We use cookies to give you the best experience and to help improve our website. By using our website you are accepting our cookies.  Learn More

03 Jul 2020 125

UK Coaching helps to coach the nation’s children during Sports Week

UK Coaching has helped script a series of five physical activity programmes to be broadcast on the BBC iPlayer as part of BBC Bitesize Daily’s nationwide Sports Week, taking place from 6-10 July.

Sports Week is aimed at primary school aged children and will help them understand more about how the body moves for sport and physical activity; covering topics like speed and agility, flexibility, balance and using hand-eye coordination. There will also be a focus on how sports can help their wellbeing, reminding them that exercise can ‘lift their mood’ and ‘make them feel good about themselves’.

With additional help from the likes of the Premier League, British Gymnastics, British Cycling and the England and Wales Cricket Board - Sports Week will encourage students to learn a different skill each day before asking them to put them all together for a virtual end of term sports day.

UK Coaching’s Policy and Partnership Manager Craig Blain, said:

Being able to work with the BBC Education Team for Sports Week has been an exciting collaboration for us. I am pleased we have had a hand in this engaging and informative series that will inspire and educate viewers on the benefits of moving more.

Additionally, on the 14 July, the lead agency for coaching in the UK will also see its handiwork appear in BBC Bitesize Daily online lessons hosted on the BBC Bitesize website. These are a series of 10 lessons across school years 1-10. Each lesson has three activities within it, with three variations, and all focus on the fundamentals of movement.

Blain added:

“In connection to our strategic aspirations at UK Coaching, this project has provided us with an opportunity to reach millions of children, introducing them to some activities to begin to explore their own fundamentals of movement, which in activity terms are the building blocks to a more active and healthy lifestyle.”

Timetable of BBC Bitesize Sports Week:

Monday 6th July – Balance and core strength with British Cycling

Sports Week kicks off with Olympic cycling gold medallist Katie Archibald MBE who will be leading a session about balance, using household objects to improve core strength. Paralympian champion Kadeena Cox MBE will also be drawing on her experiences to talk about resilience and how this can be used in sports and also in day-to-day life.

On Bitesize Daily Primary Book Club (7-9 and 9-11 years) Sir Chris Hoy will be reading an exclusive first extract of his book, Be Amazing! An Inspiring Guide to Being your Own Champion, not out until October. Also, fellow cyclist Laura Kenny will be reading Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren on Bitesize Daily Primary (5-7 years).

Tuesday 7th July – Hand-eye coordination with the England and Wales Cricket Board

Get ready to improve hand-eye coordination as English national women’s cricketer Fran Wilson shares her top tips in throwing and catching a ball. Students will then hear advice from Heather Knight OBE as she talks about dealing with conflict.

Sir Chris Hoy and Laura Kenny will also continue their book readings on Bitesize Daily Primary.

Wednesday 8th July – Flexibility with British Gymnastics

Stretch and bend with Olympic trampoline bronze medal-winning gymnast, Bryony Page as she showcases her collection of fun, simple stretches and exercise to improve flexibility. Bryony will also talk about dealing with nerves.

Over on Book Club, it is the final day of Sir Chris Hoy’s book reading on Bitesize Daily Primary (7-9 and 9-11 years), and Laura Kenny will be continuing Pippi Longstocking over on Bitesize Daily Primary (5-7 years).

Thursday 9th July – Speed and agility with the Premier League and Liverpool FC

Fresh from their Premier League win, Harvey Elliott from Liverpool FC will be on hand to show students how they can improve speed and agility, essential for a game of football. The activity will highlight how to have great teamwork and be a team player.

Also on Thursday, Celebrity Book Club will be dedicated to all things football as English former footballer and BBC Sport pundit Alex Scott MBE and Ben Cajee from CBBC’s Match of The Day Kickabout will be reading Tom Fordyce’s non-fiction book My Greatest Football Team Ever, all about creating and managing a football team. Alex will be appearing on Bitesize Daily Primary (7-9 years) and Ben will be reading for Bitesize Daily Primary (9-11 years), whilst Laura Kenny will read her final extract of Pippi Longstocking on Bitesize Daily Primary (5-7 years).

Friday 10th July – Virtual Sports Day

To round off the week, BBC Bitesize Daily, BBC Bitesize Daily Primary will host its very own virtual Sports Day. Here all activities from the week will be put together to create one big challenge as students are encouraged to get involved and compete in a nationwide virtual Sports Day against sports stars from the week and Bitesize presenters, Karim Zeroual and Radzi Chinyanganya. Also, participating in Sports Day are Cricket stars: Georgia Elwiss, Kate Cross, Tammy Beaumont, Keaton Jennings, Matt Parkinson, Danny Hamm and Chris Edwards.

BBC Bitesize Daily is available on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Red Button. BBC Bitesize online lessons are available at www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize.