DRAGON SPORT

Dragon Sport is a Sports Council for Wales initiative, which aims to increase the number of 7-11yr olds participating in sporting activities and to recruit volunteers to help deliver Dragon Sport sessions.

The following eight "focus sports" are included in Dragon Sport: Athletics, cricket, football, golf, hockey, netball, rugby and tennis. These sports will be familiar to volunteers and help children develop the basic motor skills (such as movement and co-ordination) required for all sports. They can easily be delivered safely, and there is good access to equipment and facilities.

Dragon Sport:

• Has been adapted to suit the players age, size, ability, skill level and experience.
• Uses simpler rules, smaller equipment and playing areas, plus fun training and coaching.
• Prepares players for the adult game.
• Resembles the sport on which it is based.
• Is safe but still challenging.

Aims

• To introduce 7-11 year olds to an enjoyable and well-organised range of sports.
• To give them clearly identified opportunities to feed into and progress through sports development programmes in clubs and the community.
• To implement child-centred programmes across a range of sports activities delivered through out-of-school clubs.
• To recruit parents, teachers and others into sports leadership, and provide them with pathways into coaching, officiating or administration.
• To support sports clubs in developing junior sections suitable for children aged 7-11 years and to develop links between clubs and schools through after-school activities.

FAIR PLAY and INCLUSIVE activities are promoted and constantly reinforced through all materials and training packages associated with the programme. Above all, children and adults taking part should have FUN.

Funding
Primary and Junior Schools, and community based clubs are eligible to receive funding from to run Dragon Sport activities.

Dragon Sport funding can be used for:

• Equipment bags for athletics, cricket, football, golf, netball, rugby, tennis and hockey.
• Resource cards to aid with session and game ideas.
• Additional coaching qualifications for volunteers.

How Can I get involved?

• Junior Dragons
  Want to try some new sports? Want to stay active playing games? Want to make new friends? Want to have FUN?? Then take part in Dragon Sport!!
  
  It is more than likely that your School is running a Dragon Sport club this term. To find out which Dragon Sports your school runs ask your school PE Coordinator or Headteacher.
  
  There are also a number of Dragon Sport Community clubs, which are run out of school at evenings or weekends.
  
  Most Dragon Sport clubs are free for you to attend, and remember, you don’t have to be an expert at the sport; it is an opportunity for you to come along and have a go!!
  
  
• Senior Dragons
  In Caerphilly County Borough, all primary schools are running at least 1 Dragon Sport Club, with several schools running up to 6 clubs a year. To find out which Dragon Sport Clubs are run at your child's school please ask your Headteacher, or contact Helen Thomas, Dragon Sport Coordinator.
  
  In addition to the school-based clubs, there are currently 34 community-based clubs.
  
  
• Volunteering
  If you are interested in volunteering for Dragon Sport, there are many ways in which you can get involved, from leading Dragon Sport sessions, to helping leaders, or just taking a register and being an extra pair of hands. Benefits for you include ongoing support, extra training and qualifications, and job satisfaction.
  
  

  Dragon Sport wants people like you to help run fun games and sporting activities for children in after-school clubs and community clubs.
  
  You don’t need any experience, as training and support is provided for all volunteers.  Join in the fun and fair play of Dragon Sport – everyone is welcome, including parents, students, school staff, grandparents and other family members.
  
  Current Dragon Sport volunteers have commented on the enjoyment and satisfaction they get from seeing children learning new skills and having fun.  Many of the volunteers have also become qualified coaches and are making a valuable contribution to their community clubs.
  
  Sport would not happen if parents, teachers and other people didn’t give up their time to organise sport for children.  Volunteers are truly the key to developing sport in Wales.
  
  The first step is to attend a free Dragon Sport Organisers Workshop, which are run at various locations throughout the year. For more information on courses coming up, please contact the Dragon Sport Co-ordinator.

Dragon Sport Community Clubs

• Abercarn Cricket Club
• Blackwood Cricket Club
• Newbridge Cricket Club
• Pontymister Football Club
• Risca Netball Club
• Bargoed Golf Club
• Virginia Park Golf Club
• Bargoed RFC
• Caerphilly RFC
• Rhymney RFC
• Risca RFC
• Ystrad Mynach RFC
• Caerphilly Tennis Club
• Caerphilly Leisure Centre Athletics Club
• Caerphilly Leisure Centre Multi Sports Club

For more information, please contact the Dragon Sport Co-ordinator.