FutureFit helps clubs reduce their energy bills

Sep 2, 2014

FutureFit has recently been successful in securing government funding of over half a million euro on behalf of 21 sports clubs and facilities throughout the country. The funding will help pay for roof and wall insulation, energy efficient lighting, more efficient boilers, heat pumps, solar thermal installation and efficient refrigeration systems, all of which will help reduce their energy bills significantly. The average cost is over €50,000 per club which should generate an average saving of over €11,000 per year giving a return on investment of 2.3 years after funding.

Clubs around the country are well aware of the high cost of energy in their facilities and that every euro saved can be diverted back into valuable services for the club. Energy retrofitting is really important for Ireland, reducing expensive imports of fossil fuel and providing much needed employment.

FutureFit is also delivering a management and training module entitled “EnergyFit”

What your club gets from EnergyFit?

• Professional energy assessment to identify savings

• Analysis of bills for best tariff and annual usage/costs

• Online, real-time electricity monitoring

• Training on energy management for club members

• An application for SEAI funding where appropriate

• PR and other support from our partners

For further information please contact paul@futurefit.ie or call 086-343-3368

Minister Ring publishes Bill to merge the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority

Aug 29, 2014

Provisions included to statutorily underpin the national Anti-Doping Programme and the Irish Anti-Doping Rules

Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Michael Ring TD, has today (Thursday) published the Sport Ireland Bill 2014 following approval by the Government.

The purpose of the Bill is to provide for the establishment of a new statutory sports body, Sport Ireland, which merges the two existing sports bodies – the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. The merger of the two bodies is part of the Government’s programme for the rationalisation of State agencies.

The Sport Ireland Bill is available on the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport website at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=27180&&CatID=59

Minister Ring said: ‘This Bill brings responsibility for the implementation of Irish sports policy under a single agency, Sport Ireland. The new agency will take over responsibility for the relevant functions currently performed by the Council and the Authority. Sport Ireland will continue the work currently being done by the Council in promoting, developing and co-ordinating sport in Ireland and also the work of the Authority in developing the National Sports Campus at Blanchardstown. I hope to have the Bill enacted during the next Dáil term and to establish Sport Ireland as early as possible’.

The Sport Ireland Bill combines the main provisions of the Irish Sports Council Act, 1999 and the National Sports Campus Development Authority Act 2006. It also includes new provisions relating to doping in sport, which ensure the statutory underpinning of the national Anti-Doping Programme and the Irish Anti-Doping Rules.

Minister Ring added: ‘Anti-doping is a key area of work in sport aimed at ensuring that all athletes are competing on an equal footing. The Bill includes new provisions which will help Sport Ireland in its work in combatting doping in sport, and in continuing the work done by the Irish Sports Council in this area. The Bill provides a statutory basis for Ireland’s Anti-Doping Programme and the Irish Anti-Doping Rules. It also provides for sharing of information between Sport Ireland and relevant organisations, including the Irish Medicines Board, the Gardaí and Customs, which is an essential element in the fight against doping in sport’.

NGB Profile: Softball Ireland

Aug 27, 2014

Softball was introduced to Ireland in the early 1980’s and Softball Ireland was established in 1989. Softball Ireland is the governing body for all variations the sport of softball in Ireland. Softball Ireland is internationally aligned with the European Softball Federation and the International Softball Federation.

The primary objective is to promote and develop the sport at every level from recreational softball through to Irelands High Performance Programme. Currently headquartered in Dublin Softball Ireland is run by an elected voluntary board who are responsible for the organisation, development and growth of the game in Ireland.

What is Softball?

Softball is a variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Women’s fastpitch softball became a Summer Olympic sport in 1996, but it (and baseball) were dropped in 2005 from the 2012 games. It is hoped that Softball will be reintroduced to the 2020 Olympic Games.

There are two types of softball. In the most common type, slow-pitch softball (which is played by the majority of players in Ireland), the ball, must arch on its path to the batter; there are 10 players in a team; and bunting and stealing are prohibited. In fastpitch softball, the pitch is fast, there are nine players on the field at one time, and bunting and stealing are permitted. Softball Ireland has launched Women’s fastpitch in 2014 as part of its policy of getting more women playing sport.

Membership:

There are 37 affiliated clubs in Ireland with a combined membership of just under 700 players.

Fact File:

• Softball was invented in 1887 in Chicago as an indoor game. It was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground, softbund ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies’ baseball. The name softball was given to the game in 1926.
• The standard distance between bases for slow-pitch softball is 65feet and for fastpitch softball is 60ft. In fastpitch softball the ball is pitched underarm and can reach speeds of up to 60mph
• Ireland has been participated in European Championships since 1998 and is currently ranked fourth in Europe in slow-pitch softball. Ireland has previously won both silver and bronze medals at the European Championships

Key Events in 2014/2015

World Series Softball Tournament, September 13, 2014, London

European Softball Federation Annual Congress, February 2015, Dublin

ESF Slow-pitch Championships, July 2015, Bulgaria

ESF Fastpitch Championships, 2015, TBC

Contact Info

www.softball.ie

Twitter: @softballireland

E: info@softball.ie

LSP Profile: Meath Local Sports Partnership

Aug 27, 2014

Meath Local Sports Partnership

Meath Local Sports Partnership (Meath LSP) was established in 2002 by the Irish Sports Council to plan, lead and coordinate the development of sport and physical activity in County Meath. This is achieved through engagement with sporting bodies, community and voluntary organisations, local and national agencies and statutory bodies.

Meath LSP provides a leadership role for the co-ordination, development and delivery of sport and physical activity opportunities in County Meath within the framework of our strategic plan and the resources available. Our work includes the provision of information on sport and physical activity, the facilitation of education and training opportunities and supporting the development and implementation of programmes and events that encourage greater participation.

Meath LSP works with and supports the work of the staff and volunteers of our partners and stakeholders in promoting participation in sport and physical activity. We are supported in this role by local and national agencies, statutory bodies, sporting organisations and community and voluntary organisations.

Following an extensive review of our second strategy in 2013, “Sport and Physical Activity – a Way of Life” 2007-2012, we launched our new 4 year strategy “Active Meath – More People, More Active, More Often” 2014-2017 earlier this year.  This strategy consolidates the work achieved to date and sets about building the framework for a broader range of activities which will incorporate and encourage participants of all sporting and physical abilities.

In order to achieve this aim, we have identified three priority goals as part of our strategy:

1. Active Communities – more people, more active, more often.  Meath LSP will continue to support a range of sport and physical activity pathways, programmes and facilities in Co. Meath.
2. Active Partnerships: Meath LSP will engage with and support the partner organisations and National Governing Bodies of Sport, who make sports and physical activity possible in our County.
3. Active Processes: Meath LSP will operate in an effective and transparent manner, grow the capacity of our staff, research our impact, communicate effectively and make best use of our data and IT systems.

Examples of programmes delivered by Meath LSP under the priority goals listed above:

Sports Hall Athletics – a primary school indoor athletics programme focussed on running, jumping, and throwing activities which support agility, balance and co-ordination development.

In Meath over 250 children from 3^rd through to 6^th class are trained annually in this discipline. Format for delivery includes schools participating in a 6 week training programme, followed by county final with representatives from the different events going forward to represent Meath at the National finals.

The programme is delivered jointly between Meath LSP and Meath Athletics. For some the programme offers an entirely new experience introducing them to athletics in both team and individual events; for others it`s a chance to showcase the skills they have learned with their local clubs.

Games for Life – programme of activities for older adults and people with disability. Programme involves training and developing club and group representatives to deliver a series of activities (Bowls, Kurling, Boccia and Flisk) back to their host organisations. Leagues and competitions in each discipline are run between groups and on county wide level.  Since its implementation in 2010, over 800 people in Meath have been impacted upon by the Games for Life Programme. It has changed the face of physical activity for older adults and people with disability.

In 2014 the programme was expanded to include a new activity – Box Hockey. Through the Men`s Shed initiative, equipment for the new activity is constructed and distributed to the local groups. This activity will follow the same format as others above in terms of roll out and delivery.

 Be Active ASAP is a national programme introducing 2^nd class children to physical activity in a safe, familiar, structured setting, with an emphasis on fun, enjoyment, and learning through a variety of activities. It aims to improve the attitudes of both children and their parents towards physical activity and lay the foundation for positive, lifelong physical activity habits.

The Be Active ASAP echoes the Physical Education Curriculum for Primary Schools. The programme consists of five 6-week blocks of activity (Games, Gymnastics, Athletics, Dance and Outdoor & Adventure Activities).The initiative is led by volunteer teacher leaders and facilitated by volunteer parent leaders.  The programme is supported by the Department of Health Promotion and Improvement HSE Dublin North East.

The programme is currently rolling out in 26 Local Sports Partnership`s nationwide. To date, a total of 331 schools, 1,271 teachers have received the training and over 28,000 children and 2,527 parent volunteers have participated in the programme.

Sports Inclusion Disability Programme – overall aim of Sports Inclusion Disability Programme is to support the strategic development and implementation of sport and physical activity for people with disabilities in County Meath.

Key elements of the SIDP include programming, training and education, information provision and a collaborative inter-agency approach to create an inclusive sporting and physical activity environment in County Meath where everyone participates irrespective of ability. To date, the programme has grown from strength to strength with over 400 people with disabilities currently participating in a variety of sporting activities. Activities include soccer, horse-riding, powerchair football, rugby, hockey, fishing, athletics, boccia, new age kurling, walking and tennis to name a few.

A quality training and education programme is also in place which aims to increase awareness and encourage coaches, volunteers, teachers and those involved in the provision of sport and physical activity to have the confidence to provide an inclusive sporting environment where everyone is welcomed irrespective of ability.

The positive impact of the SIDP is not only evident amongst participants on the various programmes but the benefits have been documented by parents, organisations and clubs involved.  Many quality collaborative inter-agency programmes currently exist in County Meath – an example of which is the Meath Powerchair Football team.  Meath LSP developed  Meath Powerchair in conjunction with the FAI, Navan Irish Wheelchair Association and Muscular Dystrophy Ireland. This action-packed team sport combines the skill of the wheelchair user with the speed and power of the chair itself, to participate in an extremely challenging game of soccer. The programme is now in its fourth year of existence in Meath with one player (Thomas Winters) currently part of the Irish senior Powerchair Football squad.

Annually we organise and deliver a wide range of training courses, workshops and physical activity programmes across the County for all ages and abilities.

Training & Development  Events Include:

• Workshops in Child Protection, Sports First Aid, Disability Inclusion
• Club Seminar on Garda Vetting Legislation
• Coaching Conference – Pre season conference held in January
• Club Development Resource pack
• Funding information & guidance workshops
• Sports day training for primary school teachers
• Summer camp leader training

Participation Programmes & Events Include:

• Meath Mental Health week – run in association with Local Authority, HSE, Agencies, Community Groups and NGB`s
• Mass participation events -Royal County 5k & All County 5k events, An Post Meath Heritage Cycle tour; Bike week family spin; Operation Transformation walk
• Programme of activities for women and men to include Walk4Fitness; Learn2Run to 5k; Meath Running Group; Mature Movers
• Girls in Action – physical activity programme for secondary school girls

Above is just a sample of the activities and programmes run by Meath Local Sports Partnership. Anyone interested, should contact the office at 046 9067337 or check out www.meathsports.ie or email mlsp@meathcoco.ie