Sports coaching students rack up over 100 hours volunteering to help young people
Sports Coaching students from Chesterfield College have recently completed over 100 hours volunteering with Chesterfield School Sport Partnership (CSSP) helping to promote an active lifestyle to school pupils across the town.
As part of their studies, the students are required to spend at least 10 hours in a work placement. However, learners have gone above and beyond; coaching and officiating at 24 sporting events for primary and secondary schools over the past year. They finally reached their target of 100 coaching hours during a soft tennis session with Year 3 and 4 primary school children last Friday (23 June).
Mark Tournier, Partnership Development Manager at CSSP said:
“Our mission is to use the power of sport to provide young people with a positive experience and encourage them to lead an active lifestyle. We’re really lucky to have this partnership with Chesterfield College; not only does their support allow us to provide specialist educational programmes to school children, but it also gives the college students the opportunity to develop leadership, life and employability skills.”
From cross country and touch rugby to athletics and gymnastics, students have had the opportunity to take part in lots of sporting activities and learn new skills which can’t be taught in a classroom. Working closely with children throughout their volunteering, students have grown in confidence, worked as a team and managed their time effectively.
John Sanderson, Sport tutor, said:
“This partnership is of mutual benefit, our students help to facilitate the partnership programme with schools, whilst the scheme also helps our students to gain the vital experience they need for their future careers. Most of the volunteers want to progress on to become PE teachers, so the contact they have with young children is great experience for them.”
Kaden Nunn, First year Level 3 student, said:
“I’ve really enjoyed coaching the children. As well as helping them to learn new skills, I’ve learnt lots myself.”
Mohammed Javed, 18 who wants to become either a sports coach or PE teacher said:
“The experience has been great, it’s really broadened my knowledge and developed my skills; it’ll definitely help me get to where I want to be.”
