MORE than 145 students at Castle Rushen High School enjoyed the Southern 6 Sports Day run by the school and the Sports Development Unit recently.
The day itself involved coaches from six different community sports clubs in the South of the Island going into the school to deliver coaching sessions to the entire Year Seven intake.
Students rotated round the six sports throughout the day and were provided with fun 45 minute taster sessions in each to encourage them to join community sports clubs outside school.
The sports included in the programme this year were: Basketball (Southern Basketball Club), Badminton (Castletown & Hotshots Badminton Clubs), Rugby (Castletown Rugby Club), Table Tennis (Southern Table Tennis Club), Golf (Rowany & Castletown Golf Clubs) and Hockey (Castletown Hockey Club).
Each of the community sports clubs involved in the event are keen for more players to come and join in their training sessions and boost their attendances. Students were sent home with a booklet at the end of the event detailing all the information on the training times for the sport clubs involved.
The initiative was first held in 2009.
Community, Culture and Leisure Minister David Cretney MHK said: "This is a great initiative to provide students with the chance to participate in sports that they may not have had the opportunity to take part in before.
"These short taster sessions will hopefully be the springboard for students to get involved in community sports clubs in the future.
"Who knows, some may even go on to excel in their chosen sports in the future."
PE Teacher Cliff Dunn, from Castle Rushen High School, said: "The event was once again a huge success.
"The children all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and having spoken to them many are now eager to participate in community sports clubs.
"On behalf of Castle Rushen High School and the Sports Development Team I would like to express a huge thank you to all of the coaches who gave up their time to make the event such a success."
Anyone who would like information about joining any of the sports clubs in the South please can contact Emma Callow, Southern Community Sports Development Officer, on 688557 or email Emma.Callow@gov.im
