systematic research to be carried out into the degree to which sports performances might be boosted via the ‘placebo effect’ – the phenomenon, well known in medical science, in which a person who thinks he or she is being given a real drug (but is in fact secretly being given an ineffective substitute) may respond just as well as people being given the real thing… |
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Last chance to enter the ISRM/IQL Lifeguard Triathlon During May 2007 lifeguards will be competing in their own facilities to see who is the fastest, fittest and most effective lifeguard in the UK; the event has already attracted over 40 teams from places as diverse as the Falkland Islands and Inverness... |
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This month’s update from the Central Council of Physical Recreation includes information about regulations on Alcohol Disorder Zones, charities, non-commercial gaming and lotteries, and sport and immigration, as well as looking at issues including the tax position of community amateur sports clubs and research on the economic importance of sport… |
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Scottish LibDems pledge £100m to boost school PE participation Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen visited St John’s High School in Dundee last month and pledged more than £100m to boost physical activity in schools and tackle childhood obesity. His party’s manifesto for the Holyrood election this month sets out plans to recruit 1,000 more sports coaches and PE teachers… |
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Exercise reduces risk of hypertension in young adults New research published in America indicates that young adults who exercise five times a week are a less risk of developing hypertension in later life compare with their slothful peers. The study also revealed that the exercisers were 11 per cent less likely to develop high blood pressure for every 1,500 calories they burned up in exercise each week… |
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Grobbelaar throws a lifeline to West Yorkshire football club Liverpool footballing legend Bruce Grobbelaar has agreed to start keeping goal for the tiny West Yorkshire football club Glasshoughton Welfare in an effort to stop it from going bust. And, as The Daily Telegraph reports, it seems to be working – crowd attendance at matches has gone up from an average 66 per game to around 1,000… |
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Tunnelling breakthrough as the ODA sets out its milestones to Beijing The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) on 4 April announced a major breakthrough on the Olympic Park with the completion, a year since work began, of the first of the underground tunnels which will carry the powerlines needed during the Games and in legacy. Currently 52 pylons dominate the landscape in the area making any development difficult. The tunnels will enable the power needed for the Games and the community post-2012 to be carried underground and allow construction work to start next summer. All tunnelling work is on track to be completed this summer… |
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ISRM eNews issue 72: 17 April 2007 |
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'Most Britons obese' within 25 years An Oxford University report commissioned by the Government predicts that the majority of Britons will be obese within 25 years. As reported in The Observer, the study by epidemiologists also predicts that almost 20 million obese Britons may end up suffering from Type 2 diabetes… |
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HSE slams council over legionnaires? outbreak A Health and Safety Executive report into a legionnaires’ outbreak that killed seven people has identified a catalogue of ‘significant failings’ by Barrow Borough Council… |
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Scottish schools ?not hitting exercise targets? Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed that most Scottish primary schools have yet to offer their children at least two hours of PE a week, a target which they are supposed to hit by August. According to a report in The Scotsman, a lack of staff and facilities are being blamed… |
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An article in The Daily Telegraph has accused MPs of pushing up the public cost of the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games by embarking on a string of expensive overseas trips. The newspaper claims that at least seven Commons committees have decided to investigate some aspect or other of the Games… |
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Lean teens ?play hard and eat a lot? Teenagers with low levels of body fat are likely to be those that are the most physically active – and also those that eat the most, according to a paper in The International Journal of Obesity. Interestingly, teenagers who ate the least – usually females – also tended to have higher percentages of body fat… |
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Dentists urge use of fitted mouthguards An article published in Medical News Today has highlighted the potential costs to sports participants of not wearing a properly-fitted mouthguard when playing contact sports. According to the USA’s Academy of General Dentistry, the average athlete has a one in 10 chance of suffering an injury to either their face or teeth which could be prevented or ameliorated via a mouthguard… |
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Youth coaches urged to be ready for heart attacks Coaches at schools and colleges have been urged to be prepared for sudden cardiac arrests amongst student athletes. Heart attacks are the leading cause of deaths amongst young athletes, and usually occur after a blow to the chest triggers off previously-undetected heart problems… |
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North East to create 69 more coaching posts The Government has allocated an extra £1.3m of sports funding to the North East after lower than average levels of participation in sport and recreation activities were identified in the region. Sport England North East intends to use the cash to fund almost 70 new coaching posts… |
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Researchers work out why exercise benefits the heart How does aerobic exercise benefit the heart? Although observable, the biological mechanisms behind the process were until now not fully understood. A research project conducted in America has found that exercise decreases inflammation in the heart which otherwise leads to a build-up of fat in the arteries… |
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Making the shift from CPA to CAA The Audit Commission has launched a consultation exercise on handling the transition from the current Comprehensive Performance Assessment regime to the Comprehensive Area Assessment system, which is due to come into effect in 2009. Click here to download the consultation document. The Comission is seeking feedback on how the new system should work no later than 14 June… |
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Scientists have identified a gene that contributes to obesity; their studies indicate that those with one version of the gene are 70 per cent more likely to be obese than those without that version. The findings could eventually lead to the creation of drugs that could help compensate for the gene’s action… |
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Call for schoolgirls to wear trousers and trainers A new study has suggested that schoolgirls should be required to wear trainers and trousers to school to help encourage them to be more physically active in the playground. According to the study, schools should also create areas for girl-only sports to stop male-dominated sports such as football from taking playgrounds over completely… |
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Council launches ?Baywatch? campaign to help disabled Preston City Council has launched a campaign to deter able-bodied motorists from parking in bays reserved for disabled drivers at its leisure centres. Labelled ‘Baywatch’, the campaign involves the council’s staff in patrolling the car parks and issuing warning notices to offenders… |
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Adults ?prefer to exercise with their peers? Most adults prefer to exercise alongside people of their own age rather than working out with younger people or on their own, according to a study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. The study suggests that encouraging older adults to exercise in groups may have a positive effect on participation rates… |
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ISRM eNews issue 71: 3 April 2007 |
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Couch potatoes ?cost NHS £1bn a year? A new study has found that lazy Britons are costing the NHS more than £1bn a year – and that three per cent of all deaths and illnesses are caused by a lack of exercise… |
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15 minutes? daily exercise ?could halve child obesity? Fresh research has found that child obesity could be halved by as little as 15 minutes’ intense activity every day. The study found that the intensity of the activity seemed to be more important than the total amount of activity, and suggested that activities as simple as taking a swim or kicking a football around would be sufficient… |
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Women still under-represented in sport and active recreation UK Sport has published a report showing that only one in five women take part in regular sport and active recreation. Women in Sport – The State of Play also found that only 29 per cent of sports board and committee members are female… |
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Activity by elderly cuts disability risk Staying physically active may ward off disability among healthy older people, a new study shows. Among 1,020 senior housing residents, all free of dementia, the risk of becoming disabled fell 7% for every additional hour spent each week being physically active. Moreover, each added weekly hour of activity cut the risk of dying by 11% over the next several years… |
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Does elite British sport suffer from a drinking culture? This question was posed in The Guardian’s sport blog, which set up a debate on the subject. ‘Yes!’ was the view of Peter Kay, chief executive of Sporting Chance Clinic. ‘No!’ was the rejoinder from Damian Hopley, chief executive of the Professional Rugby Players Association… |
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Grassroots sport to suffer as Sport England loses more cash to 2012 The announcement that yet more Lottery cash will be diverted from grassroots sport to the 2012 Olympics has left the chairman of Sport England fuming, according to The Guardian. The newspaper reports Derek Mapp as saying that the cuts amount to a loss of £1.6bn of community funding in real terms… |
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Government spending on promoting physical activity Chris Ruane, the Labour MP for Vale of Clwyd, asked the Department of Health to say how much it had spent over the past five years on promoting physical activity to children, pensioners and adults in each of the last five years, and how was planned to be spent in the next five years… |
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Dance ?could keep the young healthy? The BBC has reported that ministers see dance classes as a good way to tackle obesity in the young. The ministerial comments followed a new study which evaluated the effects of a 10-week dance programme on almost 350 children… |
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Supporting the ?Count Me In? campaign The English Federation of Disability Sport has appealed to ISRM members to add their weight to its ‘Count Me In’ campaign to boost access to sport and recreation for the disabled… |
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Body Mass Index ?fails to judge athletes? fat? American researchers have discovered that the standard tool for measuring fat – the Body Mass Index (BMI) – doesn’t work properly in judging whether athletes are carrying too much fat, because it does not distinguish between the weight of excess fat and the weight of muscle mass… |
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Scotland launches its revised National Sports Strategy A revised National Sports Strategy for Scotland has been launched. Entitled Reaching Higher: Building on the Success of Sport 21, the strategy aims to simultaneously improve participation levels among the general population., whilst also boosting elite performances… |
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Trained coaches ?help to reduce sport stress? US sports psychologists have found that ensuring coaches are trained helps improve the performances of young athletes while reducing their levels of sport stress, defined as the feeling that winning is all-important regardless of the costs… |
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ISRM members invited to SIBEC UK?s Open Forum ISRM is encouraging its members to attend SIBEC’s forum at the Belfry Conference Centre on 16 May. The extended programme includes a session on ‘Creating Active Communities’… |
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Fitness may help reduce health impact of stress People who are physically fit may be protected from damaging artery inflammation that flares up during times of mental stress, according to a pioneering study. The research is believed to be the first to examine how aerobic fitness affects the release of chemicals linked to damaging inflammation in adults who are stressed. Click here to learn more. Meanwhile, scientists have discovered that young people who engage in more physical activity are reducing their chances of developing high blood pressure in the future… |
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ISRM eNews issue 70: 20 March 2007 |
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Who is the best pool lifeguard in the UK? ISRM and IQL have launched the 2007 Lifeguard Triathlon, to track down the UK’s best pool lifeguard. Whilst the competition is entertaining and informative in its own right, the underlying purpose is very serious indeed – to help raise standards so that the annual death toll in our swimming pools of 10 to 15 drownings can be cut down. |
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ASA launches huge school swimming consultation The Amateur Swimming Association has launched a huge consultation exercise within the sport and recreation sector on its strategy for swimming in the UK’s schools. The consultation will help determine ASA’s strategic involvement in school swimming for the next decade. |
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Brown announces UK School Games venues for next four years Chancellor Gordon Brown has revealed where the UK School Games will be held over the next four years. As reported in the Daily Telegraph, the host venues will be: Bristol and Bath; Cardiff, Swansea and Newport; Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland; and Sheffield. |
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Will the legacy of 2012 be worth all the extra cost? "Yes!" says David Higgins, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority. "No!" says Tim Lamb, chief executive of the Central Council for Physical Recreation. The two were squaring up in a debate organised by The Guardian. |
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ISRM and ASA support ?Baby Friendly Pool? campaign Swimming pool managers are being encouraged to get their facilities entered into the UK’s first directory of baby-friendly pools. The directory uses a range of criteria such as changing room and poolside facilities to assess the ‘friendliness’ over a particular pool. |
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The Government has increased the level of the minimum wage by 17p an hour to £5.52. The new rate will come into effect in October, and as a result the wages of more than a million people in the UK will increase – most of them women. |
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Leading obesity study threatened with financial collapse A controversial long-term study into obesity in children is threatened with closure due to lack of funds, campaigners have claimed. They want Ministers to put public funds into the EarlyBird programme, which is tracking the long-term health and activity levels of 300 children – however, the programme is controversial because its findings suggest that the Government’s focus on the link between low levels of activity and obesity in children may be misplaced. |
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Play England asks for feedback on Primary Review With only a few days left for evidence to be submitted to the Primary Review – the biggest independent enquiry into primary education for 40 years – Play England has asked for those involved in organising play activities for children to comment constructively on its planned submission by this Thursday (22 March). |
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Commons debates sports clubs for children The House of Commons debated the issue of sports clubs for children, following a question asked by the Labour MP for Northhamptonshire North, Sally Keeble. |
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Practical guide for district councils on meeting children?s needs The Improvement and development Agency has published a practical guide for local councils on how to meet the needs of children in their areas, following the agenda set by Every Child Matters and the Children Act 2004. The guide uses case studies to demonstrate how outcomes can be improved for children and their families. |
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ISRM eNews issue 69: 6 March 2007 |
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Communities for Health: 22 pilot schemes report back More |
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Mass survey shows young Britons 'unhappy with their bodies' More |
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Olympic legacy? Check out Barcelona... More |
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New guide to safeguarding children in the play sector More |
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Audit Commission publishes CPA scores More |
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Disability sports action plan for London launched More |
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Child obesity epidemic 'fuelling diabetes cases' More |
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MPs demand new anti-doping rules ahead of 2012 More |
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Can music boost the benefits of exercise? More |
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Teenagers say better facilities would help them take up sport More |
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ISRM eNews issue 68: 20 February 2007 |
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Storms rage over costs and legacy of 2012 Olympics More |
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Treasury considers merits of an England bid for 2018 World Cup More |
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UK 'worst place in Europe' for child well-being More |
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UK School Games expand with help from the Lottery More |
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Karate England ceases trading More |
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CPSU launches newsletter More |
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Aussies issue expert guidance on exercising in hot weather More |
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Kate Hoey in plea on pistol shooting More |
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'Fat Fred' wheeled in to help first-aiders More |
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New online toolkit launched to help tackle obesity More |
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Physical activity 'helps elderly keep their balance' More |
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Teenagers 'at risk' from poor diet and inactive lifestyle More |
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'Fit Futures' plan launched for Northern Ireland More |
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Youth Sport Trust Inclusion website goes live More |
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ISRM eNews issue 67: 6 February 2007 |
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Blair hails school sport as a 'hidden success' More |
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British kids: the junk food kings of Europe More |
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American Heart Association's overview of research into physical activity More |
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Belfast City Council backs kids' squash scheme More |
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Boxing makes schools comeback More |
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Exercise 'improves brain function' for young people More |
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Help the Aged launches The Big Spring Walk More |
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Pedometers handed out to deprived schools More |
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Study confirms link between inactivity and type 2 diabetes More |
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Gym opens its doors to four-year-olds More |
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NHS gets its first sports doctors, thanks to the London Olympics More |
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Cancer scare over chlorine More |
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Minister opens up on public swimming pool provision More |
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SportScotland launches its Single Equity Scheme More |
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Tango helps older people with balance and cognition More |
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Get into the Swimathon More |
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ISRM eNews issue 66: 23 January 2007 |
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Charity Commission backs ISRM merger decision process More |
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Soaring Olympics bill 'threatens funding' for grassroots sport and Lottery projects More |
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Local authorities now required to offer 'positive activities' to youngsters More |
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New leisure services category for Apprentice of the Year awards More |
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Obesity could bankrupt the health system, warn doctors More |
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Defibrillators 'should be available in ski resorts' More |
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UK's pools invited to sign up for 2007 Splashathon More |
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Muslim women within sport More |
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Wrexham launches swimming initiative More |
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Bailiffs raise the pulse-rates of gym laggards More |
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George Torkildsen Memorial Trust offers travel bursary More |
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Institute for Parks and Green Spaces opens for business More |
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Leeds offers PhD bursaries in the sport and leisure sector More |
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Active Sheffield celebrates local successes More |
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What does it take to get older people to exercise? More |
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Exercise 'more valuable than dieting' to health-conscious older people More |
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ISRM eNews issue 65: 9 January 2007 |
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Fit UK and Fat UK revealed More |
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Queues at the treadmills... but not for long More |
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Minister expresses 'disappointment' over planned sports centre closures More |
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NICE produces 'quick reference' guide on obesity More |
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Coe points to coaching as the key for Olympic success More |
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Thin? Stop smirking - there could be a fat person inside you trying to get out More |
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NE Sport publishes its Case for Sport More |
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Older people and physical activity More |
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How great football clubs grew from church teams More |
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DCMS publishes its Public Service Agreement targets More |
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Jennie Price to be new Sport England CEO More |
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Get active in 2007 with Swimfit More |
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Kids with asthma need exercise, study shows More |
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Sport England boosts support for sports volunteers More |
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Getting your pool 'Baby Friendly' approved More |
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Sports Minister defines 'moderate physical activity' |