A free online ‘After School Sport Club’ is to be launched by the Youth Sport Trust this week following the ban on children’s sport outside school during the second coronavirus lockdown.
Similar to Joe Wicks’s ‘PE With Joe’, which helped keep the nation active during the first lockdown, the 30-minute club will take place at 5pm each weekday and be led by a different member of the YST’s athlete mentor network, starting on Thursday with world No 1 female inline skater and 10-times British Champion Jenna Downing.
Former Olympian Jeanette Kwakye and Paralympian Kate Grey are among the other role models being lined up to front sessions designed to support schools struggling to deliver extracurricular sport during the month-long restrictions.
Aimed mainly at primary-aged children, a different theme has been assigned for each day of the club – Adventure Monday, Tuesday Play, Wild Wednesday, Thinking Thursday and Fun Friday – some of which will involve the use of household items.
The YST said it would work with the sport sector and its national network of partners to develop the sessions from a range of expertise and share ideas.
Downing, who became the latest sporting figure to back The Daily Telegraph ‘Keep Kids Active in Lockdown’ campaign, said: “After School Sport Club is going to be so much fun. I think I speak on behalf of all the YST athlete mentors when I say that we can’t wait to launch and help children and young people fill the empty sport void in their lives that has been created by this lockdown.
“Maintaining access to sport and good quality Physical Education is vital to young people’s health and wellbeing. During the first national lockdown almost half of young people became less active. It led to children becoming physically unfit and struggling with their mental health.
“Staying active and engaged in sport is one essential way we can help mitigate the damage being done to a generation of young people during these challenging times. After School Sport Club will teach skill development and physical literacy, but most of all it will be fun, and a chance for children to connect through sport.”
After School Sport Club will run for five weeks until December 18 and children and young people can take part live by visiting the YST’s YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/YouthSportTrust
Posted on 12th November 2020