In this latest ‘Our Club’ feature, sports editor Mike Parsons pays a visit to Sport4Kids at Broomfields Leisure Centre

WHEN two-year-old Holly Aspinall wakes up at the weekend the first thing she does is asks her parents about going to football and rugby.

“She literally does, I’m not joking,” says her mum Kelly.

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For the family from Penketh the Sport4Kids sessions at Broomfields Leisure Centre have been part of their weekly routine for the past six months.

And now Holly’s brother Leo, aged 16 months, is joining in the fun too.

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When I turned up to meet the club’s officials, parents and participating children, it was clear everybody was having a whale of a time in a welcoming, child-friendly and safe environment inside the sports hall.

For many these sessions are a first introduction to sport, with fun activities and engaging games intermingled with skills learning, such as trapping and dribbling a football or kicking a rugby conversion.

“I never really thought that Holly would want to do sport because she was so shy and just used to watch what other children were doing,” said Kelly.

“Immediately there was such a transition. It’s absolutely the best thing we’ve ever got her to do.

“She’s come on with her confidence, such as shouting out to get involved. They just make her feel so welcome.

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“I’ve seen her character change loads, and it’s the same with Leo wanting to get involved, his speech developing, and not being scared around other children.

“We notice things when we go to the park and when we’re at home, it’s not just here.

“I don’t think the children see it as sport because it’s made to be so much fun.

“The activities they do also include learning about colours, counting and animals.

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“They tell them to run and jump and stuff, but they don’t know what they’re doing it for.

“I would have thought that Leo would be too young but that’s not the case at all.

“They let him join in as and when he wants to. His attention is picking up, and his listening skills.”

Around 130 youngsters are currently benefitting from the Sport4Kids clubs across three venues in the town every weekend, while general manager Rebecca Smith also teaches physical education and sport in local schools and nurseries on behalf of the company.

Dance sessions will be starting at St Gregory’s High School from February 28 too.

“In our skill sessions during the weekends we look to merge child psychology and learning, entertainment and fun along with the development of confidence through individual skills coaching,” said Rebecca, who appeared to me to be getting just as much fun out of the sessions as the children.

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That was also the case with Josh Anderton, Callum Willcock and Joseph Daley, who all underwent intensive four-month training before joining Rebecca’s coaching team.

“Our vision is to build pathways for each child that helps the parent see the individual skills development as well as a journey towards team play and gradually increase that in a controlled way to more competitive sport.”

Sport4Kids explain on their website that their mission is to ‘revolutionise children’s sport and build confidence in every child’.

They aim to prepare children for a lifetime of competitive sport.

From what I saw, the skills these children are learning now could mean they are ahead of the game in areas such as co-ordination, control and confidence in whatever sporting direction they take in the future.

Gemma Sutton has watched her son William, three, grow in all areas since starting out four weeks ago.

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“He’s come on loads with his football and skills and that’s credit to the coaches, they’ve done well,” she said.

“William listens more. He was shy at first, but he doesn’t need me to help as much now. He’s interacting with other children more.

“It’s really fun, it’s energetic. All the coaches are brill. They engage all the children, get them all moving and teach them new skills each week.

“I’d definitely recommend it, it’s been really good for him.”

Clubs:

Broomfields Leisure Centre, Saturdays:

Tots football skills, age 18 months to three years, 8.30am to 9.15am.

Tots rugby skills, 18 months to three, 10.10am to 10.55am.

Kickers football, three to five, 9.20am to 10.05am.

Cubs rugby, three to five, 11am to 11.45am.

Bridgewater High School, Saturdays:

Strikers football, five to seven, noon to 1pm.

Rugby lions, five to seven, 1pm to 2pm.

St Gregory’s High School, Sundays:

Tots football skills, 18 months to three, 8.30am to 9.15am.

Tots rugby skills, 18 months to three, 10.10am to 10.55am.

Kickers football, three to five, 9.20am to 10.05am.

Cubs rugby, three to five, 11am to 11.45pm.

Strikers football, five to seven, noon to 1pm.

Rugby lions, five to seven, 1pm to 2pm.

For more details, contact Rebecca.smith@sport4kids.biz

Watch our video of the kids loving football and rugby sessions at Broomfields Leisure Centre: