Sport has the power to bring people together no matter their age, background or abilities. It can provide a safe space, improve mental and physical health and provide people with a sense of belonging, for many of us, it’s the reason we work in this sector. We talk a lot about inclusive community sport, about how difficult it is to achieve and how many barriers exist that stop people from joining in. But as someone who has worked both in the sector and on the ground with participants, I’ve found that the difficulty doesn’t lie in breaking any physical barriers, it’s about changing the mindset. The keyword is community, not sport.
It’s about using sport and physical activity as a vehicle for connection, creating a place for participants to feel safe, and comfortable and have a bit of fun! Whilst technique is still important, what keeps people coming back is the atmosphere and environment we as coaches try to create, where participants can have a place to escape the stresses of their day-to-day lives.
Whilst the programme has provided some incredible experiences - winning an LTA National Award, meeting Venus Williams, and attending a roundtable meeting at 10 Downing Street as a few examples - I’m sure as all coaches would say, the best moments are the ones we get to experience with our wonderful women. The joy they bring to every session is palpable and the energy they provide helps create a brilliant atmosphere.
Many of us working in this sector come from a sports background and most of the time that has involved some type of traditional club sport. Sometimes we forget that our experiences are not the same as the people we’re trying to engage. We have lots of women at our sessions who tell us about their school experiences of sport where they either didn’t enjoy PE or were actively told they were bad at sports by PE teachers. I’m sure we can all relate to being told we weren’t good at something and for lots of the people we’re trying to reach, they’ve never really had the chance to challenge those experiences and enjoy sport and physical activity in a different setting. By changing our idea of what sport and physical activity looks like we can create that safe space where people can get involved and regain their confidence. It’s been eye-opening to see how many women arrive at our sessions stressed, tired and overwhelmed but leave with the biggest smiles on their faces from an hour of moving around, talking to other women and of course having a bit of healthy competition on the court. It doesn’t matter what time they arrive or what they’re wearing (as long as they’ve got trainers on!), they’re welcome to join in. Our focus is always on how we can make sure they’re enjoying the session and getting some exercise in along the way.
Community sport is about building a community, and it’s easy to forget that’s the aim. However, by using sport as a vehicle, those barriers we talk about so often can be overcome with just a bit of empathy, openness, and a whole lot of fun!
