Primary Schools Programmes
Tri Heroes – Schools based Triathlon
Tri-Heroes helps schools and teachers introduce and deliver triathlon activities to pupils whilst supporting the needs of the school to deliver the necessary Physical Education progression for all pupils.
Tri Heroes brings together the lifelong activities of swimming, cycling and running to inspire, motivate and challenge children. The programme is fun, varied, challenging and suitable for all pupils whether as part of the curriculum or after school activity.
At the end of the course, each student gets the chance to take part in a mini-triathlon, giving them a sense of accomplishment and allowing them participate in a safe and positive environment.
Visit the Triathlon Ireland Tri Heroes page HERE for more information or contact Deirdre Donnelly dedonnelly@mayococo.ie 094 9064386 Mobile 087 3910337
Primary Schools Athletics
Claremorris Athletic and Sports Club Ltd along with AXSOM Sports Ltd in conjunction with Mayo Sports Partnership invite primary schools in the locality to send a group of approx. 30 children, to travel to their indoor facilities for 60-minute coaching sessions
Some schools may send individual classes for a session and other schools may group classes depending on school numbers or other requirements. The programme is an all-inclusive programme, so all children are welcome, of all abilities. Schools are requested to provide their own transport to and from the coaching session. The children should come dressed for physical activity and have a packed lunch and a drink.
The session will focus on the fundamentals of athletics and will be broadly in line with the primary school PE curriculum. It will contain an introduction to running, jumping and throwing and will focus on track & field events such as the sprints, hurdles, middle distance, high jump, long jump and shot putt. All activities will be appropriate for children of primary school age and stage of development.
Playground Markings
Traditionally, playground games have always been an integral part of childhood leisure time, which is not surprising given the fact that children can spend up to 21% of their time at school in the playground. As well as offering children an opportunity to be physically active during the day, games played during breaktime also provide children with a vehicle for social interaction and a platform for creativity. Here at Mayo Sports Partnership we have a selection of playground markings to utilise for your school.
The Daily Mile
Mayo Sports Partnership would like to invite your school to take part in The Daily Mile, a free and simple initiative to improve the physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of the children in your school. It is very simple to start in a school. Without time to change into kit, every child in a school goes out each day in the fresh air to run, jog or walk for 15 minutes. It is not competitive and most children average a mile, with some doing less. It is not PE, sport or cross-country but a physical activity which is aimed at improving children’s physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing.
The Daily Mile is an initiative which was started by Elaine Wyllie, Head teacher in a Large Scottish Primary School in 2012. Elaine started this initiative when she noticed that many children in her classroom were very unfit. She started by asking the children to run around the school pitch. By halfway most were exhausted however once they did it daily the children’s fitness levels improved and they increased it to the daily mile. Since then it has been introduced into 78 countries, Ireland has the 3rd highest with 957 schools taking part in the programme
What if My Child’s school is not doing the Daily Mile yet?
If you would like your child’s school to take part in the Daily mile, we encourage you to reach out to them! We can provide the help and support to get the school(s) started and are always excited to bring more schools into the Daily mile community, if you are not sure whether your child’s school is already taking part, go to thedailymile.ie and can check on the global Participation Map
Daily Mile Recommended Tips to help get you started
- Keep it simple. The Daily Mile should be fun and sustainable, in order to improve children’s health and wellbeing, and improves their alertness.
- Carry out a risk assessment – to ensure that the Daily Mile is a safe activity for all children. When marking out your mile (1600m) create numerous smaller laps to keep the course fun and engaging. This allows the children to enjoy running as far as they can in the 15 minutes.
- Children should know that it’s not a competition, many mix running and walking, particularly at the start
- It’s fully inclusive – make sure all the children are out in the fresh air with their friends
- Do it daily – otherwise children find it hard, and won’t enjoy all the benefits
- Treat the weather as a benefit not a barrier, jackets on if it rains, if it’s too warm take off the Jacket
- No need for warm up or warm down or change clothes, (possible exception for footwear – runners more suitable for this activity, then change back to shoes for class)
- Do your daily Mile when it suits you- fit it in around your teaching day.
- No staff training, or extra workload on the teacher
- No set up, or tidy up of equipment required
https://thedailymile.ie/ The Daily Mile web site for more information or contact Deirdre Donnelly dedonnelly@mayococo.ie 094 9064386 Mobile 087 3910337
SpikeBall
Spikeball is an introduction to the game of Volleyball , It incorporates many of the skills that we see in volleyball but cleverly adapts the rules to make the game more inclusive, easier and FUN for all new and experienced participants.
Following training in Spikeball Secondary school students are available to deliver training to local primary school children culminating in a blitz for all schools involved.
SPIKEBALL is an initiative developed by the Volleyball Association of Ireland to aid School Teachers in introducing Junior Volleyball to their students. Volleyball has traditionally been viewed as a difficult sport to introduce to young children, but it doesn't have to be. SPIKEBALL is an adapted 4-player v 4-player volleyball game that was introduced to Ireland in the last 3 years and has seen participation levels increase by over 300%.
http://sportsmanager.ie/cake/volleyball/volleyballireland/contentPage/253883/p_r_o_g_r_a_m_m_e
Schools Walking Programme
Get Ireland Active have a number of resources including their Active School Walkway’ Pack. This pack is only available to schools registered for the Active Schools Flag.
Active Schools
Any of the above programmes are available to all primary schools as a means to obtaining their Active School Flag, which we are happy to help facilitate these programmes and initiatives.
Junior Parkrun
Mayo has two Junior parkrun locations
Castlebar https://www.parkrun.ie/loughlannagh-juniors/
Ballina https://www.parkrun.ie/ballina-juniors/
Junior parkrun is a series of 2k runs for children held in areas of open space around the UK and Ireland.
They are open to all, free, and are safe and easy to take part in. The courses are marshalled so that juniors will be in sight of at least one marshal at all times.
How old do we need to be to take part in a junior parkrun?
Children should be aged 4 and over to take part and can register a junior parkrun performance until the day before their 15th birthday.
How fast do we need to go?
Parkrun is a running, jogging and/or walking event. No matter how fast or slow you are we are just delighted to see you taking part.
Whilst more competitive children can use junior parkruns to test themselves against their own time, and against others, participation should ultimately be for fun, and we urge all parents/guardians/volunteers not to put children under undue pressure to perform.
Equally we don’t mind if you drop out. You can always come back and try again another day.
Marathon Kids
An 8 week programme targeting 5th & 6th Class students in schools. Students will perform four running sessions each week inching them closer to completing their first marathon as well as learning about the benefits of physical activity.
The finale will see the students running their last mile. See more details HERE
Contact Deirdre dedonnelly@mayococo.ie for details on our Mayo Marathon Kids