DARE Cycling
By connecting with sport as a vehicle for communication, DARE is evolving the way that it delivers its primary messages to the youngsters of the UK. Early this year saw DARE embark on the first of its sporting packages running cycling courses as a pilot project in Mansfield. DARE now has a whole series of cycling related initiatives that we operate at our new site at Mansfield Rugby Club and using our mobile unit in and around schools in Nottinghamshire. Other sports such as Basketball, Football, Swimming and street sports are already on the go and new sports are being developed in conjunction with West Nottinghamshire College on an on-going basis.
DARE selected cycling as its first sporting venture for several reasons. Cycling is very good for building general fitness and providing a motivational setting, it also lends itself ideally to the emphasis on teaching the skills promoted by DARE coupled with a firm discipline policy and respect for equipment, surroundings and others. Cycling is also a non contact sport and can remain non competitive which can be important when dealing with children from outside mainstream education. We also believe that the skills developed with mind, hand and eye by using and maintaining a bike and working within a team can help develop other aspects of the children’s lives.
The DARE Cycling course already has a healthy list of schools and local communities engaging or wishing to engage their children on the programme; these include mainstream local community, disaffected and high needs schools. Going forward the course will be open up to include DARE graduates from all schools, after school hour’s classes and summer schools. It is seen as very important to DARE that we engage as many young children on our courses as possible to reinforce and build upon the work we have done at previous levels. To do this a fully inclusive programme is essential. DARE are also in the process of looking into creating strategic partnerships where we will be able to expand the project quickly utilising already tried and tested infrastructures across the country. Some of these potential partners include UK wide sporting bodies, local and regional councils and education agencies.
All of the coaches selected to run DARE courses are qualified to Level 2 Standard, fully security checked and are fully committed to demonstrating the positive effects of sport and healthy living. They are engaging young children and acting as positive role models for youngsters who might then develop a deeper interest and knowledge about DARE’s message and also about the importance of taking ownership of their own healthy lifestyle.
The whole principle of using sport to deliver the message is far from new, DARE though is pioneering the use of a dedicated resource such as a mobile sporting unit to spearhead the messages that are so important.
In this age of astronomical rises in child obesity and unfitness, the connections emotionally, socially and physically have to be proven to be effective. DARE is facing these issues ‘head on’ by doing not just telling!
The DARE Multi Sports Project is also committed to taking its message into the classroom, there is a workshop delivery programme currently developed and being piloted by Bryan Steel the DARE Sports Project Manager which has proven to be very exciting and informative.
Some Facts about Sport
Training – Serious enthusiasts are on in the gym usually about 6 days out of 7, training or enjoying steadier recovery routines
There are lots of different kinds of training, dependant upon the kind of sport that is to be undertaken, the fitness of the person and his or her condition/recovery from previous efforts
Everyone needs a good grounding of base fitness
Rest is as important as training; this is often the bit that many people neglect, the effect can be very harmful as beyond a certain point further training will only have the effect of wearing you down rather than improving your performance
Goal Setting – making decisions as to what it is that you feel that you are willing and able to actually accomplish, if you over challenge yourself you will only build in disappointment and failure. Conversely, if you don’t push yourself enough you will never attain the full range of your capabilities, again the wise counsel of a coach will be invaluable.
Competing – There are many kinds of sport that could be undertaken. Getting into a state of general fitness and meeting with people who are already active within the sport is a great way of getting involved
Contact DARE Sport for more information as to how best start up, we will be able to offer you support and guidance about where to start
