SPORTSSPORTSwww.sportsmanagement.co.uk MANAGEMENT VOLUME 16 Q2 2012
London 2012’s SPORTHOUSE Pre-Games An Olympic dream Training Camps becomes a reality
HOTSEAT Nigel Walker’s TOP TEAM ‘team behind the ST GEORGE’S PARK team’ at the EIS
ON THE COVER Jessica Ennis is World and European heptathlon gold medalist
TIM HOLLINGSWORTH
PARTNER The BPA’s CEO talks Paralympic power
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Going global and commercial
he future growth and prosperity of the sports market will be inextricably linked to the develop- T ment of TV rights and associated sponsorship in a way that will change the essence of many sports, as well as the way facilities are designed and grassroots sport is organised. This was the message from the International Herald Tribune Sports Business Summit, held recently in Istanbul, Turkey. We’re moving from a time when sports are televised only if they’re telegenic, to one where they’re adapting themselves to be ‘televisable’ in a way that’s altering their fundamental nature. Delegates heard how the America’s Cup sailing – originally thought to be an untelevisable
PHOTO CREDIT: GETTYIMAGES.CO.UK PHOTO CREDIT: sport – has adapted in two ways, firstly by rigging boats with cameras and the crew’s with heart rate monitors and microphones to enable close-up camera work and secondly by the creation e-mail: please use contact’s and marketing of a ‘stadium sailing’ concept – close-fought races which take place in bays with headlands. Both concepts enable spectators to enjoy the action and drama close-to. [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS Cricket was given as another example – the game now comes in three formats – a five-day test, Denise Gildea a 50-over game and Twenty20 cricket. With these options up its sleeve, the International Cricket +44 (0)1462 471930 Council (ICC) is looking for new markets to win over. Examples were given of everything from EDITOR Masai Warrior Cricket (apparently spear-throwing skills are transferrable) through to breaking the Liz Terry Afghan market, which is seen as ripe for development. Film director Sam Mendes has even made +44 (0)1462 431385 MANAGING EDITOR Major League Baseball is getting involved with school sport in China. It Karen Maxwell aims to grow interest in baseball from the grassroots up, with its eye on +44 (0)1462 471920 PUBLISHER the prize of high game-day attendances and sponsorship riches David Hunt +44 (0)1462 471902 a film about it called ‘Out of the Ashes: Afghanistan and Cricket’. The ICC wants to develop more markets like Pakistan, where half the population – 550m people – are cellphone users and there NEWS EDITOR Tom Walker are opportunities to develop lucrative sponsorship income around this technology. +44 (0)1462 471934 Finding ways to break into new global markets was a big theme of the conference and JOURNALISTS in an excellent case study of Major League Baseball (MLB), Jim Small, VP of Asia for MLB Pete Hayman explained how the sport targets growth by understanding what drives attendances at games. +44 (0)1462 471938 He contrasted the US – where research showed 54 per cent of ‘moms’ are baseball fans, make PRODUCTS EDITOR decisions about attendance and see it as entertainment, meaning actual participation in the Martin Nash sport isn’t the main driver of attendance – with China, which MLB has targeted for growth, but +44 (0)1462 471933 where actual participation in the sport is the main factor which drives people to attend games. DISPLAY ADVERTISING As a result, MLB is getting involved with sport in schools in China with the aim of growing John Challinor interest in baseball from the grassroots up, with its eye on the prize of high game-day +44 (0)1202 742968 Jan Williams attendances, TV rights and sponsorship riches in a market that’s so +44 (0)1462 471909 huge, “if you’re one in a million, there are 1,400 of you”. DESIGN Small said it takes generations to create a truly global ‘sports Ed Gallagher property’, but you know you’ve made it when the passion is passed +44 (0)1905 20198 down the generations from grandparents to parents and then to Andy Bundy children. “It’s a long-term play,” he concluded. +44 (0)1462 471924 This focus on growth, change, TV rights, sponsorship, globalisation INTERNET and the commercialisation of sport is coming fast and will Michael Paramore fundamentally change the way sport and sports facility provision +44 (0)1462 471926 Dean Fox operates in ways we are only just beginning to understand. +44 (0)1462 471900 Tim Nash Liz Terry, editor [email protected] twitter: elizterry +44 (0)1462 471917 CIRCULATION MANAGER Michael Emmerson the leisure media company publishes +44 (0)1462 471932 FINANCIAL CONTROL Sue Davis +44 (0)1395 519398 FINANCIAL ADMIN Denise Gildea +44 (0)1462 471930
Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 3 IN THIS ISSUE ISSUE 2 2012
44 Volleyball England brings the game to the masses with ‘Go Spike’ 18 New BPA CEO Tim Hollingsworth
24 SportHouse is now open for business 51 Cricket excellence at Loughborough 60 Water treatment for swimming pools
3 EDITOR’S LETTER 24 NEW OPENING: SportHouse 40 INSPIRING A NEW Lauren Applegarth looks at the elite and GENERATION OF VOLUNTEERS 6 LETTERS community aspirations at one of three We look at some of the current newly-built Games-Time Training Venues programmes in place to inspire a new 8 THOUGHT LEADERS generation of volunteers in sport Comments from John Goodbody, Simon 28 TOP TEAM: St George’s Park Johnson and David Stalker Kath Hudson talks to the team involved 44 GRASSROOTS: Volleyball in the development of England football’s Volleyball England’s flagship grassroots 10 INDUSTRY NEWS centre of excellence campaign – Go Spike – gets people moving
16 PEOPLE NEWS 32 PRE-GAMES TRAINING CAMPS 48 HOTSEAT: Nigel Walker We check out the elite facilities at Karen Maxwell talks to the national 17 2012 PROFILE: Sarah Winckless Loughborough University, the University director of the English Institute of Sport of Bath and Surrey Sports Park 18 INTERVIEW: Tim Hollingsworth 51 NATIONAL CRICKET Karen Maxwell talks to the British 36 RESEARCH: Winning Ways PERFORMANCE CENTRE Paralympic Association CEO about SIRC’s Maxine Gregory evaluates the Crispin Andrews visits the ECB’s centre ParalympicGB’s ‘home’ advantage successes of Sport England’s Sport of excellence, based at Loughborough Unlimited programme for children and University, to find out how the high 22 EVENT REVIEW: young people and gives an insight into performance coaches are developing The Sport Industry Awards how they were achieved England’s cricketing stars of the future
4 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE AT WWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UK
ISSUE 2 2012
digital magazine See Sports Management online www.sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital
36 SIRC’s Sport Unlimited review 68 The Watercube in legacy mode
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32 An overview of some of London 2012’s Pre-Games Training Camps
54 GAME SET AND MATCH 70 GAME ON: The latest news and The Queen’s Club’s transformation views from the Sport and Play for the AEGON Championships Construction Association (SAPCA) attention buyers! 60 CRYSTAL CLEAR 71 GAME ON: Take Five! fi nd suppliers and innovation updates Karen Maxwell talks to four industry SAPCA offers a 10-step guide to a www.sport-kit.net experts to find out some of the options successful sports construction project for swimming-pool water treatment 73 GAME ON: buyers’ guide: 66 FUNDING CHANGING European Standards for Sports Surfaces For suppliers of products and ROOM REFURBISHMENT SAPCA provides an update on standards services, turn to page 80 Jon Pearson looks at the funding options development and examines the available and some of the issues to avoid implications for the UK marketplace SAPCA in changing room specification Sports Management is a 75 SAPCA DIRECTORY partner of the Sports and 68 BEIJING’S HAPPY Play Construction Association MAGIC WATERCUB 78 SPORT KIT (SAPCA), the trade body for We talk to concept designer the UK’s sports facility construction industry. Sports Management and SAPCA Forrec about converting the Beijing 80 SPORT DIRECTORY work in partnership to promote high 2008 Aquatics Centre into a family- standards in the design, construction and friendly, fully-themed waterpark 82 DIARY DATES AND AD INDEX maintenance of UK sports facilities.
Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 5 LETTERS
Do you have a strong opinion about your industry? Where are things going wrong, or right? Sports Management would love to hear from you. Email: [email protected]
Government cuts leave charities fearing closure
Many charities working primarily to im- prove the lives of children and young people living in England will be con- cerned by new research published by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB). Be- yond the Cuts forecasts that children and young people’s charities, which num- ber 34,000, will lose £405m in statutory funding over the five years to 2015/16. And this is a cautious estimate. Funding cuts of close to half a billion pounds is not good news for our coun- try’s children and young people. Neither is it good news for a sector reeling from the burden of an economic downturn, Children and young people’s charities will lose £450m in statutory funding by 2016 decreasing sources of public funding and increasing demands. the number of staff they employ and forefront of creating solutions, there According to our research, children and cutting back on the range of services is still a role for national government young people’s charities are more vulner- they offer, as well as developing consor- to put its weight behind the develop- able to these cuts, as they receive more tia and mergers. However, a small but ment of new partnerships and new of their income from statutory sources significant minority thought it was “like- ways of working. and are four times less likely to receive ly” or “very likely” they would be forced We must ensure that children and corporate support. to close in the next 12 months. young people are not deprived of cru- The organisations we consulted are, of Shutting up shop is a short-term an- cial services during this age of austerity. course, taking action to manage the im- swer to a long-term problem. While Dr Hilary Emery pact of the cuts. This includes reducing children’s charities must be at the CEO, National Children’s Bureau
We need to make sport more attractive to girls
It’s well known that school children are At the Women in Sport and Fitness The priority needs to be getting all less active than they should be and this Foundation, our new report Changing children active not just focusing on problem is particularly severe for girls. the Game for Girls shows that: the sporty ones. That’s why we have While many schools are doing great UÊ Half of all girls (51 per cent) are put launched a new toolkit for schools to things, PE and school sport is actually off physical activity by their experi- help them provide the best physical putting the majority of girls off being ences of school sport and PE. education they can for girls. active – even though three quarters of UÊ 45 per cent of girls say “sport is too We simply cannot afford to keep ig- girls are keen to do more exercise. competitive”, and more than half noring the evidence that school sport think boys enjoy competitive sport plays a key role in shaping attitudes to more than girls. health and fitness. UÊ Over half of all boys and girls agree Some schools throughout the country that “there are more opportunities for are leading the way in delivering excit- boys to succeed in sport than girls”. ing and inclusive PE lessons, but there is UÊ Half the girls surveyed (48 per cent) say still a great deal to be done. And, with that getting sweaty is “not feminine”. sport front of mind in 2012, now is the We need schools and the government ideal time to do it. to urgently address this issue, and create Sue Tibballs Girls are put off sport through PE lessons policies to help keep girls fit and healthy. CEO, Women in Sport and Fitness
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INDUSTRY EXPERTS SHARE THEIR VIEWS ON THE CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING SPORT
THE DANGER OF SCRAPPING THE DCMS JOHN GOODBODY
eports that the Department of before 1992. With negotiations currently reduction, higher Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) underway for a merger of UK Sport and educational attain- R faces being scrapped after the Sport England, it looks as if we will be ment and improved Olympic Games has sent a shiver through back to where we were in the 1980s, when social cohesion – the sporting establishment. After being there was a Sports Council, responsible shoehorning sport into a department set up in 1992 and originally called the for both England and UK dimensions, and where primacy lies elsewhere would do Department of National Heritage, it was it, in turn, being responsible to a Sports it, and the nation, a great disservice.” quickly nicknamed ‘The Ministry of Fun’ Minister, who, at that stage, was with the As sport permeates so many areas of and ‘the Ministry of Free Tickets.’ Howev- Department of the Environment. society perhaps it could sit in the Cabinet er, over the last 20 years, the government Andy Reed, who chairs the Sport and Office, which has a wide-ranging role? department has gained in stature by Recreation Alliance, is among those Reed would reluctantly accept this but giving sport a much greater prominence concerned about any dismantling of the says he would prefer for the DCMS to re- and also playing a key role in deciding DCMS, with sport then moving to join a main as an entity, with sport continuing that London should bid for the Games much bigger department, such as Educa- to be a permanent fixture there. Surely and then wholeheartedly supporting the tion, where it was, briefly, before 1992. this is right, because returning to where candidature. He says that in the DCMS, sport enjoys we were in the 1980s is retrogressive. The The reason for scrapping the Depart- a higher profile than moving to a depart- change since then has worked and been ment is, of course, to reduce costs. It ment “where it was a secondary concern seen to work and should be allowed to has been suggested that its three main or a tool to achieve a single, specific aim.” continue to work in the future. components – culture, media and sport He believes that “given its proven effec- John Goodbody has covered 11 successive – should be hived off to other parts of tiveness in contributing to a wide range Olympic Games for the Sunday Times. Whitehall, which is where they were of public policy objectives – like crime @JohnGoodbody
CAPITALISING ON OUR GOLDEN DECADE OF SPORT SIMON JOHNSON
he clock is ticking down to the event with guarantees, tax breaks and The government start of Britain’s Golden Decade of underwrites of cost. wants to encour- T Sport, with the 2012 Olympic and Forty per cent of that economic benefit age more people Paralympic Games first on the calendar is assumed to come from visitor spend. to be more active of major events. And it’s to my personal And where will this money be spent? The and these events are expected to provide sorrow that as COO of England’s bid to answer is in bars, pubs, clubs, casinos, res- the motivation to take up sport. However, host the 2018 FIFA World Cup that we taurants, hotels and visitor attractions. A playing fields and leisure centres are dis- weren’t able to add that prized tourna- thriving leisure industry is therefore the appearing or falling into disrepair due to ment to the list of blue riband sporting key to us deriving the economic benefit public sector cuts. The government needs events taking place on these shores. from hosting these events. the private sector to step in to offer high- As the new CEO of Business In Sport But if the fiscal and regulatory regime quality facilities and our members are and Leisure (BISL), I recognise that our continues to over-regulate this sector, to keen to do so, but we need help to make members have a large impact on wheth- burden it with unfair taxes and dispropor- procurement quicker and cheaper, to make er the objectives of hosting these major tionate costs, not only will the industry planning more responsive to leisure needs events are met. not grow, but businesses will close. So, if and a system which rewards energy reduc- The first area is economic benefit and visitors can’t find opportunities to spend tion and offers easier ways to raise capital. inward investment. Every time a bid is their money when they visit the UK to To prevent the Golden Decade of Sport made to host an event, an Economic watch the 2013 Rugby World Cup, it means falling flat, the government needs to allow Impact Assessment is made by an inde- we risk squandering the economic reason the sports and leisure industry to grow. pendent body. These invariably forecast for bidding for this event in the first place. Simon Johnson a huge fillip to the country’s GDP and jus- The second area linked to event host- CEO, Business in Sport and Leisure tifies the government in supporting the ing is sports development legacy. [email protected]
8 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 PIC: © WWW.SPORTENGLAND.ORG
Chief executives are The FIA is looking to work with encouraging partners to NGBs to get more people more create innovative, active within member facilities integrated services
A NEED FOR INCREASED NGB/FIA COLLABORATION DAVID STALKER
s part of our Memorandum with NGBs and NGBs must, in turn, work through our opera- of Understanding with Sport with the FIA to achieve our overall objec- tor members and A England, the Fitness Industry As- tives to increase participation levels. exponentially grow sociation (FIA) has pledged to work with The FIA have more than 3,000 facil- participation rates. more national governing bodies of sport ity operating members, who proactively We will also strive to support NGBs (NGBs) to get more people, more contribute to the overall health and well- to develop their understanding of the active, more often. being of the nation. We want to get the health agenda and support their evi- Eleven of the top 20 sports (in most out of every activity and get more dence base for sport and physical activity relation to participation levels, as de- consumers doing physical activity, wheth- through The FIA Research Institute at the tailed in Sport England’s Active People er that is participating in a sport such as University of Greenwich. Surveys) can take place within a health swimming at a leisure centre, or run- In the essence of partnership working, club or leisure centre. ning on a treadmill within a health club and the opportunity to learn first-hand Operators of those facilities currently environment or at a bootcamp session about the FIA and find out some of the see more than one million people, every outside – there are many opportunities ways that we could work together, the day of the week. They have the capac- to find a sport of their choice. FIA is offering all Sport England-recogn- ity to see a million more. Eighty-nine per The FIA has numerous partnership ised NGBs an FIA member rate to attend cent of the country’s population lives programmes, such as Asda Active and our fourth annual Flame Conference and within two miles of these facilities, which Shift into Sports, and we want to pro- Ball of Fire, held at the Magna Centre in have seen a year-on-year increase in us- vide NGBs with the opportunity to be Sheffield on the 27th June. age for the past 20 years. involved in these. David Stalker So as the trade body for health and We want to discover how we can help CEO, Fitness Industry Association fitness, the FIA is committed to working to promote established NGB programmes @DavidStalker
Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 9 NEWS UPDATE
>i\\ec`^_k]fi;\iYp )'()[`^`kXcc\^XZpgcXeji\m\Xc\[ 8i\eX[\m\cfgd\ek Derby City Council (DCC) has approved Details have been revealed of a planning permission for the development new joint venture between the of a new multi-million pound sports and Fitness Industry Association entertainment arena near the city’s exist- (FIA) and Sport England, ing Pride Park Stadium. which aims to secure a digi- The 14,500sq m (156,077sq ft) venue tal legacy for the London 2012 has been designed by FaulknerBrowns Olympic Games. Architects and will house a 250m cycling The partnership will encour- track and a 1.5km (0.9-mile) outdoor closed ageconsumers to become cycle trail. It is hoped work will now be able more physically active and to commence in June, with a sports infield as a result grow membership accommodating 12 badminton courts and numbers at sports and health hospitality facilities included in the plans. clubs. The strategy will be based around a new themed website – to be launched in the run up to the 2012 Games A website will offer consumers an easy way of accessing sport – offering consumers that have been inspired by the Olympics an easy way of “It’s no real surprise that over the last three image: simpson and brown accessing sport in their area. years there has been a 400 per cent increase in Describing the scheme, David Stalker, CEO online searching for places to find, book and of the FIA, said: “We live in a digital age in play sport and physical activity. But with no which consumers are used to buying online, platform to fulfil this consumer desire, we are and in which we expect instantaneous out- currently missing out on a prime opportunity comes at a the click of a button. to get more people active.”
LRK Associates designed the new SportHouse /%(dJgfik?flj\ ;:DJkfY\Zcfj\[[fneX]k\iFcpdg`Zj6 ]XZ`c`kpfg\ej`eCfe[fe The coalition government is Five-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve considering shutting down Redgrave helped mark the official opening the Department for Culture, of a major new £8.1m sports complex in Media and Sport (DCMS), east London’s Mayesbrook Park. according to Labour party Built by Morgan Sindall, the LRK deputy leader Harriet Associates-designed SportHouse boasts a Harman. 5,000sq m (53,820sq ft) sports hall – one Writing in London’s of the UK’s largest – fitted with Gerflor’s Evening Standard (ES), Taraflex flooring. Harman said “there are well- Other facilities include a 300-station fit- sourced rumours” that the ness area equipped by Cybex, two full-size government sees the DCMS as basketball courts, medical testing rooms, surplus to requirements after changing areas and a restaurant. the London 2012 Games. Harman’s claims came on the same day that an influen- Jeremy Hunt – the culture secretary at the DCMS ;\Xcj\Zli\[]fiJ G$ tial conservative think tank [\j`^e\[Jn`e[fejZ_\d\ suggested that scrapping the department would The free market group also suggested that produce ‘huge savings’ for the government. the savings on expenditure would give the gov- Swindon Borough Council (SBC) and The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) ernment scope to cut taxes elsewhere. Moirai Capital Investments have moved claims that closing the DCMS could save Details: http://lei.sr?a=T2D2o (IEA) or see John forward with proposals for the Wiltshire £1.6bn if all departmental spending ceased. Goodbody’s thought leaders piece on page 8 town’s new £65m regional leisure hub. Leases have been agreed for the proj- ect, which will see Oasis Leisure Centre GcXee`e^jX]\^lXi[j]fiLBgcXp`e^Ô\c[j transferred to a private operator on 1 June before it undergoes an extensive refur- The government has included safeguards to which is designed to simplify the planning bishment. An indoor ski slope, arena protect sports playing fields from development process and support economic growth. and waterpark will also form part of the in its National Planning Policy Framework The new NPPF will only allow the devel- planned new hub, with leisure specialists (NPPF) published in March this year. opment of existing open space, sports and S&P Architects working on the design of Planning minister Greg Clark announced recreational buildings and land if it involves the the development. the launch of the new 50-page document, creation of equivalent or improved facilities.
10 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE AT WWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UK
>fm\ied\ekZXccj]fi^i\Xk\i Jgfikj;fZbfg\ej`e\XjkCfe[fe [`jXY`c`kpgXik`Z`gXk`fe SportsDock, a new £21m com- Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has used the plex to be used by Team USA government’s first Disability Sport Summit as its training base during the to urge the sector to do more to boost par- 2012 Games, has opened at the ticipation levels among disabled people. University of East London’s Hunt urged governing bodies to use the (UEL) Docklands Campus. 2012 Games to integrate disability sport Canterbury-based architec- provision into their respective Whole Sport tural firm Clague are behind Plans and attract more participants. the design of the new facility, Sport England is to invest £8m from its which was built by Denne Places People Play scheme to help remove Construction. The project was some of the barriers preventing disabled managed by Ball Hall. people from taking part in sports. A Precor-equipped fitness Details: http://lei.sr?a=j9r4y centre offering cv equipment and free weights is among the facilities, along with two SportsDock’s two indoor arenas offer flexible sport provision indoor arenas catering for a range of sports such as basketball. The equipment will then be left for commu- Elsewhere, the complex incorporates two nity use following the 2012 Games. outdoor 3G, five-a-side football pitches and UEL vice-chancellor Professor Patrick dance studios, as well as a sports café, chang- McGhee said: “The opening of SportsDock ing facilities and a sports injury clinic. will herald the dawn of an exciting new era Meanwhile, Team USA has kitted out a for sport in East London.” strength and conditioning suite at SportsDock. Details: http://lei.sr?a=k3K3T London’s Olympic Games are moving ever closer Jkfb\Zfcc\^\gcXejX I\j\XiZ_leZfm\ijjZ_ffcjgfikjÊnXi]Xi\Ë +djgfikjZfdgc\o A new study carried out by Stoke on Trent College has revealed plans to the Chance to Shine campaign invest £4m in the development of a sports
has uncovered the extent of IMAGE: JACO VAN RENSBURG/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM complex at its Cauldron Campus, which the “psychological warfare” forms part of the city’s University Quarter. experienced by children as The venue, which will incorporate an young as eight while playing indoor sports hall, a fitness suite and sport at school. aerobics facilities, is set to replace the insti- Chance to Shine – together tution’s existing building and is scheduled with Marylebone Cricket Club to open by August 2013. (MCC) – polled 1,250 kids Work is expected to begin this October aged eight-to 16-years-old, and the project is designed to enable the plus 1,010 parents of children college to offer a wider range of activities to from the same age group. students and members of the public alike. MCC head of cricket John Details: http://lei.sr?a=G2L0Y Stephenson said: “The results The MCC has urged pro-active steps to address “psychological warfare” from the survey highlight an alarming trend in school sport, which needs Meanwhile, 51 per cent of children surveyed :_Xdg`fej_`gZclYjkf to be proactively addressed.” admitted they had been a victim of taunts or X[fgkÔeXeZ`Xcilc\j More than two thirds of the children (68 per threats, while 55 per cent had seen physical cent) had witnessed verbal abuse during school violence – a quarter of which had seen their The Football League will extend its Financial matches, while 66 per cent of parents had seen team mate deliberately fouled. Fair Play rules to all three divisions from “different forms of mental intimidation”. Details: http://lei.sr?a=p7x7X next season, following the backing of the 24 npower Championship clubs. Clubs in League One and League Two are 9@JC&Fc`m\iNpdXekfgif[lZ\e\ni\gfik already subject to the regulations, which were introduced after a review by the com- Business in Sport and Leisure (BISL) has part- that sport and leisure can play in supporting petition to curb unchecked spending. nered with Oliver Wyman, the international the UK economy’s “rehabilitation”. The regulations contain a number of consulting firm, to produce its first report map- The research will also support BISL’s polit- sanctions for clubs that exceed “defined ping the size of the UK’s leisure industry. ical and media campaign to secure a “fairer limits” with regard to losses and share- The inaugural BISL Oliver Wyman Leisure deal” for commercial operators in the sector. holder equity investment. Industry Report is designed to outline the role Details: http://lei.sr?a=U9a2D Details: http://lei.sr?a=H7k0F
Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 11 NEWS UPDATE
JgfikjZclYji\Z\`m\ K\ee`jXe[al[f_`kYp]le[`e^Zlk _fj\g`g\YXe^l`[XeZ\ Sport England has made new guidance Sport England has reduced the available to help sports clubs cope with the amount of funding to the Lawn effects of a hosepipe ban now in effect in a Tennis Association (LTA) and number of areas across the country. British Judo Association (BJA) The agency has worked with national as a result of “disappointing governing bodies to produce the advice, participation figures”. with water a crucial part of maintaining the The LTA has renegotiated image: jj pixs/shutterstock quality and safe performance of surfaces. its participation aims with the The new guide includes how to maintain funding agency after agree- pitches and courts in a time of drought, as ing a cut of £530,000 due to well as how to work with water companies its failure to achieve its initial to negotiate possible exemptions. growth targets between 2009 Details: http://lei.sr?a=Q5s3H and 2013. Meanwhile, the BJA has also revised its growth target Tennis has suffered a £530,000 cut after missing its participation targets image: m. woodruff/shutterstock after agreeing a £353,000 cut. The decisions follow “lengthy negotiations” the number of people taking part at least once between the bodies and Sport England. a week and at least once a month. Sport England’s Active People Survey has Sport England chief executive Jennie Price shown a decline in the average number of peo- said: “Sport England has been clear that failure ple playing tennis at least once a week from to achieve the agreed growth in a sport would 487,500 (2007-08) to 375,800. lead to a governing body’s overall funding Participation in judo over the last two years levels being reviewed.” has been described as “flat” – both in terms of Details: http://lei.sr?a=T6g7N The track will be able to host international races DXafie\n9DO]XZ`c`kp]fi =`idjXggf`ek\[kfjgfikËjC\^XcGXe\c=iXd\nfib Cfe[feËj9li^\jjGXib A number of law firms have been appointed to the framework, which is formed of 10 firms Southwark Council has approved plans for the new Legal Panel Framework, which is to selected through a procurement process. the development of a “national standard” provide services to national governing bodies It comes after it was found that sector organ- BMX track in south London’s Burgess Park, for sport and recreation organisations. isations face challenges in terms of finance and which is undergoing an £8m revamp. Sport England, Sport Wales, UK Sport and resources when accessing legal services. Proposals include a 400m (1,312ft) track the Sport and Recreation Alliance have set up Details: http://lei.sr?a=Z9r5G with a starting hill, banked hairpin turns and a variety of jumps. It has been designed for use by people of all ages and abilities. Due for completion in January 2013, the N`e[jfiGXibjZ_\d\dfm\j]finXi[ new venue will be capable of hosting inter- national races and will be one of the first The multi-million pound in London to accommodate both summer redevelopment of Belfast’s and winter national events. Windsor Park stadium has Details: http://lei.sr?a=x3N8N taken a step forward after the Irish Football Association (IFA) confirmed that initial =`eXcXggifmXc]fi funding is now in place. JXiXZ\ejËjkX[`ldm`j`fe A Letter of Offer has been received by the national Saracens rugby union team has secured final governing body from the approval for the multi-million pound rede- Department of Culture, Arts velopment of London’s Copthall Stadium and Leisure (DCAL), which from communities secretary Eric Pickles. will release the first tranche The Aviva Premiership team’s vision for of a £25.2m funding package Copthall Stadium was approved by Barnet towards the scheme. The Letter of Offer paves the way for work to begin at the Belfast venue Council in February, with the development IFA is working with DCAL, expected to cost £18m. Sport Northern Ireland and Linfield Football an integrated consultant team selected to draw Both the national governing bodies for Club on the plans, which will transform the up designs for the new-look Windsor Park. athletics and rugby union support the plans, existing venue into an 18,000-capacity national A planning application is expected to be which include new permanent facilities and stadium for football. submitted in December, with the phased con- the installation of temporary seating. The next stage of the project, following the struction process to begin in August 2013. Read more: http://lei.sr?a=d7D1J appointment of a planning consultant, will see Details: http://lei.sr?a=w4h1p
12 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE AT WWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UK
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Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has opened new outdoor facilities at Upper Malone playing fields, following a £20m investment in its sports provision. The project is designed to establish the institution as one of the leading sports uni- Manufacturer & Supplier of versities in Ireland, with the PRODUCTS FOR facilities available to students and the local community. At the centre of the project SPORT was the construction of the Arena Pitch, one of the only pitches in the UK and Ireland The new Arena Pitch can host football, rugby and gaelic games matches to accommodate football, 2012/13 rugby and Gaelic Games on a single site. site have been provided, along with a strength The opening of the facilities marks the com- and conditioning suite. CATALOGUE pletion of a £13m second phase of work, which Work on the outdoor facilities comes after OUT NOW has also included 14 additional pitches and a the first £7m phase was completed in 2006, spectator stand adjoining a new stand. which included the expansion of the universi- More than 20 changing rooms and addi- ty’s Physical Education Centre at Botanic. tional changing facilities to the south of the Details: http://lei.sr?a=e5m0w
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New research released by cor- porate recovery specialists Begbies Traynor has found that nearly one-fifth of all English Football League clubs are currently showing signs of “financial ill-health”. The research comes amid ongoing financial problems image: ben sutherland affecting Portsmouth and Port Vale football clubs, as well as the Scottish Premier League side, Glasgow Rangers. According to the Red Flag Alert survey, three clubs in the Portsmouth’s financial difficulties have been well-documented npower Championship; six in npower League One; and four in npower “One effect of this disparity is that Football League Two are facing financial trouble. League clubs are often tempted to overspend Begbies Traynor partner Gerald Krasner on players to try to gain promotion [to the said: “Football as an industry suffers from an Premier League] and the promised riches and enormous financial gap between the Premier prestige that come with it.” League and the Football League. Details: http://lei.sr?a=i0k4v
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An audit of sports facilities within Scotland’s availability and usage of sports facilities, as school estate, together with public access to well as potential barriers around future use. such facilities, has been commissioned by Improved public access to school sports 01502 national sports agency sportscotland. facilities is one of sportscotland’s main prior- It is the first stage in a process by the agency ities outlined in its four-year plan, which runs to establish up-to-date data that details the until the end of 2015. 710039 markharrod.com Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 13 NEWS UPDATE
D`[[c\jYifl^_kf^\k Jgfikj[i`ebjkXogcXejhl\jk`fe\[ e\njgfikjm`ccX^\6 Middlesbrough Council has launched a Consumer groups, sports consultation in order to gather comments nutrition manufacturers and on proposals for a new sports village to distributors have joined forces replace some of the town’s older facilities. in a new alliance to call on Th e council set out its vision of a regional chancellor George Osborne sports centre in preparation for major bud- to abandon his plans for the image: holbox/shutterstock.com get cuts, with preliminary plans identifying introduction of VAT on sports the Prissick site for the scheme. nutrition products. Middlesbrough Cycle Circuit and Th e alliance has written to Prissick Skate Plaza are already currently Osborne aft er he announced based at the site, with the new com- in the Budget that some sports plex set to add a 400m athletics track, nutrition products will be sub- five-a-side pitches and a health club. ject to 20 per cent VAT with Read more: http://lei.sr?a=I2r0w eff ect from 1 October. Th e UK Specialist Sports UKSSNA said the plans were a “disaster” to the sports nutrition sector Nutrition Alliance (UKSSNA) claims the tax would penalise consumers and sports nutrition products will hit thousands deal a blow to the sports nutrition industry. of consumers in the pocket and undermine the In a letter to the chancellor, the UKSSNA growth of an entire industry but will generate described the decision as “bizarre” and warned little additional revenue for the Treasury. that the introduction of VAT could push con- “We strongly believe that it is unreason- sumers to the grey and unregulated market. able to tax consumers for products designed Chris Whitehouse, campaign director for to ensure good health and nutrition.” UKSSNA, said: “Introducing VAT on these Read more: http://lei.sr?a=F1a0L
S&P Architects worked on the new venue’s design >i\\ec`^_k]fi9i`^_kfejkX[`ld\ogXej`fegcXej NfibjkXikjfee\n*(d I\[ZXic\`jli\Zfdgc\o Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club’s work. Th e fi rst stage will see 5,000 seats added plans to expand the 22,000-seat Amex Stadium in time for the 2012-13 season and a further Olympic swimmer Chris Cook has helped in East Sussex have been given the green light 500 by the end of December. mark the offi cial start of construction work by the local authority. A second phase of work will result in the on a new £31m leisure, business support Th e KSS Group-designed venue’s capacity addition of the remaining seats next year. and community facility in Redcar. will be increased to 30,750 over two phases of Details: http://lei.sr?a=X4G7W Willmott Dixon has been appointed to build the complex, which has been designed by leisure specialists S&P Architects in col- laboration with Plus Th ree Architecture. JgfikNXc\jlem\`cjZfddle`kpjkiXk\^p A fi tness suite and a junior gym will be among the facilities at the venue, along with Sport Wales has launched its a 25m, six-lane swimming pool, a training new sector-wide Community pool, a learning pool and a sports hall. Sports Strategy, which aims to Details: http://lei.sr?a=R0l8J challenge the Welsh sector to accelerating eff orts to increase participation. ?Xc]f]9i`kjle_Xggpn`k_ Th e organisation said it will image: suec/shutterstock.com nfibc`]\YXcXeZ\ be “far more targeted” with its resources going forward, Nearly half of adults aged 16 and over are while it plans to invest in part- currently unhappy with their work life bal- ners looking to deliver more ance, according to the latest fi ndings from opportunities for children. the Offi ce for National Statistics’ Measuring Organisations seeking to National Wellbeing programme. introduce informal or social Th ose that use leisure time to engage in versions of traditional sports Sport Wales wants the sector to accelerate eff orts to grow participation physical activities appear to be happier than and clubs that are already those who prefer sedentary pursuits – such thriving but still looking to grow are also Sport Wales chair Professor Laura McAllister as watching TV or playing video games. among those set to benefi t. said: “Th e new Community Sport Strategy sets Th e latest fi gures show that in 2010-11, Th e launch of the strategy was attended by out clear priorities to enable a dramatic shift 54.1 per cent of adults in England had par- Welsh sports minister Huw Lewis, who has in the range and number of people involved ticipated in some type of physical activity. announced that a further £9m of Lottery fund- in local sport.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=p9h7s ing will be invested over the next three years. Details: http://lei.sr?a=J9k3Y
14 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE AT WWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UK
@i`j_^fm\ied\ekcXleZ_\j E\nfY\j`kpZXdgX`^ecXleZ_\j e\n%*'d]XZ`c`k`\j]le[ Healthcare professionals have A new €30m (£25m) fund has been launched come together under the by the Irish government to provide support Academy of Royal Medical towards “important” sports capital projects. Colleges (AoRMC) to launch Th e Sports Capital Programme has been a new campaign to combat announced by Michael Ring, minister of
increasing levels of child and image: rj lerich/shutteerstock.com state for tourism and sport and is the fi rst adult obesity. round of sports capital funding made avail- Th e UK medical profession able by the government for four years. – including surgeons, psychi- Sports clubs will be able to apply for up atrists, paediatricians and GPs to €25,000 (£21,000) for new and improved – is aiming to tackle what it facilities, as well as to purchase equipment. described as the “single great- Details: http://lei.sr?a=a0H9S est public health threat”. A three-month evidence- gathering inquiry has marked the launch of the campaign to Th e campaign aims to be a driving force in the fi ght against UK obesity gather research and experience of actions that help reduce obesity. also one of the areas that will be investigated image: bikeriderlondon/shutterstock Among the fi ve main areas being investi- as part of the campaign’s inquiry. gated by AoRMC will be the actions that can be AoRMC chair Professor Sir Neil Douglas taken by individuals, which comprise exercise said: “Th is won’t be just another report that in addition to diet and “positive parenting”. sits on the shelf and gathers dust; it will form Fiscal incentives – including minimum the bedrock of our ongoing activity.” pricing, personal incentives and taxation – is Details: http://lei.sr?a=X5I2M
ÊGfj`k`m\ifc\Ëf]^i\\ejgXZ\jflkc`e\[ A pool and gym form part of the council’s vision image: marcel mooij/shutterstock New guidance highlighting the “positive role” :fleZ`ccfijYXZb(,d of well-designed green spaces and parklands ;`[Zfkc\`jli\jZ_\d\ in the recovery of patients from illness and injury has been published by the Forestry Members of South Oxfordshire District Commission. Council’s cabinet have backed plans for a Greenspace Design for Health and Wellbeing new £15m leisure centre in Didcot. provides advice on how the design of green Th e cabinet has agreed in principle to the spaces around hospitals and wellness facilities proposals, as well as to invest £60,000 from can help supplement clinical care. Well-designed parkland can boost the recovery of patients the provisional capital programme towards It is hoped the new Practice Guide will be feasibility and procurement work. of interest to practitioners, planners and pol- spaces such as parks and woodland. “Now a According to a report put before the icy makers within the NHS and others sectors raft of research fi ndings in recent years have committee, the minimum requirement of involved in patient care. confi rmed that this experience is not just a the planned new centre is that it includes a Forestry Commission chair Pam Warhurst vague impression, it represents a range of competition and training pool, as well as a said: “We’ve all long known that we feel bet- mental and physical health benefi ts.” sports hall, squash courts and a gym. ter aft er spending time outdoors and in green Details: http://lei.sr?a=h4u4d Details: http://lei.sr?a=W1W2K
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I`Z_Xi[C\n`jeXd\[ N`dYc\[feZ_`\] Sport England chair Richard Lewis has been appointed as chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon. Although he will remain as chair of Sport England, Lewis will step down from his other role of Rugby Football League (RFL) chair. Lewis was formerly director of tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association before joining the RFL in 2002. He is also a trustee of the London Marathon and Wembley National Stadium trusts. He leaves the RFL having overseen the latest round of record breaking TV contracts and with more people watching, viewing B`dY\ic\pi\$ and participating in rugby league than ever before. Xggf`ek\[
:fjjc\kkZ_X`ij 16 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 2012 PROFILE NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE AT WWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UK Sarah Winckless Karen Maxwell speaks to the chair of the British Olympic Association’s Athletes’ Commission Can you give an account of Does this complement other your sporting background? roles you hold in sport? I was always a person with lots I work in leadership and coaching and of energy and played netball, believe this role absolutely comple- basketball and did athletics at school. ments my day job. I work through with I won the Schools National Netball members what they want to get out of Tournament U16 with my team from volunteering for the commission and Tiffin Girls’ School, and threw the then set up opportunities for them to discus at age group internationals. achieve these goals. It wasn’t until I went to Cambridge to study that I started to row – and gained What are the current issues for the Blues in athletics, netball, basketball and Commission and athletes in the rowing. On graduation I joined the GB lead up to the 2012 Games? rowing squad and set my sights on We’ve been involved in most of the Sarah won a bronze medal in rowing competing for my country in rowing. projects that the BOA has planned for at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games the Games, so at this stage, any input is Can you explain your role as chair merely to help in the fine tuning. for discussion. Also both I and a second of the BOA Athletes’ Commission? Members who are not competing in commission member attend the National My role is to ensure that the athlete is at the Games have been asked to volunteer Olympic Committee meetings, where the heart of everything the BOA does. for the BOA to help with the Olympic the 33 member sports meet and discuss I chair a group of 12 elected current Ambition Programme and other roles. BOA projects and policy. or recently retired Olympians, plus our Current work also includes mem- elected International Olympic Commit- bers sitting on a Winter Sport Olympic How do you share best practice? tee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission athletes Qualification Panel for Sochi and mem- I speak at and share my experiences with and make sure that we look at BOA proj- bers working on an Olympic experience the European Olympic Committee Ath- ects when they are being planned. This project. They’re also having input into a letes’ Commission. I was also a volunteer way the group can offer its thoughts and sustainability project. Some members will at the International Olympic Academies opinions of the projects and the BOA also sit on a disciplinary panel, should this session for Olympic medalists where I management team can either be confi- be required during the Games. met other athletes who are active in their dent in their direction of travel, or may countries and we had a week of sharing choose to alter parts of a project. How do you liaise with the BOA? ideas, challenges and best practice. The group has great experience, and I sit as a voting member on the BOA We also have links with the IOC Athletes’ it’s my job to ensure that things come to board, and my report from the commis- Commission, as elected member Adam the commission at the right stage, and sion is a standing item. If the commission Pengilly sits on our commission. Jonathan that everyone has a chance to be heard needs another opinion on a certain topic, Edwards is invited to our meetings and has in the discussion that follows. I’ll introduce this onto the board agenda invited me to sit on the LOCOG Athletes’ Commission and the chair of the British Athletes’ Commission (BAC), Karen Picker- My role is to ensure that the athlete is at the ing, invites me to BAC board meetings. I believe that the more we can commu- heart of everything that the BOA does nicate and work together, the louder the athletes’ voice will become. Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 17 INTERVIEW TIM HOLLINGSWORTH THE NEWLY-APPOINTED CEO OF THE BRITISH PARALYMPIC ASSOCIATION TALKS TO KAREN MAXWELL ABOUT HOW LONDON 2012 IS PRESENTING AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT TO INSPIRE CHANGE he Paralympic Movement is COMING INTO THE FOLD coming back to its roots in Hollingsworth believes his journey into September this year and Tim sport administration has quite literally T Hollingsworth’s excitement is been defined by London 2012. Armed palpable. “This year heralds the home- with a background in corporate com- coming of the Paralympic Games,” he munications at media companies such as enthuses. “Britain is the birthplace of Granada TV, he joined UK Sport as direc- the Paralympic Movement and the Lon- tor of policy and communications three don 2012 Games are offering a truly months before London won the bid to Tim Hollingsworth has big ambitions for the BPA unique platform on which to launch a host the Games in Singapore in 2005, and turbo-charge of activity.” says he recognised the move into sport as TEAM LEADER Powerful words for a man who’s been “an incredible opportunity to be a part Coming on board just a year before the at the helm of the British Paralympic of the Games”. start of the London 2012 Games, he ad- Association (BPA) for just 12 months, but He spent seven years at the elite sport mits to embarking on a steep learning coming from a corporate communica- funding organisation – becoming COO in curve but says his knowledge of both the tions background he’s already identified 2010. The BPA CEO position became avail- sporting landscape and the Paralympic a myriad of opportunities that lay ahead able when Phil Lane left after 10 years in Movement got him quickly on track. for this powerful brand. the role, during which time ParalympicsGB His focus so far has been on three key “This year’s Games offers an incredible finished second in the medal table at both areas of the charitable organisation: opportunity to promote the movement the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games. repositioning the brand; preparing the and catapult Paralympic sport to a much Hollingsworth took the opportunity and team for success at this year’s Paralympic wider audience,” he says. vows to capitalise on these achievements. Games; and ensuring the future of Para- lympic sport post 2012. “When I joined the organisation, there was some confusion around the roles of the BPA and ParalympicsGB,” he explains. “The BPA has a wider remit, whereas ParalympicsGB is the team of the Games. In my mind it was crucial to identify the power of these two brands, so in January of this year we formally reverted back to being the BPA – as the organisation that is responsible for the Paralympic Move- ment in this country.” With a core staff of just 24 at the BPA, come Games-time Hollingsworth says the number of people within the Paralympic team will rise to almost 600, once the full complement of athletes and officials have been selected, and he admits that there’s lots to do in terms of making sure that this team is best prepared. “We’re fortunate to have some very talented and very willing people on David Weir (right) won two gold medals at Beijing 2008 in the T54 800m and 1,500m board,” he says. “Tim Reddish [BPA chair] 18 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Tom Aggar won a gold medal in the Single Scull rowing event at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games From Left: Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt talks to Tim and a Paralympian GB’s sitting volleyball programme was re-instated for London 2012 and I have been refining the way the environment is like and how it will and that making this a reality has been BPA is structured and governed and have impact on our athletes. monopolising the majority of his time been putting processes in place so we “Between us we’ve considered ev- since joining the organisation. can develop the skill sets of BPA staff erything around the pre-Games and “We need to secure and maximise and make the most out of this year’s Games-time environment as far as maxi- the future of parasport after London. I unique opportunity.” mising performance and getting our don’t like to refer to this as ‘legacy’ be- Regarding Games-time preparation, athletes on the starting line in the best cause that word suggests some sort of Hollingsworth says the BPA has left no possible shape. Our job is to protect them aftermath, a high-water mark, that once stone unturned and he has, in fact, ‘fallen and challenge them where needed.” reached is maintained thereafter. That’s on his sword’ to ensure the team’s success. not the case with Paralympic sport. It’s a “I took the decision not to be the Chef SPREADING THE WORD very young movement and our strategy, De Mission at the Games [a role often tak- As host nation, the BPA has a role to going forward, is about maximising the en by the CEO]. I believe that this role calls deliver to the expectations of visiting ‘momentum’ and not saying ‘that’s that for a different skill set. With me coming international Paralympic teams, as well and what can we do off the back of it’; into this environment only recently I’ve as its own. The Paralympic Movement It’s much more than that, it’s a fantastic been fortunate to identify and secure the started as a competition for World War II door opening to many opportunities.” services of Craig Hunter, who led the team amputees at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, To this end Hollingsworth has been at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in De- which coincided with the 1948 London formulating a strategy that demonstrates hli, for that role. Olympics. The Paralympic Games officially leadership for the 2012-2017 period, to- “He’s been a life-long sports admin- joined the Olympic roadshow in Rome wards Rio 2016 and beyond. istrator in swimming. He has the right 1960 and the movement keeps growing. “To put it simply, it’s about ensuring values, the right attitude and the right According to Hollingsworth, the BPA that we have a mission which is clearly approach to life and his experience is needs to fully capitalise on London 2012’s defined around the athletes and our fantastic in terms of what a Games-time fantastic opportunity to grow the brand, role in delivering and supporting them, Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 19 INTERVIEW GB were second on the medal table in 2008 Seven-a-side football debuted at the Paralympic World Cup in 2010 (Paralympics GB are in red) because they create the inspiration – the perceptions. We want people not to start JOINED-UP THINKING stardust – and that allows us to engage with sympathy but to say ‘Wow that’s a Public funding is becoming available in other things. fantastic sporting achievement’. through sports’ national governing bodies “It’s about inspiring change, primarily “Once people have established a (NGBs) to enable a wider delivery of paras- around sport – the accessibility and the connection with disability through the port and Hollingsworth says the BPA’s availability of sport for all, and to chal- sport, it can open the door to challenge aim is to find ways to broker and facilitate lenge the broader section of our society perceptions, which should result in a with home countries sport and disability about behaving differently towards dis- world where disabled children are being federations as well as NGBs to help with ability,” he says. integrated into PE activities rather than open days and Paralympic Potential days, disincluded, which is often the case to- to offer multi-sport sessions and further MAKING A VISION A REALITY day,” Hollingsworth says. promote the parasport website. When asked how he plans to go about Meanwhile, another part of the BPA’s making these ambitious changes, Hol- EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS strategy is to broker relationships with lingsworth says that first and foremost Parasport, a web-based tool for finding centres of excellence. the BPA’s role is to ensure plenty of Brit- sports opportunities and a resource that “We’re looking to further develop ish medal success at this year’s Games informs on the classification that relates partnerships with universities or leisure because “people will have their eyes to the degree of impairment for each facilities for BPA accreditation, which fur- opened to the concept of disability being sport, has become an important link to ther promotes the brand and highlights challenged”. the Paralympic brand. It also helps peo- the facility as a centre of excellence for “Our primary purpose is to dem- ple use the right language linked to sport disability sport,” Hollingsworth explains. onstrate that our athletes are high for physically impaired people, rather “Obviously the criteria for this part- achieving and world-class in what they than the overused, and negative conno- nership would be access to world-class, do. The inspirational impact of that is tations linked to ‘disability’ sport. fully-inclusive sport facilities and accom- less tangible, but we’re working with The BPA has been seen to be ‘con- modation where appropriate, however, those organisations that are responsible trolling’ by members of the media for research is also a key areas for us. For for increasing participation levels to, producing a ‘guide to language’ for use example, Loughborough University and first of all, help people with a physical during the Games. However, Holling- the University of Bath already have well- impairment to realise that they can get sworth says that it’s conscious about defined research programmes around involved in sport. language around sport and thinks the disability sport. It’s one thing to conduct “This then leads onto social change. organisation had an obligation to try and research for disability sport within the It’s about recognising that there are few influence that. “It’s not compulsory, it’s a sports science department; it’s quite an- better ways to cut through to wider guide,” he says. “As a nation we’re con- other if the engineering and psychology society views around disability than the scious about language surrounding race departments have got an interest in dis- Paralympics. We need to make sure that or gender, so it’s absolutely legitimate to ability programmes too,” he says. this spotlight is effective in changing do the same thing around disability.” “Using London 2012 as our launch- pad is about providing value, maybe by adding a resource or a partnership that There are few better ways to cut through to can benefit the brand, and ultimately the end user/participant. Thanks to the wider society views around disability than the Games, the world’s attention is turning towards us now, we’re looking at how Paralympics. We need to make sure that this these partnerships can develop into the spotlight is effective in changing perceptions future and how our role can evolve to make sure we get the most out the this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity.” L 20 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 CHANGING TIMES? S&P works with you to deliver inspirational environments by solving your procurement demands and establishing new models of service consolidation and partnership working The Edge, University of Leeds Cardiff International Pool K2, Crawley The Peak, Stirling Sports Village DELIVERING INTELLIGENT SOLUTIONS FOR 30 YEARS Architecture t Masterplanning t Consulting t Regeneration tFeasibility Refurbishment t Consultation t Engagement t Procurement Advice Project Management t Planning Sustainability t Value Management LONDON NOTTINGHAM GLASGOW Victory House 9 Weekday Cross Mackintosh House 30 Kingsway The Lace Market 5 Blythswood Square London WC2B 6EX Nottingham NG1 2GB Glasgow G2 4AD +44 (0)20 7831 8877 +44 (0)115 941 5369 +44 (0)141 225 8399 +44 (0)20 7831 4477 FAX +44 (0)115 947 5955 FAX +44 (0)141 225 6271 FAX www.s-parchitects.com [email protected] SHOW REVIEW Sky Sports presenters Georgie Thompson, Sarah Jane Mee, Natalie Pinkham and Charlotte Jackson The Sport Industry Awards are considered to be the Oscars of the Sports Industry THE SPORT INDUSTRY AWARDS ith ‘the greatest show on OLYMPIC PROPORTIONS outstanding performance on the world earth’ set to descend upon With the Olympics and Paralympic Games class stages that we create and raising London in a matter of looming on the horizon it was only to the profile and inspiring people to take W months, this year’s Sport be expected that at least some of the part in this fast-growing, dynamic sport.” Industry Awards served as a reminder of evening’s winners would be part of the The numbers certainly back up this why the UK is so well qualified to host Olympic movement. The event com- statement with some 850 events taking the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. menced with the Olympic Development place in the UK in the past 12 months, in- The event showcased some of the Authority (ODA) receiving the Sport Busi- cluding 18 Tata Kids of Steel community most compelling and effective work that ness Achievement of the Year Award for triathlons, that engage 12,000 children. has taken place in sport over the last 12 its successful, and punctual, overhaul of Success has also been secured on months and gave due recognition to the the Olympic Park site. As Sports Minister the elite front, with Britain currently many who have worked effortlessly in Hugh Robertson – jointly presenting the boasting 13 world champions in differ- their respective fields. award with the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP ent triathlon disciplines. This provides Politicians, sponsors, broadcasters, – said: “This achievement is in no doubt a solid platform for potential success at celebrities and of course sports stars our country’s first victory of the London the London Olympics, with the Brown- joined forces at London’s Battersea Evolu- 2012 Games.” lee brothers, in particular, being seen as tion to enjoy an evening which is seen by Sir John Arnitt, the ODA chair, picked genuine medal hopes for the Games. many as the ‘must attend sporting event up the gong from the two politicians The evening also saw Premiership Rug- of the year’. The ‘Oscars of the Sports In- who used their speeches to pour praise by given the ‘Community Programme’ dustry’ saw an array of awards handed out on those present, and the sports indus- Award for its Hitz project, which takes to organisations as varied as Sky Sports, try more widely, for the work they do in rugby and its unique value code into in- O2, Manchester City FC and Betfair. bringing pleasure and enjoyment to so ner city estates across ten of London’s many people. boroughs. Hitz serves as the flagship so- cial inclusion project within Premiership CELEBRATING SPORT Rugby’s wider community programme. Such work is perhaps best demonstrated by Operating through Premiership Rugby’s those who were competing for the ‘Sport partner clubs and with core funding com- Governing Body of the Year’ Award, which ing from the Mayor’s Office, Hitz has been saw British Triathlon come out on top of run in conjunction with the Metropoli- an impressive short-list, which featured the tan Police and has been at the forefront England and Wales Cricket Board, British of efforts to tackle youth offending and Cycling, UK Athletics, England Netball and anti-social behaviour in the capital. the Rugby Football League. This award is likely to provide a fillip to British Triathlon’s president, Dr Sarah Premiership Rugby as it looks to expand Springman CBE, highlighted the catalytic Hitz across the country beyond the 1,000 effort that the Games has played stat- participants currently registered in Lon- ing: “We’ve been fired up by the 2012 don. The present ambition is to roll out Olympics and our four-year plan reflects the programme across 14 partner clubs this, with challenging targets that we nationwide and the importance of this Olympic legend Michael Johnson have exceeded every year in delivering award in helping fulfil that vision was 22 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 SPORT INDUSTRY AWARDS 2012 – WINNERS Best Sponsorship of a Sport Team or Individual Sponsored by Nolan Partners Winner: British Airways – Team GB: ‘They Will Fly’ Sport Participation Event of the Year Winner: Manchester’s Great Day of Sport Best Use of Digital Communications in Sport Sponsored by Late Night London Winner: NIVEA FOR MEN – The Great Football Experiment IPC president Sir Philip Craven MBE The Community Programme Award Winner: Premiership Rugby – HITZ Project Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition Sponsored by Icon Winner: NatWest – The NatWest Cricket Club Sport Website of the Year Winner: Manchester City Football Club – www.mcfc.co.uk Best International Sport Marketing Campaign Sponsored by Battersea Evolution Winner: Castrol EDGE – Castrol EDGE Presents ‘Ronaldo Tested to the Limit’ Best TV Sport Commercial Sponsored by Eurosport Winner: O2 – O2 ‘Get up for England’ British Triathlon members, including (BTF) CEO Zara Hyde Peters (with trophy centre) and Sarah Springman BTF president (behind), celebrate winning the ‘Sport Governing Body of the Year’ award Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign Sponsored by Action Images made clear by Helen Clayton, Premiership Winner: Betfair – Trash Your Tevez Shirt Rugby’s Hitz project manager, who said: “The most pleasing aspect of this recog- Sport Brand of the Year nition is that it will help the Hitz project Sponsored by Pinsent Masons Winner: Sky Sports move on to the next level.” Best Integrated Sport LIFETIME SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT Marketing Campaign The final award of the evening was the Winner: O2 – O2 ‘Get Up for England’ ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award, which was presented to Sir Philip Craven MBE, Sport Governing Body of the Year the president of the International Para- Sponsored by The Daily Telegraph lympic Committee. Sir Philip was given a Winner: British Triathlon standing ovation by the 1,750 guests and Tessa Jowell, John Arnitt and Hugh Robertson received his award from National Basket- Sport Agency of the Year ball Association legend, John Amaechi This is the sixth Paralympic Games Sponsored by Colouration Winner: M&C Saatchi Sport and former teammate, Tip Thiboutot. which Sir Philip has overseen and it is set & Entertainment Sir Philip was clearly deemed a worthy to be the biggest yet, with close to four winner by the industry audience for as billion people expected to watch 4,200 Lifetime Achievement Award Nick Keller, chair of the Sports Industry athletes from 160 countries. Sponsored by Monitor Quest Group who organise the awards, later The award proved a fitting end to the Winner: Sir Philip Craven MBE commented: “It is no exaggeration to say evening – given the forthcoming Games, that, without him, the Paralympics we that are sure to set the benchmark for The Kantar Media Sport Business know today and the Games we look for- other nations to follow. Achievement of the Year Award ward to this summer would be absolutely Winner: The Olympic Delivery Authority unrecognisable.” Nick King is director of Sports Think Tank Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 23 NEW OPENING The 300-station gym is available to both elite and community users in the run up to the London 2012 Games and beyond SPORTHOUSE One of three newly-built Games-Time Training Venues, SportHouse is home to the UK’s largest multi-use sports hall for use by elite international athletes and the local community – both before and well after the London Games. Lauren Applegarth reports n September 2010, a planning SportHouse will host international main benefactor of this has been the application was submitted by athletes from Olympic handball and health club market. SportHouse is my Ebbsfleet Community Sports athletics, as well as competitors from Par- solution to delivering a premium, afford- I Centre to the London Borough of alympic judo and wheelchair rugby, all of able, alternative sports training facility.” Barking and Dagenham for the construc- whom will be competing in this summer’s Built at a total cost of £8.1m, Sport- tion of a brand new £8.1m sports facility Olympic and Paralympic Games. House was part-funded by the Olympic in Mayesbrook Park, Dagenham. Following the Games, the multi-sport Delivery Authority (ODA) to the sum of Fast forward to March 2012 and the facility will provide a lasting sports legacy £3.9m and this enabled Stimson to secure completed site – now known as Sport- for the East London area, by delivering the remaining funding from Tiodos Bank. House – was officially opened for world-class training facilities and sporting business by a host of famous dignitar- opportunities to the local community. Both elite and community use ies, such as Gleeds ambassador Sir Steve So where did the vision for Sport- “Crucially, SportHouse has not been de- Redgrave CBE, International Olympic House, come from and how will the site veloped exclusively for elite athletes,” Committee member Sam Ramsamy and sustain its success and appeal when the he says. “We believe that by creating a Margaret Hodge MP. curtains come down on what will un- world-class sports facility we can have a As one of just three newly-built doubtedly be an extraordinary summer significantly positive effect on the local Games-Time Training Venues, of sport for London and the UK? community and provide an environment that allows professional athletes and Turning vision into reality members of the public to train alongside The concept for SportHouse was conceived each other to maximise their potential.” by CEO Mike Stimson. Having previous- SportHouse is home to the UK’s largest ly worked in international banking and – and Europe’s second largest – multi-use property investment, Stimson took his sports hall. It also has two state-of-the- first step towards delivering his vision by art gyms containing 300-stations, a setting up Ebbsfleet Community Sports 250-cover restaurant and bar and two Centre (ECSC) – the company behind full-size basketball courts. SportHouse – in 2010. In addition, the centre has direct ac- “I believe that more people, in particu- cess onto the existing Mayesbrook lar children, should have the opportunity Athletics Arena which is situated next SportHouse CEO Mike Stimson to play sport and use the best facilities door. Also a Games-Time Training Venue, (fourth from right) with IOC members, available,” Stimson says. “In my opinion, the eight-lane track was completely councillors, MPs and Sir Steve Redgrave the sports market has been overlooked refurbished following a £2m invest- during the last 15 to 20 years and the ment from the ODA, at which time new 24 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 The 5,000sq m sports hall can host four full-size handball courts, four futsal pitches, eight netball courts or six basketball courts Visitors are just as likely to see an international, elite squad training in the gym as they are a local school team hiring out a five-a-side court in the sports hall long- and triple-jump pits, changing The sports hall SPORTHOUSE – FACTS AND FIGURES rooms, kitchen facilities, a warm-up area But althought SportHouse has an and a sports medical room were added. L 5,000sq m multi-use sports hall excellent range of facilities, it’s the L 1,000sq m gym across two floors 5,000sq m, multi-use sports hall that en- Architecture and design L 250-cover restaurant and bar abled the site to qualify for the title of Designed by architect David La Riche L 6,000 member capacity Games-Time Training Venue. Designed from LRK Associates, SportHouse sits for maximum versatility and flexibility, within 4.2 acres of the 45 hectare Mayes- the clear-span space can be configured brook Park. Existing buildings were as four full-size handball courts or futsal demolished to make way for the new fa- pitches, six netball courts or 54 badmin- cility which includes new changing rooms ton courts at any one time. and two external multi-purpose courts. The flooring used in the sports hall – The project’s lead contractor, Morgan which was laid in just five weeks – was Sindall, was responsible for the construc- designed, manufactured and installed tion and delivery of the project. “This was by Gerflor, a specialist in resilient floor- one of the last Olympic projects to get a fully-inclusive range of Cybex fitness ing solutions. “The sports hall features funding from the ODA, so we had an ex- equipment, accredited by the Inclusive 5,000sq m of Gerflor’s Taraflex™ Combis- tremely tight time-frame and budget to Fitness Initiative (IFI) programme. port flooring,” says Darren Wood, Taraflex work with”, says Morgan Sindall’s manag- “We’ve worked closely with Mike sport manager for Gerflor. “This floor sys- ing director at the London Office, Peter Stimson and his team, since their visit to tem will help deliver community through Jacobs. “However, it’s been a real privi- IHRSA in 2011, when they tested out fit- to elite athlete performance, while offer- lege to work on SportHouse – the facilities ness equipment from all manufacturers ing users both safety and comfort.” are going to have a life-enhancing impact before choosing Cybex,” says Rob Thur- Contributing to the individuality and on the local community and seeing the ston, commercial director for Cybex UK. distinctiveness of the venue, the floor- site come to life has really brought the “The relationship between Cybex and ing has been produced in London Blue, a proximity of the Olympics home to the SportHouse will continue to strength- colour mixed exclusively for the London people who live in this area.” en as we recognise the shared values 2012 Handball Arena and SportHouse. between both parties; the high-perfor- Temporary flooring has also been Elite and community support mance design of Cybex equipment will provided in accordance with the require- The two gyms at SportHouse cover a help to support SportHouse’s vision to ments of the London 2012 Organising combined 1,000sq m of floor space and deliver a sports facility that caters for the Committee for the Olympic Paralympic house 300 pieces of cardiovascular and sports and training regimes of a wide Games (LOCOG), to support the training strength training equipment, including section of users of all abilities.” needs of the wheelchair rugby athletes. Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 25 NEW OPENING Left: The gym is split across two floors and equipped by Cybex. Above: SportHouse overlooks Mayesbrook Athletics Arena, which benefited from a £2m refurbishment From autumn 2012, SportHouse will WHO WILL BE USING SPORTHOUSE? the longer-term use of the site. also include a spectator arena, Alongside this, the venue is already within the sports hall which will be ca- L Olympic and Paralympic athletes being used as a training camp by the pable of accommodating between 200 during London 2012 Games-time Brazilian and Norwegian women’s Olym- and 2,500 spectators. The arena will L More than 1,000 new members signed pic handball teams during London 2012 be used for national and international up before the public opening of Games time and it will play host to a se- sports events, club competitions and lo- SportHouse in March 2012 nior international futsal match between cal school and college activities, as well L More than 95 per cent of member- England and Denmark later this month. as for concerts and live music events. ships converted from walk-ins “What makes SportHouse unique is its ease of accessibility, which is reflect- Ensuring sustainability and ed in its portfolio of users, says Stimson. commercial success corporate and joint memberships. “Visitors are just as likely to see an inter- While SportHouse will undeniably con- “With memberships starting from £1 a national elite squad training in the gym tribute to a lasting sporting legacy, the day, the SportHouse commercial model as they are a local school team hiring out long-term success and longevity of the delivers a world-class training venue for a a five-a-side court in the sports hall.” venue will ultimately come down to its cost directly in line with that of local au- ability to attract regular members. thority sports facilities,” says Addison. What’s next for ECSC? “The success of SportHouse is based on SportHouse also offers a ‘pay as you For Stimson and his team, SportHouse is the level at which the local community play’ option; users can pay for one-off just the start of bigger and better things engages with the club and its facilities,” visits to the gym as and when required. to come. The hard work and dedication says Nicola Addison, director of sport The HouseKey – SportHouse’s annual will carry on as the venue continues to and leisure consultancy HBA, which was access card – provides guests with un- prove the unique commercial model un- appointed as part of the leisure consul- limited access which includes the use of derpinning the success of the site. tancy team for ECSC and has acted as the the ClubHouse restaurant and bar, the “With the first SportHouse up and run- advisory body on aspects central to the ability to pay for single-use gym ses- ning,” he says, “ECSC is already exploring project’s delivery. “We set ourselves an sions and bookings for the sports hall. To similar opportunities both internation- ambitious target, but we achieved a 95 complement the affordable monthly gym ally and across the UK. We’ve already per cent conversion rate from member- memberships, HouseKeys are priced at a been approached by a number of key ship enquiries, so we signed up more than maximum of just £40 a year. individuals who recognise the value that 1,000 founder members after just seven In line with the facility’s Olympic a site such as SportHouse can deliver to a weeks of pre-sale activity,” she says. legacy strategy, SportHouse is already community. However, for the time being, The commercial strategy behind Sport- looking beyond this summer’s major in- our current focus remains on ensuring House is value for money, with the most ternational competitions. The facilities our management team at SportHouse expensive gym membership priced at £39 have become a focus of attention from a continues to deliver a first class, fully- a month. Unlike many gym memberships, number of national governing bodies in- inclusive, commercially successful sports the minimum sign-up duration is just six cluding the English Handball Association, facility in the heart of East London.” L months; discounted memberships are The FA and England Netball, which have also available for off-peak use, as well as all expressed interest in being involved in Lauren Applegarth is a freelance writer 26 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 PROMOTIONAL FEATURE Gerflor’s Fast Track Sports Hall Flooring Refurbishment Solutions that don’t cost the earth! n the days of austerity, indoor sports floors that have See How the New Taraflex™ Eco-Fit system ‘seen better days’ don’t always have to be uplifted and compares to a traditional refurbishment replaced. You can save money, down time and environ- TRADITIONAL mental impact by leaving the old floor in place and over ITEM NEW TARAFLEX™ TARAFLEX I (based on 594SqM) SPORTS FLOOR ECO-FIT METHOD PAYMENT PLAN* laying it. Gerflor, a leading manufacturer of Taraflex™ Sports Floors, UPLIFT OLD FLOOR £ 3, 975 £0 Total Cost of Project have recently launched a number of product solutions that can DISPOSAL OF WASTE £ 2, 380 £0 £24, 982 be installed directly over the old sports surface. This can save PREPARATION OF SUB FLOOR £ 3, 524 £0 Deposit £5,000 a small fortune in costs and can be quickly installed minimising INSTALL NEW SPORTS FLOOR £ 28, 153 £ 22, 692 facility down time. LINE MARKING (8 Game Lines) £ 2, 290 £ 2, 290 Monthly PROJECT TOTAL £ 40, 322 £ 24, 982 Payments £347 A RECENT SUCCESS: GILLINGHAM LEISURE CENTRE PROJECT TIME 10 days 4 days Term – 60 Months During the recent facility refurbishment it was decided that the sports floor was in need of replacement. Gerflor delivered POTENTIAL SAVINGS OF UP TO 40%! a specification and a solution that made a huge difference to the local community. The new floor was installed on top of an existing Granwood floor in only 3 days! John Havill, Chairman of Three Rivers Partnership com- ments: “To think how bad the floor looked before and how it looks now is quite remarkable. Gerflor assisted in the project management of the scheme hugely and the sports hall floor re- furbishment came in on time and on budget”. John Havill also added “Our customers love it, in particular Previous Now the badminton club, some even hinting this is the best sports hall they have ever played in”. Taraflex™ sports floors have been manufactured since 1947 and offer a number of user and operator benefits including optimum user safety, comfort, performance and ease of main- tenance. Taraflex™ is an ‘Approved’ surface by many National and International governing bodies of sport. Call or email now to take advantage of our FREE SPECIFICATION ADVISARY SERVICE. Darren Wood – Sports Manager on 07836 366579 or [email protected] David Carter – Sports Specialist on 07850 217290 or [email protected] Visit www.gerflor.co.uk for further information Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 27 TOP TEAM ST GEORGE’S PARK The Football Association has been trying for 35 years to create a national football centre. With the launch imminent, Kath Hudson talks to some of the people that have made this dream a realty ack in 1996, when the Euro- coaches and 12 per cent of UEFA Pro Derbyshire. Symbolically named St pean Championships were coaches. Only four managers in the Pre- George’s Park, it is set to open its held in London, we were all mier League are English and every other doors in late summer. B singing about football com- country that has won the FIFA World All of those involved are bristling ing home. It almost did, but then it Cup, or UEFA European Championships, with pride and excitement. This is set went away again, further than before. has a dedicated national training centre. to revolutionise the game – it may We’re all desperate for England to England has a long footballing history, take a couple of generations, but the win an international championship: with seven million participants, and coaches that this centre will turn out according to the Football Association we believe we should be champions, will go forth and create thousands of (FA) more than half the population however, there has been a yawning gap composed, creative, technically bril- – 28 million of us – watch England’s in the infrastructure. There has been no liant, decision-making young players. major international matches. But if hub for communicating and enforcing The educational side will be backed you look at the facts it’s not surprising the FA coaching philosophy and messag- up by a world-class centre for sports this isn’t happening. es and a nomadic, ineffective approach medicine and research and some England has a fraction of the to coach education. of the best sporting facilities in the coaches that Germany, Italy, Spain This, however, is all set to change. world, with every type of football and France have: 10 per cent of UEFA The finishing touches are now being put pitch recreated. B coaches, 16 per cent of UEFA A to the national football centre in South Back of the net! 28 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 The centre will house an indoor sports hall, tennis courts, sand pits, sand rehabilitation lanes, a hydrotherapy suite, strength and conditioning gyms and a biomechanics area DAVID SHEEPSHANKS: CHAIR hen appointed courses last year, mainly Level One to in 2008, my Level Five coach education courses, but W main role was a plethora of others as well. St George’s to create a financially sus- Park will build on that effective platform, If we want to match the best tainable business brand by developing an educational hub for in the world, we need to to bring this long-stand- English football with courses in referee- ing project to fruition. ing, leadership training, football and start with better coaches I’ve been the chief cru- sports administration and sports market- sader, but backed up by a first-class team. ing – among others. and other sports, especially golf, showed Following consultation with the mar- Our national game will benefit there was a need for investing in educa- ketplace to build a financially sustainable enormously from this focus on coach tion for the game, particularly coaching. business plan, there was common agree- education and leadership training – tak- We want homegrown coaches from ment that the clubs wanted to keep ing management and coaching to a new St George’s Park to be as sought after control of the players’ education within level. If we want to match the best in the as graduates from Oxford, Cambridge their training academies, but there was a world – which we’re plainly not today – and Harvard. We want to see St George’s definite need for a centre that could edu- we need to start with better coaches. managers leading domestic and interna- cate everyone else involved with the game. Better coaches mean better play- tional teams, so we can stop our reliance The FA already has a successful train- ers, in the long run. This is a long-term on recruiting from overseas for the top ing business, FA Learning, which ran 73 project, concerned with team develop- positions. We also want to raise the pro- ment, rather than player development. file of coaching as a profession, making Gargantuan amounts have been invested sure coaches are properly remunerated in wages, stadia and club academies, but and have career pathways. disproportionately little in education and This will create a training infrastructure teaching our teachers. So this project is for English teams. There’s no silver bullet about raising quality and quantity. for the ills of English football, but I be- Our consultation and research, which lieve in building on strengths, investing in involved looking at other national centres teachers and creating a CPD ethos. ALAN FERGUSON: HEAD GROUNDSMAN his will be one of reinforcement, and two state-of-the- the best facili- art synthetic pitches. All of them give T ties in the world differences in pace, hardness and for maintenance and bounce of the ball. choice of pitches. With This is a great asset to the country be- the range of surfaces we cause, apart from the top six or seven have at St George’s Park, Premier League clubs, most clubs just we will be able to repli- have one pitch, so players don’t get the cate any playing surface that the England experience of trying different surfaces. team will ever have to play on. We are 40 minutes from 14 major soc- There are four Desso GrassMas- cer venues and have a superb hotel and ter pitches (100 per cent natural grass medical support, so we are expecting to The centre will house 11 full-size, with synthetic grass fibres), including a be constantly busy. We will be involved external, floodlit, undersoil-heated replica Wembley pitch; four fibresand with any new standards which the FA pitches for coaching all age groups pitches, with a lesser reinforced system; passes regarding pitches, as well as test- five natural surfaces, which have no ing equipment. Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 29 TOP TEAM RUTH PAULIN: BUSINESS DIRECTOR, PERFORM SPORTS SCIENCE AND MEDICINE FACILITY erform is a new as well as a number of experts in the brand for sports fields of nutrition, podiatry, sports thera- P medicine and py and sports psychology. performance from Spire The 25,000sq ft centre is fantastic in Perform offers cutting edge Healthcare, and was al- terms of size and facilities. It includes a technology combined with ready being introduced world-class hydrotherapy facility; a reha- to some of our hospitals, bilitation gym with isokinetic equipment; elite medical expertise when we had the op- a strength and conditioning gym; seven portunity to become the FA’s healthcare physiotherapy rooms and a human per- who will be able to make appointments, partner at St George’s Park and hence formance laboratory with an altitude or be referred to our experts. create a flagship site, with the biggest chamber. Services provided will include It is the UK’s most advanced sports med- and best facilities in the UK. blood tests and profiling, video gait anal- icine centre, with cutting edge technology As business director, my responsibilities ysis and much more – everything to help combined with elite medical expertise. are leading the operational set up and re- athletes achieve their maximum potential. We are aiming for accreditation as a cruiting a highly skilled multi-disciplinary The centre will be able to take lessons FIFA F-Marc Medical Centre of Excellence team, including a clinical director, a centre from elite sport and make the technolo- to become one of only 24 such centres manager and specialist physiotherapists, gies and expertise accessible to the public, in the world. ALAN J SMITH OBE, DL: LEAD ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER, REDBOXDESIGN he architectural philosophy for T this project was the same as I always use: I look at the site and schedule, and then the core values and the DNA of the client. The core values were accessible, aspira- tional, rewarding, stimulating, symbolic and sustainable. Then, we needed no more inspiration than the site itself, which is stunning: 330 acres within a national forest, surround- ed by a necklace of trees. This is the The indoor hall will house a land of the badger, the babbling brook full-size synthetic turf football and the bluebell wood and I wanted to pitch and a 60m running track make sure we didn’t damage any of that sanctity so the buildings were located as far down the site as possible – one mile David Sheepshanks visited every European from the entrance. By situating the tall- facility, as well as the Institute of Sport in est building at the lowest point of the Canberra. It wasn’t a case of copying what site and the lower buildings on higher has been done before – we are 50 years be- We are 50 years behind – we ground, we have managed to create one hind other countries – we needed to define needed to define what was constant roofline. what was good practice and exceed that. We were sustainable in our build- In my opinion, one of the most impor- good practice and exceed that ing: none of the trees were removed tant ways to be sustainable is sourcing and we restored ancient grassland to materials and services locally, to kick- playing football today. The building is a encourage wildlife, such as skylarks and start jobs in the community, whether machine for the FA to fire up, to deliver meadow pippits. The buildings sit care- that be delivering building materials or fitness coaches, medics and administra- fully and calmly along the contours of napkins, it’s all about sustaining commu- tors for future generations. the landscape. They are split into two nities. Natural materials have been used Rarely as an architect do you get a na- communities: the two Hilton hotels and throughout, such as timber and stone tional project, so it was like pulling on training and education facilities on one and recyclable materials, to allow them the number nine shirt for England. The side and the sports facilities on the other. to be changed, or recycled, in the future. message of this facility will be carried This kind of building has never been This project isn’t for my generation, it’s thoughout the world, so I’m immensely built anywhere. As research, myself and for the five- and six-year-olds out there flattered to be chosen. 30 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 linknv.be re-bounce® has been developed by Recticel, a global company with over SHOCK PADS 100 sites worldwide. Tailor-made to your requirements, our shock pads have been developed in co-operation with installers and turf manufacturers to provide the best possible solution for outdoor and indoor artifi cial sports surfaces. re-bounce® is the essential component to guarantee optimal player performance, comfort and safety. re-bounce® also encompasses a range of sports equipment products, including mats for martial arts and gymnastics. www.re-bounce.com | [email protected] | 01773 838000 Riverbank Arena The Home of Great Goals Sole suppliers of Hockey and Football Goals, Nets and Team Shelters to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games www.harrod.uk.com @HarrodUK Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 31 LONDON 2012 PRE-GAMES TRAINING CAMPS e look at the world-class sporting facilities at with a base from which to prepare, train and acclimatise three pre-games training camps and find out ahead of the Games, these camps were recognised during how the operators plan to use this opportunity the bid as an essential part of an athlete’s preparation for W to engage and inspire the local communities . the Games. More than 200 Pre-Games Training Camps for the Lon- To this end, London offered a financial award of up to don 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have now been £25,000 (US$40,000, %30,000) to every NOC and NPC who agreed across Britain, for use by 93 competing countries sends a team to prepare in approved training camps in the through National Olympic and Paralympic Committees UK, to encourage teams from across the world to use local (NOC and NPC) and international teams. Providing athletes facilities for their Games’ preparations. are university alumni have been selected LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY for this year’s Games. As testament to its international OLYMPIC TEAMS The university’s sports scholarship renown for its teaching and research into UÊ ÀÌà Ê"Þ«VÊÃÃV>ÌÊ "® programme enables 250 of the finest sports science and engineering, a £15m UÊ>«>iÃiÊ"Þ«VÊ ÌÌiiÊ" ® young athletes to excel in both their Sports Technology Institute was opened in academic and sporting arenas. 2007 to develop cutting-edge technology Having made a unique contribution to Its students have won the British for the UK’s sport and leisure sector. sport in the UK for more than 60 years, Universities and Colleges Sport Loughborough University offers state-of- Championship for 30 years and 56 FACILITIES the-art facilities, built in partnership with past and present students represented The facilities have been designed to many sports national governing bodies TeamGB in the Beijing 2008 Olympic and create a specific training environment, (NGBs). Its 437-acre campus is also home Paralympic Games. which gives the best possible support to to some of the country’s leading coaches, So far 17 swimmers, canoeists and athletes seeking to achieve excellence sports scientists and support staff. athletes who either study, are based at or and success. It offers an environment to match technical specifications, equipment, floor surfaces, lighting and ÌiÊ>Ì iÌiÃÊÜÊ >ÛiÊ climatic conditions that will be found at >VViÃÃÊÌÊÌ iÊ } Ê London 2012 sporting venues. «iÀvÀ>ViÊ}Þ The National High Performance Centre (next to the Paula Radcliffe Stadium) has eight 120m-sprint lanes, two long-jump lanes with a sand pit, a high-jump bed, two pole-vault beds, separate areas for javelin and discus and a strength and conditioning suite. Badminton, netball, gymnastics, hockey and taekwondo have dedicated high performance centres on campus and rugby league used the university as a base for last year’s Four Nations’ Championship. There are two tennis centres, including a Lawn Tennis Association regional academy, and a beach volleyball court has been erected in recent weeks. 32 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Facilities match technical specifications found at London 2012 venues This collaboration has led to Loughborough University signing an agreement with Development Centre as well as the university to learn about the promotion Waseda University as catering and accommodation arm have of youth sport and physical activity. part of a global US$14m received initial training to help them School pupils from across the East understand the cultural differences and Midlands region have also attended (£8.7m, %10.6m) programme learn basic Japanese in order to help university Musubi days, where they the athletes settle in. take part in Japanese-themed activities In the lead up to the international including Taiko drumming and judo, as The eight-lane, 50m swimming pool partnership, groups of practicing well as language, nutrition and culture. has a hydraulic base to adjust the depth academics, PE teachers and officials from This collaboration has led to and a movable wall to change the length. the Japanese Ministry of Education have Loughborough University signing an It offers a comprehensive analysis and visited Loughborough to learn about agreement with Waseda University as training centre with underwater filming physical education in the UK and help kick part of a global US$14m (£8.7m, %10.6m) and playback facilities. start a collaborative project in design and programme designed to increase technology. Members of the Japanese collaborative research in sport sciences VISITING TEAMS Sports Association have also visited the and physical activity. All members of TeamGB are expected to pass through the university for the official ‘kitting out’ process before the Games. This will provide an opportunity to bring together the hundreds of athletes and officials into one unit and mentally prepare the whole team for this major competition. In the weeks preceding the Games, the BOA will also base its support services at Loughborough. The JOC will use the university as a training environment to allow the Japanese Olympic team to acclimatise and make final preparations in readiness for the Games. Imperial College, London is a key partner in the Japanese agreement – providing an additional The university gives London-based venue. support to athletes seeking excellence In preparation for the JOC’s arrival, 60 university staff from the Sports Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 33 LONDON 2012 UNIVERSITY OF BATH OLYMPIC TEAMS FACILITIES An indoor modern pentathlon training UÊ ÀÌà Ê*>À>Þ«VÊÃÃV>Ì Many of the university’s sports facilities area, which is home to the GB team, UÊ >ÊÃÜ}® have been designed so they can be features 16m x 10m electronic shooting UÊ >>ÞÃ>Ê adapted for use by a variety of different lanes and eight aluminium fencing pistes, UÊ Ì Õ>>Ê`iÀÊ«iÌ>Ì ®Ê sports. The main hall, complete with a while the indoor throws and jumps hall UÊÊ i>ÀÊ*>À>Þ«VÊÃÜ}® sprung wooden floor, can accommodate and six-lane 140m running straight can Ì iÀÃÊÌÊLiÊVvÀi`® up to three basketball courts or be also be used for archery training. adapted for Paralympic use to host The fully-equipped fitness suite has The University of Bath’s £30m Sports boccia, wheelchair basketball, goalball, more than 120 cardiovascular stations, Training Village was completed in 2004. sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugby. seven lifting platforms, free and fixed Offering a diverse selection of fully- The university’s indoor acrylic tennis weights and stretching/warm-up zones. inclusive sports facilities, the village courts can also be adapted for alternative Outside, there are two upgraded sand- includes a 50m swimming pool, tennis sporting use. These complement eight dressed, floodlit hockey pitches, which and squash courts, athletics tracks, acrylic and two clay outdoor courts can accommodate football sessions and synthetic turf pitches and a judo dojo. within the sports complex. complement eight natural turf sports A number of sports have their national pitches. A 400m, floodlit athletics track high performance bases at Bath. These includes full throws and jumps facilities. include modern pentathlon, bob Sports science and medicine facilities skeleton, badminton, beach volleyball are a key component of the village and and netball. The university also houses include a human performance centre one of British Swimming’s five intensive and sports injury clinic. Disciplines training centres. Sports science back- include: physiology testing; strength up areas, which include ice-baths and and conditioning; prehab and rehab; saunas and video analysis capabilities Hypoxic training; physiotherapy; recovery are also on site. sports massage therapy, hydrotherapy Olympic athletes that train at the and ice bath therapy; video performance university include Amy Williams – 2010 analysis; nutrition and hydration; sports Olympic Games bob skeleton gold / iÊÛ>}iÊVÕ`iÃÊ>Ê"Þ«V psychology and eye-tracking – to enhance medalist and Dai Greene – 2011 World ÃÌ>`>À`]ÊxäÊÃÜ}Ê« perception and decision-making. 400m hurdles champion. VISITING TEAMS China’s top 25 swimmers will train along- side British Olympians at the university in readiness for Games-time competition. The university already has strong links with the country, in terms of academic research and collaboration, and is looking to extend the partnership into the areas of sports performance and sport science. More than 1,000 Chinese students currently study at the university. Malaysia has also been using the site as a regular training base since early 2010, in the lead up to large European-based tournaments, as well as in preparation for the Olympic Games. Training facilities can be adapted for use by the ParalympicsGB camp, which will feature 10 sports and more than 200 team members in the run up to the Paralympic Games. Community Links: The university will be running a / iÊÛÃÌ}Ê>ÌÃÊ comprehensive programme that links ÜÊëÀiÊÃÌÕ`iÌÃÊ the international visits to the local >`ÊÌ iÊVÕÌÞÊ community to inspire the one million `ÕÀ}ÊÌ iÀÊÛÃÌ visitors/users of the facility throughout this training period. The torch relay route will also run through the facility. 34 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 SURREY SPORTS PARK – UNIVERSITY OF SURREY Synchronised swimming offers spectator opportunities OLYMPIC TEAMS has been crucial to the success of the UÊAntigua and Barbuda (swimming) project and there has also been a UÊChina (swimming) very close working relationship with UÊEstonia (swimming) other sporting facilities in the area. UÊGreat Britain (basketball) These include Guildford Spectrum, UÊMalta (swimming) Charterhouse School and Merrist Wood. UÊMauritius (swimming) This month, the park will also be UÊMongolia (marathon) opening a new Olympic-standard UÊNigeria (badminton, basketball, table strength and conditioning area, which tennis, taekwondo, boxing, weight will offer additional weights and cardio lifting and wrestling) A global equipment to complement the park’s UÊPhilippines (swimming) atmosphere existing health and fitness centre. UÊSingapore (swimming, badminton) in the park UÊUSA (triathlon) COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES: CELEBRATE SURREY PARALYMPIC TEAMS including six premium glass-backed courts Celebrate Surrey is a programme of UÊArgentina (boccia, football, judo, and two show courts with seating for public events which recognises the power lifting, swimming, table 180 spectators, are available, as well as contribution that both the University of tennis tennis) two multi-purpose exercise studios and a Surrey and Surrey Sports Park make to UÊMauritius (swimming) 100-station health and fitness suite. the intellectual, economic and cultural UÊNigeria (power lifting, table Outside facilities include two floodlit life of the local, national and global tennis, tennis) synthetic turf pitches, with a sand- community. The aim of the programme UÊSpain (swimming) dressed pitch (AGP 3), a cushioned is to encourage a culture of two-way UÊSweden (table tennis, swimming) shock-pad, sand-dressed pitch (AGP 2) conversations between university staff and a 3G, rubber-crumb surface pitch and students, and people outside the FACILITIES (AGP 1), eight floodlit tennis courts and university as well as raising awareness The state-of-the-art sports facilities eight football and rugby pitches. of the opportunities that exist. It include a 50m, UV-treated swimming All the sport and recreational facilities also aims to encourage a greater pool with a constant 2m depth that can have been designed to accommodate understanding among the local accommodate 30m water polo as well as disabled athletes as the provision of community of the ways in which the 50m and 25m swimming distances. outstanding training and recreational university can benefit the area. One of the only world-champion bad- facilities for disabled athletes has been a The programme of events includes minton facilities in the country, the park’s priority of the programme. a year-long calendar of dance, music, three, blue sports arenas aid shuttlecock The centre has been made widely exhibitions, plays and musicals; the visibility and offers seating for 1,000 spec- available to the residents of Surrey, while Olympic-style Surrey Youth Games; tators, while high-profile basketball and international teams are in residence. an Olympic Festival and Torch Relay netball games can also be played Close collaboration with Surrey County celebrations and a mini, family-friendly at the facility. Eight squash courts, Council and Guildford Borough Council science festival. L Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 35 RESEARCH WINNING WAYS How Sport Unlimited delivered legacy impacts for young people MAXINE GREGORY LED THE EVALUATION OF SPORT UNLIMITED, CARRIED OUT BY THE SPORT INDUSTRY RESEARCH CENTRE (SIRC) AT SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY. SHE REPORTS ON THE PROGRAMME’S SUCCESSES AND HOW THEY WERE ACHIEVED n 2012, all eyes will be on the they attended 60 per cent or more of an Olympic and Paralymic Games and eight- to 10-week block of sessions – the legacy promise to get the and in total 960,938 young people I nation doing more sport. achieved this measure. For children and young people the The overall success was equal for previous Labour government set the male and female participants and for ‘five-hour offer’ target – to give those different year groups. This is particularly aged five- to 16-years old access to five noteworthy, as Sport Unlimited narrowed hours per week of high-quality sport. the trend of the gender gap in sports One of the key work strands estab- participation, demonstrating substantial lished in order to deliver the five-hour success in engaging with females. In fact, offer was Sport Unlimited’. Its aim was to female retention rates were higher than bridge the gap between school and com- those for males. munity sport and increase opportunities The programme also had a target for young people to take part in a wide of sustaining 300,000 young people range of different and engaging activi- in activity once their Sport Unlimited ties to find ‘their’ ideal sport. sessions came to an end, either The programme ran from 2008 to by joining a club or participating 2011, delivering a £36m programme of in informal environments (such as Sport England-funded projects, which skateparks, BMX tracks, swimming aimed to engage, retain and sustain The programme engaged 1.2 million people pools and fitness activities). The Sport semi-sporty young people in more Industry Research Centre (SIRC) at sports participation. It was an important in sporting activity by the end of March Sheffield Hallam University undertook element of the PE and Sport Strategy 2011. Over the three-year period the a bespoke sustainability study, which for Young People and one part of the programme engaged nearly 1.2 million combined several different monitoring London 2012 Olympic legacy objectives. young people and retained almost 82 systems including: exit postcards (4,427 per cent of these in activity – thereby completed), before and after surveys Sport Unlimited delivery – the stats exceeding the retain target by more (1,867 completed) and participant Sport Unlimited was set an ambitious than 60,000 young people. Participants tracking with 1,122 individuals. The key target to retain 900,000 young people were deemed to have been retained if findings were as follows: THE KEY FEATURES OF SPORT UNLIMITED UÊÊ-«ÀÌÊ1Ìi`ÊÜ>ÃÊ>ÊÛ>ÌÛiÊÞÕÌ ÊëÀÌÃÊ«À}À>i]Ê particularly engaged with community or club sport which cascaded funding to local communities via the (termed semi-sporty) County Sports Partnerships Network UÊÊÊiÞÊiiiÌÊvÊÌ iÊ«À}À>iÊÜ>ÃÊv`}ÊÕÌÊÜ V Ê UÊÊ V>Ê«ÀÛ`iÀÃÊÀ}>Ãi`Êi} ÌÊÌÊ£äÜiiÊLVÃÊvÊÜiiÞÊ sports young people actually wanted to do high-quality taster sessions designed to inspire youngsters UÊÊ-«ÀÌÊ1Ìi`Ê>`«Ìi`Ê>ÊLÀ>`Ê`ivÌÊvʼëÀÌ½Ê to sign up for longer-term participation that included activities outside of Sport England’s support UÊÊ/ iÊ-«ÀÌÊ1Ìi`Ê«À}À>iÊÜ>ÃÊÌ>À}iÌi`Ê>ÌÊÞÕ}ÃÌiÀÃÊ structure that were relevant and compelling to children who may have had some interest in sport, but were not and young people and encouraged their engagement 36 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 findings were as follows: L Increased importance of sport: The data from the before and after surveys highlighted that after taking part in the Sport Unlimited programme, 29 per cent of the respondents felt that sport was of greater importance than before they had taken part in the activity sessions. L Inspiration: In total,41.7 per cent of participants Children and young people were consulted about what activities they wanted to do stated that as a result of the Sport Unlimited sessions they felt inspired the needs of semi-sporty young people and were more likely to attend a club Successful variations in for example fit rugby – in partnership than if they had not taken part in the activity choice included: with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) programme. UÊÊ1ÀL>Ê>VÌÛÌiÃÊ°i°Ê«>ÀÕÀÊ in Tees Valley. L Sustained participation: dance and cheerleading) This project provided intensive fitness- More than 50 per cent of the 1,122 people UÊÊÌiÃÃL>Ãi`Ê>VÌÛÌiÃÊ based sessions, which incorporated drills that took part in our tracking survey were (i.e. concept2 rowing) and skills presented via fun games. taking part in more activity than prior to UÊÊ É`iÛiÀiÀýÊ`vi`ÊÛiÀÃÃÊ of sports (i.e. freestyle tennis) their involvement in Sport Unlimited. Student Voice UÊÊ"ÕÌ`ÀÊ>`ÛiÌÕÀiÊ>VÌÛÌiÃÊ SIRC also conducted a survey of Community Sports Partnerships (CSPs) (i.e. climbing) more than 250 programme deliverers committed to ensuring that young people UÊÊ ÀiÊÌ >Ê£ääÊ>ÌiÀ>ÌÛiÊ« ÞÃV>Ê (representing more than 40,000 in their regions were consulted with and activities were delivered alongside participants), which combined both actual listened to. This consultation not only traditional sports and estimated data. The data showed helped to engage young people in activity that 22 per cent of participants were but also helped to retain young people, joining clubs after their initial sessions. Joined-up delivery as they were taking part in activities that Considering just the actual data (for There was wide representation of non- they really wanted to do. Sport Unlimited 12,536 participants) the percentage sport partners cohesively planning and has demonstrated that gathering evidence joining a club was higher at 29 per incorporating various sporting projects and of demand and what young people want cent. Add to this the young people who activities into their delivery, such as the is essential to enable a strategic approach continued participating by other less Rurban project – delivered by Herts Sports to planning and programming. formal means and the sustain target of Partnership, Child UK and Pro-Action. The top 10 sports overall are shown 33 per cent is likely to have been met. Rurban gave youth clubs in the area below however our consultations a new lease of life by utilising qualified highlighted significant variations How success was achieved sports coaches to deliver multi-sports activ- between genders, local areas and Five critical success factors were ity sessions. An array of new opportunities among different age groups, reinforcing identified before and during the and activities were offered environments the need for local data in order to programme. These were: where previously an informal game of shape local delivery. L Joined up delivery football was the only sport on offer. SIRC supported four CSPs to conduct a Partnership working, shared goals and Partnership working with NGBs detailed consultation during year one of cohesively linking young people’s plans was extremely innovative with several Sport Unlimited. Within these CSPs the into other aspects of the five-hour offer governing bodies offering hybrid and percentage of people retained increased L Student voice adapted versions of sports to meet from 73 per cent in year one to 81 per Finding out what young people want, where and how, and using this Top 10 Sports that MALES Sports that FEMALES intelligence to improve the provision would like to do more of: would like to do more of: L Activities Framework Providing a wide menu of opportunities, 1 Football Ice skating which extend beyond conventional 2 Boxing Dance activities 3 BMX Swimming L Signposting 4 Basketball Trampolining Promoting opportunities to young people and signposting and supporting 5 Archery Horse Riding participants into ‘exit routes’ from the 6 Tennis Gymnastics programme into other opportunities 7 Swimming Badminton L Sustainability 8 Table Tennis Skiing Ensuring that all funded projects had 9 Cycling Climbing clear plans for how participation would be sustained 10 Mountain Biking Tennis Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 37 RESEARCH More than 100 alternative activities were delivered alongside traditional sports A familiar face or venue helped to break down barriers, so many programmes started in a school venue and then transferred to a community environment Innovative activities for disabled young people cent in year three which is an increase Unlimited programmes into community The government funding was a cata- of eight percentage points, compared environments. lyst, which enabled a range of providers with the national picture where there A familiar face or venue helped to to supply relevant subsidised opportuni- was a one percentage point increase. break down barriers so many pro- ties; Sport England and CSPs successfully These improvements in performance grammes started in a school venue and managed the distribution of funding to highlight the potential impact of finding then transferred to a community envi- deliverers; a range of partnerships were out what young people want and ronment part way through, promoting established to deliver activities to spe- shaping delivery accordingly. retention and longer term sustainability. cific groups of young people; and a wide range of different and innovative activi- Activities Framework Sustainability ties were promoted. The programme also helped to facilitate Components which helped to ensure The success factors identified form part the creation of brand new sports and that projects had sustainable legacy of the fundamental recipe of what will activities. More than 100 alternative impacts included: partnership working; work to engage young people and en- physical activities were delivered capacity building through the purchase hance their enjoyment of activity. L alongside traditional sports. and transferral of equipment to clubs/ See the Sport England website for the full These included adaptations of tradi- exit routes; incentives to join clubs; evaluation report: http://lei.sr?a=w5y8J tional sports, which were designed to opportunities to train as junior leaders appeal to semi-sporty young people and and volunteers; and careful planning of to those who are deterred from par- the transition from the school/project to ABOUT THE AUTHOR ticipating on a regular basis due to the the club setting – making it as natural nature of traditional sports delivery. and welcoming as possible and having Maxine Gregory is a senior research strategic objectives for long term fellow at SIRC. Her key research Signposting/exit routes development. interest is the monitoring and CSPs and deliverers worked hard to evaluation of programmes designed develop strong links with established In a nutshell… to increase participation in sport. clubs and organisations, and to support There is no doubt that Sport Unlimited She also specialises in generating the development of new exit routes. was a successful programme, playing its innovative ways to conduct The use of external coaches (from part contributing to legacy objectives by research by using methods which community or club settings) in school exceeding the ambitious targets for the engage both young people and environments was an effective tool retention of young people and laying the adults. Contact +44 (0)114 2255928, in signposting young people and sup- foundations for sustained increases in [email protected] porting their transition from Sport participation. 38 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 SYNTHETIC FOOTBALL PITCHES BUILDINGS ATHLETICS SYNTHETIC HOCKEY PITCHES INDOOR OUR EXPERTISE COVERS THE DESIGN, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SYNTHETIC SPORTS SURFACES, ATHLETICS TRACKS, TENNIS COURTS, SPORTS HALLS AND MULTI-SPORTS AREAS. Brunel House, Jessop Way, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 2ER, England A DIVISION OF THE tel: +44 (0)1636 615866 fax: +44 (0)1636 615867 email: [email protected] www.charleslawrencesurfaces.co.uk The Total Solution… from “Concept The ULTIMATE surface for Football and Rugby to Construction” Manufactured in the UK and designed to meet specifications set at both amateur and professional levels, Thornton Sports’ third generation SoccerTurf™ surfaces offer: ' Best ball behaviour (ball roll, bounce & speed) ' Stability, safe moving and turning for players ' Easy maintenance ' Natural look and feel ' Increased durability Design and construction of all natural turf and synthetic sports surfaces O’Brien Contractors Limited Manor Cottage Church Lane, Cubbington Leamington Spa, CV32 7JT T: (01926) 423918 T: 01282 777 345 F: (01926) 883767 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: www.soccerturf.org www.obriencontractors.co.uk Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 39 SPORT VOLUNTEERING INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF VOLUNTEERS As London gears up to stage the biggest sporting show on earth, England Hockey’s team of ‘Hockey Makers’ lies the importance of volunteers in British sport is under the spotlight. at the core of making We look at some of the current programmes and opportunities in the Hockey Nation initiative a success place to engage a new influx of volunteers ccording to SkillsActive, the more than 80 major international sport- training and overall they have delivered sector skills council for the ac- ing events, giving a terrific platform to more than 101,000 volunteering hours. tive leisure sector, there are up-skill our sporting volunteer work- SkillsActive managed the volunteer A around 5.8 million volun- force. Indeed, UK Sport is now looking development programme for WorldSkills teers operating across the UK and sport far beyond London 2012, to the 2014 London 2011 on the back of the success is the largest single sector, accounting Commonwealth Games, 2014 Ryder Cup, of Personal Best. More than 300 individu- for around 28 per cent of all volunteer- 2015 Rugby Union World Cup and the als across the six London host boroughs ing carried out. In Sport England’s latest 2017 World Athletics Championships. enrolled on the programme and deliv- Active People Survey (APS) 2010/2011, it A large number of programmes are ered around 5,600 hours of volunteering. was revealed that three million adults targeting both young people and adults, WorldSkills competitions, held every (3,078,900) contribute at least one hour a as a way back into work or to undertake two years, sets world-class standards in week to volunteering in sport. a new qualification. SkillsActive leads the 45 skill categories and gave London the Over the four years leading up to the development of the volunteer workforce unique opportunity to showcase and cel- London Olympic and Paralympic Games, and actively seeks ways to promote vol- ebrate vocational skills across the UK. UK Sport is on track to have delivered unteering across the sector. Glasgow was chosen as the pilot city for Personal Best Scotland with the over- The London 2012 effect arching aim of reducing unemployment Managed by SkillsActive, Personal Best in the city through sport with the catalyst was the London Olympic and Para- of the London 2012 Olympic/Paralympic lympic legacy programme designed to Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games. offer unemployed and disadvantaged The pilot programme allowed 150 people people the opportunity to gain a Level to undertake wide-ranging employability 1 qualification in Preparation for Event activities, a national vocational qualifica- Volunteering. Launched in 2007, it har- tion and a volunteering opportunity, to nessed the unique motivating force of assist their progression into employment the London 2012 Olympic and Paralym- or further training. pic Games to engage socially-excluded The Personal Best pilot in Glasgow people and lift their aspirations and cre- was effective in engaging the tradition- ate new life choices. The promise was ally hard to reach long-term unemployed that every Personal Best graduate would male client group, with 75 per cent of the be given the opportunity to apply to be- participants falling into the long-term come a London 2012 Games Maker. unemployed category. The programme was gradually rolled The results exceeded all expectations out across the English regions and Scot- with an overall 47 per cent of graduates land with a 10-week programme after entering employment (the target was the initial pilot in London in 2009. The 40 per cent) and an impressive 85 per results speak for themselves with 4,462 cent now engaged in further volunteer- people achieving a Level 1 Award in Prep- ing (the target was 80 per cent). The Volleyball England is expanding its aration for Event Volunteering at the end biggest barrier to the Personal Best team of Higher Education volunteers of 2010. 976 of those graduates found roll out in Scotland now is how to fund employment or have gone into further the programme. 40 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 According to Sport England’s APS 2010/2011, three million people give at least one hour a week to volunteering in sport London 2012 has recruited 70,000 Games Makers to volunteer during the Volunteering could be London’s greatest legacy as people Games and every Personal Best graduate who applied was guaranteed an inter- of all ages, cultures and backgrounds come together and view to fulfil the unique commitment of thrive on the buzz of the once-in-a-lifetime experience the programme. Thousands more people will be asked to help out in a wide range of activi- Volunteering in sport EHB is also looking to recruit its biggest ties across the UK including welcoming Looking at the national governing bod- and best volunteer workforce, or Hockey visitors at airports and tourist sites; work- ies of Sport (NGBs) and other sporting Makers, as they will be known. ing with visiting teams in their training organisations, volunteering programmes “London 2012 presents hockey with the camps; providing back-up for police ser- are very much at the heart of developing biggest shop window you could ever wish vices; running school sports and serving club structures and nurturing sporting for,” EHB chief executive Sally Munday tea at street parties. talent across the UK. explains: “We’re rolling out the most am- Volunteers will be the lifeblood of Lon- The England Hockey Board (EHB) is bitious public engagement programme of don 2012 and the interest in applications gearing up for an incredible 12 months any sport to drive awareness and interest to be Games Makers was overwhelm- with the London 2012 Olympic Games in hockey and, ultimately, to get more ing with 250,000 applying – 40 per cent just around the corner. A nationwide people picking up a stick. To achieve our of whom had never volunteered before. campaign, the Hockey Nation pro- goals we are going to need our biggest Perhaps volunteering could be London’s gramme, has been launched with the and best ever team of volunteers. greatest legacy as people of all ages, cul- aim of capturing the imagination of the “Our team of Hockey Makers lies at tures and backgrounds, come together British public. With events and activities, the core of making the Hockey Nation and thrive on the buzz of the once-in-a- including The Big Dribble and Five Week programme a success. Gone are the days lifetime experience. Frenzy between now and the Games, the when volunteering simply meant acting Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 41 SPORT VOLUNTEERING Sport volunteers can be rewarded with subsidised training in mentoring, man- agement and coaching. Right: Sharing skills at Worldskills International 2011 as a steward at an event. The sheer variety of opportunities on offer will open up volunteering to a new genera- tion. Our vision is to inspire a whole new group of people, of all ages and back- grounds, to get involved in any small way, to be part of the Olympic sport and enjoy a truly rewarding experience.” Volleyball England is also extending its Looking at sports organisations, volunteering programmes network of volunteers in 2012 through an expanding team of Higher Educa- are very much at the heart of developing club structures tion volunteers, which is inspiring young and nurturing sporting talent across the UK people to take up the sport. The Higher Education Volleyball Officer (HEVO) programme is gaining momentum is managed by the National Skills Acad- The funding aims to deliver on the 2012 with 54 HEVOs now in posts at universities emy for Sport and Active Leisure. Games promise to inspire a generation to across the country. The programme sup- It offers a 75 per cent subsidy towards get involved in sport. It allows the expan- ports students by training them to coach courses in coaching and officiating, com- sion of DKHLT’s Get on Track programme, volleyball, encourage other students to munity sport, volunteering, leisure and which supports young people at the very take up the sport and set up recreational disability sport to support local commu- margins of society. sessions and tournaments. nities through sport, for new volunteers Get on Track, delivered over eight to Eve Porter, a HEVO at Sunderland and to up-skill those already involved. 12 weeks, aims to provide disadvantaged University has virtually single-handedly Katie Couchman, project manager of young people with the chance to en- introduced the sport to her university, the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund, high- hance their confidence and employability creating a new club, which has grown to lights the London Borough of Redbridge skills, by working with the charity’s team become one of the most successful sports Swimming Club as a shining example of international sports stars over a series clubs at the facility. As a sports student, of the impact that the fund is having of training and mentoring days. she has devoted most of her spare time on London communities, by helping to Volunteering is a central theme to to creating a solid foundation for the qualify new teachers. Chief coach Paul the programme, giving young people club with a clear pathway for beginners Robbins says: “Becoming fully qualified is the opportunity to carry out school or through to elite players. She is now look- prohibitively expensive for many people community-based projects, which often ing to reach out to community clubs and and unfortunately we can only offer a places them in new situations. encourage students to volunteer their time small amount towards training costs. In summary, the efforts of NGBs, chari- to developing the game across the region. Overall 90 per cent of our club staff em- ties and organisations, combined with braced the funding support and we now the huge opportunity presented by Lon- Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund have an abundance of qualified teachers don 2012, have brought volunteering The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund recog- delivering classes for an extra 50 swim- in sport to the forefront of the leisure nises that volunteers are the bedrock of mers already. It has been priceless for the industry. There is no doubt that increas- community sport and aims to motivate club and has sustained our future.” ing numbers of people from all walks of club volunteers by providing subsidised life are being engaged and inspired to training in volunteer mentoring, man- Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust volunteer. The real challenge now is how agement and coaching qualifications. The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust to keep them involved. L The programme is part of the London (DKHLT) is a delivery partner in the £1bn Mayor’s multi-million pound investment Youth and Community Strategy, un- For more information visit: into the city’s sporting infrastructure and veiled by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt. www.skillsactive.com 42 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Organised by: Got something to shout about? LIW is the perfect platform for your new products Contact [email protected] to give your company exposure to an audience of over 9000* hoping to invest in a product like yours. follow us @l_i_w liw.co.uk * ABC audit for LIW 2011 (20-22 September 2011). Total attendance: 9,064. Visitor attendance: 7,177. Exhibitor attendance: 1,877. GRASSROOTS HE GR T A G S S N I R O W O O T R S G VOLLEYBALL L As volleyball takes centre stage at three venues across London during the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, we talk to the key players at Volleyball England about its flagship grassroots campaign, Go Spike, and find out how people of any age, ability and background can dig and spike their way into the sport olleyball has come a long way from the old YMCA gymnasi- um of Holyoke, Massachusetts, US, where William G Morgan V Last summer, Volleyball England invented the sport back in 1895. Today, ran Go Spike volleyball sessions at it’s one of the big three international music, entertainment and charity sports with almost a billion people play- events across the country ing worldwide – 35 million of which are beach volleyball players. The Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB), with weekly participation figures in the last 12 In line with Volleyball England’s current its 220 affiliated national federations, is months. At club level, the number of vol- strategic plan, 2011 saw the launch of Go one of the largest international sporting leyball clubs has increased by 6 per cent Spike, the campaign that offers players federations in the world. in the last five years with almost 500 lo- of any ability and fitness level the chance Volleyball England is the branded im- cated across the country.” to gain skills, tactics, improve fitness and age for the English Volleyball Association experience the social buzz of the sport. (EVA) and is the recognised national Bringing volleyball to the masses Targeted at the 16-years-plus market, Go governing body (NGB) for the sport in all The surge of interest in the sport can be Spike sessions run across the country and its forms, including volleyball, beach vol- partly attributed to an increase in the allow for budding players to turn up and leyball and sitting volleyball in England. number of opportunities to play in tour- try their hand at the sport – commitment The NGB is responsible for the devel- naments, places to play and the provision and cost free for first timers. opment, promotion and delivery of the of equipment. However, while the sport is Taking advantage of the sport’s out- sport and is currently working towards a climbing at club level, recent results from door appeal, during the summer of 2011 500,000 new player target as outlined in Sport England’s Active People Survey 5, Go Spike sessions ran at a range of music, its current strategic plan. Quarter 2 shows a significant decrease in entertainment and charity events – ex- In England, volleyball has gained a the number of people participating week- posing thousands of people across the large following, which is set to in- ly, from Quarter 1. Wainwright comments: country to the sport. In addition, regular crease as we approach Games time. Lisa “We’re confident that weekly partici- Go Spike sessions were set up across the Wainwright, CEO at Volleyball England pation levels will pick up ahead of the club network, in parks and other public explains: “Volleyball is certainly climbing Games. Volleyball in England has by no spaces – encouraging local passers-by to in popularity, our membership figures means reached its full potential. With the come and try the game. detailing the number of people coaching versatility of the game’s format the sport Amy Seaman, Go Spike campaign man- and regularly participating in competi- is incredibly accessible; with a ball and a ager at Volleyball England says: “Since tions has increased year on year. We’ve piece of ribbon as a net you can play any- its launch in June 2011, the Go Spike witnessed a 14 per cent increase in where with as little as two players.” campaign has been hugely successful 44 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Above: TeamGB volleyball players Shauna Mullin and Zara Dampney. Below: Malorey Eagles captain Richard Dobell at the Men’s National Cup Final with the dedicated grassroots website, UÊ Significantly improve the experience New talent gospike.net, receiving more than 9,000 for those already playing regularly by While Go Spike is targeted at the 16-plus visitors. More than 5,000 people have enhancing services and reducing travel market, specific campaigns aimed at at- turned up to Go Spike sessions and our time to volleyball venues. tracting younger players to the sport volleyball ‘Game In A Bag’, has been so Speaking about the second round of such as ‘Let’s Play Volleyball’ continue to popular that we have been able to retail the initiative, Craig Handford, head of bring new players to the court. The Let’s it on the Volleyball England website. technical development and excel for Vol- Play Volleyball National Youth Volley- leyball England, said: “We’ve already ball Programme is a holistic development Life’s a beach developed four permanent multi-court model designed to encourage young Sitting within the Go Spike campaign, centres as a result of the funding; each people (aged five to 16 years) to expe- Volleyball England launched its ‘Beach providing fantastic examples of how rience and enjoy the sport as a player, Volleyball Capital Investment Initiative’ the initiative can transform a site and competitor, leader, coach or referee. to increase participants and spectators breathe new life into under-used facili- On the court, Let’s Play Volleyball is in beach sports, with funding for beach ties, increase participation in sport and a game-based session whereby a small- courts across England. The NGB aims to physical activity and create a legacy sided approach is used to take young build 10 permanent multi-court beach from the Games.” players sequentially through the essential centres by 2013. Partner funded, these As part of the initiative, the organisa- skills required to become a compe- local, permanent beach development tion produced a ‘Development of Beach tent volleyball player, developing game projects are part of a legacy programme Volleyball Courts’ – a document which understanding and sport specific tech- for the sport which aims to: details conversion and modification niques in parallel. UÊ Expose more people to beach sports methods of under-used public areas into Volleyball England also works with as both spectators and participants sand courts. This gives leisure sites official schools nationwide to encourage children UÊ Provide opportunities for more people guidance on how to safely convert pub- and young people to get involved to follow up their initial experience and lic areas into sand courts and facilities in in the sport. The School-Club strategy play beach volleyball regularly. sustainable and cost effective ways. focuses on activity and takes place outside Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 45 GRASSROOTS Let’s Play Volleyball festivals encourage young people to develop and participate in regional and national competitions England Volleyball has produced a document that gives official guidance on how to safely convert public areas of the school curriculum. This helps to into sand courts in sustainable and cost-effective ways guide young people from sport in School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) to clubs. Wainwright says: “It’s our aim to stars of the future. The South London volleyball and other indoor sports. The ensure that the links between schools student began playing volleyball at notes provide recommendations for the and clubs are sustainable and of a high after school sessions with his local coach; design of volleyball provision including quality. If we want children to choose to he then went on to compete for his court dimensions and markings, flooring, play volleyball we must ensure that they borough in Wandsworth before being lighting and equipment – giving leisure receive the most enjoyable and benefi- scouted to play for England and is now operators guidelines for creating safe, cial experience initially. By increasing the a regular for the England Youth Team. user friendly and enjoyable provision.” standard of teacher training in our sport Jordan is now one of the Lloyds TSB Local In addition, the NGB has invested in through short courses in programmes, Sporting Heroes and a hopeful for 2016. innovative equipment which can pro- such as Volley Sport and Mini Volley, vide facilities with access to courts. or by arranging for community sports Retaining players Wainwright explains; “To provide an coaches to deliver sessions, we ensure As well as attracting new players to the inexpensive, versatile and sustainable that children enjoy playing the sport in sport, retaining people through the au- solution to the provision of volleyball at school and are then more likely to want tumn and winter months is also a key leisure sites, we have dedicated fund- to find and join their local Volleyball objective for Volleyball England. ing to providing 400 sites with cross England-recommended club.” However, results of the recent Sports sport slider net systems. This enables the Satisfaction Survey in which volleyball sites to offer volleyball along with other Pathways to success ranked as the ‘third least satisfied sport’, sports, such as badminton, in their sports Once part of a Volleyball England showed that the delivery of volleyball is halls while complying with our guide- accredited club, young people have the restricted by the standard dimensions of lines. These two methods are helping to opportunity to progress and compete at sports halls. A key objective of Volley- boost the number of sites offering vol- local and national level via an array of ball England’s facilities strategy was to leyball – giving players accessibility to the tournaments organised by the NGB. combat the issue of “small, dirty, badly-lit sport all year round.” L Regional Let’s Play Volleyball festivals, sports halls”, which provided a barrier to national volleyball leagues and national new players experiencing the sport. HOW TO GET INVOLVED junior championships all encourage young Wainwright explains: “The develop- For advice on developing Go Spike people to develop and participate in com- ment of our technical guidance notes Volleyball sessions or beach courts petitions at regional and national level. highlights how small changes to the visit: www.volleyballengland.org Seventeen-year-old Jordan Darylmple current standard Sport England dimen- To find your nearest Go Spike session from London is a great example of how sions for indoor court spaces can increase visit: www.gospike.net volleyball clubs can help to produce the provision and revenue generation for 46 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 THE SPORTS FACILITY SHOW White Line Services International ltd MAY 15 CHELTENHAM SPECIALISTS IN JUNE 12 2012 TRACK MAINTENANCE SALFORD L Deep high pressure cleaning of Athletic tracks HOW TO AVOID THE HOOPS, HURDLES AND L Remarking tracks & courts on all synthetic surfaces HIGH JUMPS OF SPORTS FACILITY FUNDING, L Surveying & painting tracks & courts CONSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT AND L All track repairs using IAAF certified materials DEVELOPMENT IN SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SPORTS CLUBS. For more information or to book your place visit: White Line Services International Ltd www.sapca.org.uk 205 Holtye Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3ER Tel: 024 7641 6316 [email protected] Tel: 0845 058 0644 Fax: 08458622640 Email: [email protected] The Sports and Play Construction Association www.white-line-services.com Functional Fitness Specialists Kettlebells Training Ropes Alpha Strong Jordan Power Bands EXPERTS IN FUNCTIONAL FITNESS EXCLUSIVE SUPPLIER MEMBERS FOLLOW US www.jordanfi tness.co.uk - sales@jordanfi tness.co.uk - 01945 880257 Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 47 HOTSEAT NIGEL WALKER Karen Maxwell talks to the national director of the English Institute of Sport (EIS) about the performance impact that EIS practitioners are offering elite athletes in the run-up to London 2012 Can you tell me about your career background? Our vision is to be the world’s leading sports medicine/science A former Olympic high-hurdler and rugby union player, I was organisation within elite sport so we observe what’s going on a development officer for the Sports Council for Wales and at sports institutes in Switzerland, in Germany and in Australia assistant team manager with the Welsh Rugby Union, before to name a few. We all have a regular, mutually beneficial dia- becoming the head of sport at BBC Wales in 2001. I then be- logue and of course they are keen to learn from us, as Britain came head of change and internal communications in 2006 is regarded as a nation that’s able to punch above its weight in before being given the added responsibility of programme sport performance. director for BBC Wales’ drama village in 2009 while retaining board responsibility for sport. How does the EIS strive to extend the elite I joined the UK Sport board in 2006 and was appointed chair performance of UK athletes? of the Major Events Panel in the summer of 2009. I left the BBC Some way down the line we’ll reach the stage where a human to take the role of national director of the English Institute of being will not be able to run any faster. We may be able to Sport (EIS) in September 2010. scrape a couple of 100ths here or there but we’re pretty much at our physical limit and that’s why research and innovation in Why did you join the EIS? all its forms is so important. With the London Games on the horizon it appeared to me to Sport in the UK has been incredibly well funded, particularly be a fantastic opportunity. over the past six or seven years, and the structures that we’ve At the EIS we like to think of ourselves as the ‘team behind been able to put into place have helped us to achieve amazing the team’. We have more than 250 practitioners that deliver results in world sport. We finished fourth in the medal table at 4,000 hours of sport science and sport medicine each week to Beijing 2008 – although we’re not the fourth largest nation in more than 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports – along with a se- the world by any imagination. Our target is to continue this lect number of non-Olympic sports, including Premier League momentum and achieve fourth again at London this summer. football, Premiership rugby union, rugby league and cricket. We also work with 16 of the 17 Paralympic sports represented by What does your day-to-day role entail? ParalympicsGB. I’m an MBA graduate, so organisation and managing change is at the heart of everything I do. What is the EIS modeled on? I’ve been a team member during my sporting days so I feel I Publically funded by UK Sport and the national governing know what it takes to put a good team together and unite as bodies (NGBs) that use our services, the EIS is only 10 years one for a single goal. old so it’s a relatively young organisation. World champion net- The EIS is split into three directorates: the north, central and ball player and coach Wilma Shakespeare was the first national the south. My job is to ensure that we offer a consistent and director. She came over from Australia to establish the EIS, so flexible service delivery across all these areas by putting the per- you could say it was modeled on the Australian Institute of formance impact of the athlete and the impact of that sport Sport – although we’ve adapted, changed and manipulated First and formost, it’s all about getting the greatest bang it to our benefit. for the government’s buck with EIS multi-disciplinary teams – including physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionists and performance lifestyle practitioners – working together so that the performance impact is greater. Our ‘one EIS one vision’ gives practitioners regular contact with senior people on a regular basis. This allows us to talk about the organisation’s objectives and listen to any comments that they may have. I make regular visits to the EIS sites and I’ve made it absolutely clear that I’m there for them to talk to me because I want to understand the issues that they face from a sport or personal perspective. I’m definitely not an autocrat, I’m a democrat through and through, but the important thing is that people feel that they can discuss issues with me and I’ll raise them further down the The EIS likes to think of themselves as the ‘team behind the team’ line in a sensitive matter so we can work out a solution. 48 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Talented EIS practitioners are placed in an environment that offers maximum impact in helping athletes achieve their best What is the EIS working on at the moment? 3 in the shortest time possible – giving them the opportunity We’re already looking at our service offer up to and including to progress rather than standing still. the next Olympic cycle (2013 to 2017) and have formally submit- ted our business plan to the funding body – UK Sport. What role will EIS practitioners take at the Olympic Everything we do fits into three categories: innovation, col- and Paralymapic Games in London this summer? laboration, and excellence. If a service doesn’t satisfy one or Many of our practitioners have been approached by the Lon- more of this criteria and it doesn’t provide a performance im- don Olympic and Paralymapic Games Organising Committee pact we have to ask ourselves: “why are we doing it?” (LOCOG) and the British Olympic Association (BOA) to volun- The EIS recently joined UK Sport on a series of roadshows teer their services at the Games. We told them that if they are around the country, where we were able to talk to many NGBs approached they should let their line manager know, put in about their strategy to get the best out of their elite athletes, an application and we will endeavour to provide the necessary to ensure that our services continue to fit backfill to ensure their obligations to the with their demands. sport they work with are covered. Getting everyone on the same page If a service doesn’t fit As a consequence, tens of EIS people and moving in the same direction takes will be working in a volunteer capacity at quite a bit of ‘behind the scenes’ negotia- with our criteria and the Games and we will continue to pay tion. However, UK Sport is always keen it doesn’t provide a their wages because we see their service to offer assistance to close the gap on a as being part of our role and a great op- sport’s weaker areas and help produce performance impact we portunity for them to gain experience. better results in the long-term and we’re have to ask ourselves: here to help them do that. What about an athlete’s life after sport, In a recent survey, we asked NGBs to “why are we doing it?” does the EIS offer advice or support? rate us out of a score of 10 in our range of Many full-time athletes who have focused different services. The data revealed that on their sport since we’re doing an even better job than we were in 2010. However, the age of 15 or 16 and then have [for example] a 17-year career sports medicine is one area that needs improvement. It’s a very in elite sport, can find adapting to ‘normal’ life quite difficult. expensive service so we’re continually making sure that we are Our performance lifestyle advisors offer a 360-degree service offering value for money and providing the service that NGBs to ensure that an athlete is as well rounded as they possibly can want and need. be so they can get the most from their everyday sporting lives To this end we are currently working on extending doctors’ and lead a normal life afterwards. hours to ensure that they become a true part of the EIS multi- Our team of advisers includes an ex-Olympian as well as peo- discipline team. ple with life experience that can empathise with finding a new Within the EIS, we believe that putting talented people career, applying for a mortgage or dealing with an injury or a in the right places allows for maximum impact in helping relationship break-up – it’s all about balancing a lifestyle both athletes achieve their best. For example, we provide CPD in and out of elite sport. We also help athletes find temporary nd on-job training to make sure that [for example] Level 1 employment opportunities to develop their skill set and prepare practitioners with potential move on to Level 2 and Level for life outside of sport. L Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 49 ADVERTISEMENT PROMOTION New Online Advice Service for Sports Surface Maintenance here is an assumption that Enter The Green Room! This free, those responsible for looking online tool, which is available to anyone after synthetic sports surfaces involved in maintaining artificial sports T know everything they need to surfaces, consists of three elements: know about maintaining them. 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Accessed via the Replay website, there are currently more than 50 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 CRICKET National Cricket PIC: ©WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Performance Centre Crispin Andrews visits the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough University and finds out how coaches are developing England’s world-class stars of the future o sooner had the England and country’s top coaches and support staff are EDP is now solely about individual long- Wales Cricket Board (ECB) de- using state-of-the-art facilities and tech- term player development: Results and veloped a crop of fast bowlers nology to make sure that this happens. teams no longer take priority. N who were able to play inter- “We want to give every potential Timson says that the side took only one national cricket without getting injured, world-class cricketer every opportunity full-time spinner on January’s Under-19 the team presented the national govern- to develop the skills to perform at the tour to Bangladesh on turning wickets. ing body (NGB) with another problem to highest level possible,” says ECB science “The tour is part of a plan, we picked the solve: How to bat in test matches on the and medicine manager Dr Simon Timson. best 15 cricketers we thought could help subcontinent. But while England captain England win in six years time, not a team Andrew Strauss and company turn to INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION to win a test series in Bangladesh.” ‘reactive’ camps in India and ‘naughty The best of these players, when ready, boy’ nets in Sri Lanka, the ECB are cur- move into the EDP, represent England INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE rently taking a more progressive stance Lions and, if they make the grade, even- Today, the music of U2 and Queen is in developing England’s up-and-coming tually move into the full test, one day blaring out from speakers in the prac- players of the future. or Twenty/20 side. tice area, but the ECB hasn’t hired out Today, the ECB’s England Development Since 2003, when the centre opened, its performance centre for an 80s disco. Programme (EDP) is focused on ensuring Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Ravi Bopara and The players on the EDP are preparing for the national team’s future success and, at Alastair Cook have progressed through their tour of Australia and coaches play the National Cricket Performance Centre the whole pathway. But since 2010, when music to distract them – therefore aiding at Loughborough University, some of the the ECB revamped the programme, the their concentration. England players during a performance training session at Loughborough PIC: © WWW.GETTYIMAGES.CO.UK Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 51 CRICKET This practice area is huge. Six bays of county championship game, nor does he development manager John Abrahams, nets, each with a 70m bowler’s run up, believe that putting his captain under as well as Kevin Shine and Graham Thor- and a preparation area at the back. Each pressure physically will help Ball smash pe, the ECB’s lead bowling and batting practice surface is supplied by synthetic a quick 50 runs in the Under-19 World coaches, the players use the same state- grass manufacturer Supergrass. The grass Cup this August. Instead, Boon is look- of-the-art technology as that used by the pile in each bay is produced differently to ing forward to a time when Ball, batting first team, to improve their game. offer fast, turning and seaming surfaces seven for England, is 90 not out in the – replicating surfaces that England crick- midday heat at Melbourne, Australia or COACHING TECHNOLOGY eters will face around the world. There’s Colombo, Sri Lanka. Should he make 150, Pro-Batter is a programmable bowling additional cushioning on the bowler’s ap- England’s chances of winning a game ob- machine, developed for baseball, which proach to the wicket and follow through viously increase. can mimic the style of any bowler. A 3D areas, but wear and tear is part of the job. screen, attached to the machine, might Dr Nick Pierce and his team of show video footage of South Africa’s fast medical advisers offer rehab assistance ECB staff collaborate with bowler, Dayle Steyn, charging in. When to players, using the on-site fitness suite top groundsmen, sports Steyn delivers the ball on the screen, the and the players are offered a hydro- bowling machine spits out an 88mph bath with cold and hot settings in their scientists, nutritionists, away swinger. changing room to aid post-activity As England prepare for summer recovery if needed. physiotherapists and fitness matches against South Africa and the coaches to give England West Indies, it will no doubt also imitate ON-SITE TRAINING Morne Morkel’s steepling bounce, Ver- Kent County Cricket Club’s (KCCC) Adam players the best support non Philander’s unrelenting accuracy and Ball is one of a group of players who are Fidel Edwards’ erratic thunderbolts. about to start an eight-minute run, be- The ECB also offer the Merlyn by BOLA fore going into bat. During their indoor “England’s head coach, Andy Flower, spin-bowling machine at Loughborough, net, EDP head coach Tim Boon makes Ball and his team tell us what they want from which delivers programmable, spinning and the other batters perform two or a player and we work with the best 16-, balls of every variety – replicating the three bursts of star jumps. “No one en- 17- and 18-year-olds over a four to six- deliveries of the leading spinners. Merlyn joys this sort of work, but we see how it year period to help them achieve their can even vary the pace from one ball to will benefit us in the long run,” Ball says. objective,” says Dr Guy Jackson, opera- the next. Boon isn’t looking to prepare the Kent tions manager at the performance centre. Commenting on the Merlyn, Notting- all-rounder to hold up an end for KCCC’s On top of expert coaching from hamshire’s England Lions batsman, James Geraint Jones or Darren Stevens in a the likes of Boon and elite player Taylor, says: “You’d love to have ‘him’ Nathan Buck of England, in action during an ECB training session PIC: © WWW.GETTYIMAGES.CO.UK 52 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Paul Jarvis goes through a bowling action with England’s Natalie Scivers in your team because ‘he’ turns it miles, never bowls a bad ball and keeps going all day without a break.” A further system TrackMan uses Hawk- eye-style missile tracking technology to measure how many revolutions each spinner puts on the ball. It’s a small laser camera mounted on a tripod behind the bowler that detects the ball rotating in flight and sends the results to a laptop. PIC: © WWW.GETTYIMAGES.CO.UK Apparently, England and Northampton- shire slow bowler Graeme Swann manages around 2,000 revolutions per minute – more than 30 per second – and leg-spin- England’s Amy Jones in action ner, Adil Rashid, nearer 2,500. “We want during an England Women’s to benchmark English spin bowlers,” said Cricket Squad training session David Parsons, the ECB performance direc- tor and former spin bowling coach. “We can then see who spins the ball the most though, [The Bolton Wanders footballer development programme player, their and how much a bowler spins it from one who suffered a heart attack in March this county coach, school head of year and the year to the next.” year] shows that there’s more to a sports player’s parents. “Clear communication You only need to look at the physical star’s health than match fitness. is important to make sure the player gets difference between Swann and his off- Young England cricketers also get what they need from everyone,” he says. spinning predecessors John Emburey, Ray cardiac screening once a year and an eye- At Loughborough University, specialist Illingworth and Fred Titmus to see that to- sight and visual acuity screen. The senior facilities and expertise are at hand. ECB day’s cricket demands more than just skill. side, out in the sun for long periods, get staff collaborate with top groundsmen, Monty Panesar is athletic these days, and dermatology testing to offset the risk of sports scientists, nutritionists, physiother- even Samit Patel puts in the hard yards. skin cancer, a full health screening with a apists and fitness coaches to give every ECB Loughborough staff start their doctor, blood testing and a whole body England player the best possible sup- players’ fitness early. Before cars, TV, MRI scan to check for signs of injury. port. The centre’s lead physiotherapist, computers and the internet, cricketers EDP players also get a yearly psycho- Mark Young, is currently working with had an outdoor childhood to build robust logical screen. “We look after players’ equipment manufacturers to develop the bodies that could withstand the rigours personal welfare and help them cope perfect helmet. ECB coach, Ray Baker, of their sport. Unlike Trueman, Close, with the pressure of playing cricket at who played for Surrey in the 70s, leads a Botham and the rest, today’s youngsters top level,” Timson says. football-style scouting team that works have to get fit in the gym. Each player with Loughborough and Bangor Univer- has a specific fitness programme. But EXPERT SUPPORT sity researchers to uncover attributes that with injuries always a worry, players need England players only have one set of turn a talented youngster into a world- monitoring. coaches to answer to and one team to class performer. worry about. Developing players, what- There are three other NGBs on site, all FITNESS MONITORING ever level they’re at, will most likely have with specialist facilities. Particularly use- According to Timson, every player from several influences on their development ful for cricketers is UK athletics’ specialist the development programme to the and pulls on their time. running track, with in-built sensors to England team gets a yearly profile. This County coaches and support staff are measure acceleration. “We even taught includes a full physio to check movement invited to get involved with performance England and Northampton cricketer range and muscle capacity, a fitness test centre programmes from time to time. Monty Panesar how to run in straight that measures body composition, speed, To make sure youngsters get consis- lines!” Jackson says. L flexibility, power, strength and endur- tent messages and the right support, ance. What happened to Fabrice Muamba Timson has a yearly meeting with each Crispin Andrews is a freelance journalist Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 53 TENNIS GAME, SET AND MATCH AEGON CHAMPIONSHIPS We talk to tournament director, Chris Kermode and Arena Structures project director Ron Smith to find out how The Queen’s Club is transformed into an international sports venue for this annual, week-long event in the run-up to Wimbolden In recent years, the tournament has expanded to utilise every square inch of the Queen’s Club and ensure that it fulfils its potential. Sponsored for many years by Stella Chris Kermode Artois, the event was renamed the AEGON Championships in 2009 as part AEGON Championships’ of a new partnership between the LTA tournament director and AEGON – the global life assurance and pensions firm. During that time the tournament re-branded accordingly, What are the Lawn Tennis Association’s this. The AEGON Championships enjoys which meant changing the event’s l (LTA) main aims in staging the AEGON a high profile and is an important part ivery from red to blue. Championships at The Queen’s Club? of our commercial programme. The Such has been the success of the For one week every year in the run- success of these events allows the LTA to tournament since AEGON’s introduction, up to Wimbledon, The Queen’s Club in invest more money into the sport in this the event was shortlisted for Best London needs to be transformed from a country. The tournament has featured Sponsorship of an Event or Competition members-only club into an international virtually every significant player in at the Sport Industry Awards. sporting venue, which welcomes more the sport and the LTA is committed to The tournament has a broadcast than 60,000 spectators, and attracts seeking and maintaining the growth of partnership with the BBC, which many of the world’s best players. Some the event’s world-class appeal. ensures at least 20-hours of terrestrial of the most celebrated champions in television coverage in the UK and tennis history appear on the club’s Roll of What were the key tournament further significant coverage on BBC Honour – including John McEnroe, Pete developments in recent years? Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website. Sampras and Boris Becker. The AEGON Championships is a sell- The tournament is also covered live by The LTA’s goal is to grow and sustain out event, but every year we attempt Eurosport, and receives huge interest British tennis and we deliver world- to improve the experience for our from national and international print class events in order to help achieve spectators and hospitality guests. media – generating front-page news 54 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 GLOBAL EVENT OVERLAY www.arenagroup.comWWW.ARENAGROUP.COM Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 55 TENNIS The livery at The Queen’s Club in Wimbledon was changed from red to blue when AEGON took over from Stella Artois as the event sponsors following the title wins of Andy Murray in 2009 and 2011. What are the key logistical challenges surrounding event overlay? The most significant aspect is that we are turning a working tennis club in a residential area into an international but we liaise closely with the council on rescheduled for the following day. This tennis tournament, which welcomes traffic management schemes to help with was a logistical challenge in terms of 64,000 people through the gates as this. Working hours must be adhered the staff and contractors who needed well as some of the world’s best tennis to and keeping the club operational for to work an additional day and the ticket players – in a single week. its members for as long as possible is holders who needed to be looked after. The surrounding residential properties another important consideration. In the end it turned out to be a fantastic make the six-week build period for Then there is the weather to consider. additional day of tennis with another the tournament a huge challenge. The Traditionally, the AEGON Championships great, sell-out atmosphere. narrow, winding streets make life difficult enjoys good weather, but inevitably There’s a good relationship between for the articulated lorries, which deliver this is not always the case. Last year, the tournament team and the overlay our stands, seats and other materials, the final day was rained off, so it was specialists, which is important – given what is involved in staging an event of this size and stature. The LTA’s opera- tions and hospitality teams deal with the overlay partners on a daily basis in the months leading up to the tournament. During the construction period this rela- tionship is crucial to ensure that there are no insurmountable logistical hiccups. From an operational standpoint, in recent years the tournament has added a new front entrance to improve crowd flow, along with a public champagne bar. We have also worked closely with Creative Technology to enhance show The club has to be production and on-site content, including operational for members colourful video features with match for as long as possible highlights and an upgrade to digital scoreboards and information screens. 56 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Sports Facility Options ! !"##" STRUCTURES IN MOTION SPORTS BUILDINGS Tailor-made design For all kinds of sports and weather Open or closed side walls Easily half the cost of conventional buildings Translucent roof Rapid construction Veldeman UK Ltd | Corn Roses, Highfi elds | Crowle, Scunthorpe | North Lincolnshire DN17 4NP Tel: +44 1724 710 681 | [email protected] | www.veldemangroup.com Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 57 TENNIS What does the event’s overlay management involve? The Queen’s Club is a logistically challenging and sensitive location to work within, requiring months of Ron Smith planning and organisation once on site. We co-ordinate with multiple Arena Structures’ stakeholders, including local neighbours project director and London Police, to escort 35 of our 57 arctic lorries the wrong way up a one way street. We supplied 8,800 What does the partnership between and we have to maintain that central spectator seats, 12,500sq m of temporary the LTA, The Queens Club and the ethos as we develop the facilities. Last structures and 100 tonnes of substructure Arena Group involve? year we assisted the LTA in improving scaffolding last year. Arena Structures is one of many partners the retail and catering offerings for the Over the years, we have looked at the that help transform The Queen’s Club public, while the custom interior design challenges The Queens Club presents as for the week of the championships, for the organisers and sponsors reflected a venue and the event seating solutions by providing the tournament with their status and aspirations. have spread back into the company temporary structures, seating, The Arena Group has recently and benefited many other clients. For scaffolding and interiors. restructured following a £16.5m example, due to our R&D, we’ve invested We’ve supported the LTA and its investment by new partners Sports in creating bespoke grandstand media sponsors AEGON to help evolve a Investment Partners (SIP) and growth boxes and corner seating elements that world-class sporting venue, befitting capital investor, MML Capital, in-line have allowed us to maximise capacity, the increasing status of this annual with the companies delivery of event while helping the organisers deliver tournament. We work closely with the overlay to major international sporting a great audience experience through LTA in delivering an enhanced visitor tournaments. improving the atmosphere.” experience, while also ensuring the Double-decked hospitality structures, Last year we introduced a bespoke commercial partners’ brand aspirations covering an area of approximately scaffolding frame and full branding at are met. 100m x 40m, housed guests on its upper the rear frame of the main grandstand level with pink interiors and separate to deliver sharp lines and a permanent What sets this tournament apart and bespoke-design sponsors’ suites, while feel to the area. how has the event’s overlay evolved public catering and retail areas were We re-engineered the grandstands over the years? situated on the lower level. The structure substructure to widen tunnel walkways Arena Structures’ relationship with this was 5m wider than in 2010 and built and removed pillars from the centre event tracks back three decades; during to accommodate more guests and court’s entrance tunnel to improve which time both the overlay company incorporate a new retail outlet. crowd flow, while the glossy, white, and the event venue have evolved Also new for last year’s tournament solid boarding with branding images beyond recognition. was the introduction of a new 20m x 30m gave a brighter, sharper feel within the Three years ago, the event saw 9,000 double-decked structure to house the tunnels. We applied this same fresh style blue seats added, in-line with the new Crown Club lounge, a new champagne across the site to deliver a pristine finish sponsors (AEGON) branding; last year bar and public dining area. Inside, our that transformed the temporary overlay Arena introduced a new range of innova- partners Spaceworks and Well Dressed and enhanced the venue’s image for tive developments. Tables created bespoke interiors that this event. The AEGON Championships enjoys a provided individual areas for hospitality very special atmosphere, with a unique with furniture, glassware, cutlery and What does the future hold? intimacy between the players and fans china across the venue. Delivering a complete temporary sport- ing venue, the 2011 event was given a new appearance by event organisers, by altering the site layout through intelligent engineering, maximising the use of space and sharpening the aesthetic finish. The 2012 AEGON Championships is one of the first of this summer’s iconic inter- national sporting events, taking place on 11th to 17th June. Given the tenacity of the experienced and ambitious team be- hind the scenes to deliver a great event it is certain to continue setting standards for world class event management this Hospitality areas reflect the sponsor’s brand Bespoke design creates individual areas year and far beyond. 58 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 1 2012 © cybertrek 2012 SPORTS EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES SUMMIT 8th & 9th OCTOBER 2012 Whittlebury Hall Hotel, Towcester The Sports Equipment and Facilities Summit is a unique event for purchasing decision makers from sporting establishments to meet with solution providers, attend industry related workshops and network with fellow professionals in a relaxed yet business like environment. FOR DELEGATES… Get treated like a VIP! You choose which solution providers you would like to meet with and which seminars you would like to participate in. Delegate invitation to the Sports Equipment & Facilities Summit is completely complimentary, providing you with overnight accommodation, attendance to all keynote workshops/ seminars and a place at the gala dinner on the evening of the 8th October, followed by an evening of entertainment, hosted by Prime Racing, presenting the top geared team building challenge. TESTIMONIALS FOR SUPPLIERS… “The right mixture of suppliers and industry requirements, The Sports Equipment and Facilities Summit will bring the well organised and would definitely attend future events” clients to you and guarantee face to face meetings with Celtic FC decision makers who have specifically requested to meet with your company, saving you months of time, money “Thank-you for a quality event with no pressure selling. and effort. A good way to network with other people in the Sports industry” WHAT HAPPENS AT THE SUMMIT... The lady Eleanor Holles School The summit commences with registration on the morning “Attending the summit has saved many office hours of the 8th and concludes after lunch on the 9th October travellingthe country and attending various meetings to 2012. Half hour meetings take place in privately screened talk to potential suppliers. A very slick run event and one meeting booths where both parties will be able to discuss that the Authority will attend in the future.” future plans and developments and discover solutions for Lee Valley Regional Park Authority current and future sporting facility projects. “An excellent way to meet and talk through specific requirements that I have. Removed the “Human Jumble CORPORATE THRILL EXPERIENCE... Sale” effect of such as LIW (Leisure Industry Week).” The first 30 attendees to sign up for the Sports Equipment Southampton SOLENT University & Facilities Summit will have the opportunity to participate “Excellent opportunities to hand pick suppliers relevant to in the post event Silverstone Corporate thrill experience – our business. Very beneficial to meet face to face. We will consisting of 3 activities, Ferrari Thrills, Pit Stop Challenge definitely be utilising the services of the suppliers we met” and a Tour of Silverstone. All will receive certificates on Worcester Warriors RFC completion For further information contact Dave Boore on 01992 374097 e: [email protected] Suppler enquiries contact Charlotte Russell on 01992 374080 e: [email protected] SWIMMING CRYSTAL CLEAR It can be a minefield for operators looking to select the right element for disinfecting and reducing organic loading of swimming pool water at their facility. Karen Maxwell talks to experts in water treatment about some of the options available Jim Kenyon, managing director, JAK Water ver the last 30 years, there have been many changes in the way O swimming pool water has been treated and disinfected. In the ‘old days’ virtually all commer- cial swimming pools would have had a manually operated gas chlorine system for disinfection with pH controlled by the addition of soda ash/sodium bicarbonate and aluminium sulphate flocculants – often dosed by hand. How things have changed. With the introduction of relatively in- expensive automatic control systems, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, ultra violet (UV), PAC flocculants and pH correction – using either CO2, hydrochloric acid or sodium bisulphate – are all now at the forefront of modern pool treatment systems. Chemical treatment today comes in several forms – from bulk, tank and mixer and UV to, more recently, automatic calcium hypochlorite feeder systems. The need for chemical dosing to be simpler with health and safety in mind, has led to several feeder systems being de- veloped which utilise calcium hypochlorite, and are widely accepted. The quality of calcium hypochlorite varies enormously and consideration should be given to the product’s chlorine, moisture (hydrated or anhydrous) and insoluble content, to establish value, safety and purity. JAK developed the FlowTab (calcium hypochlorite tablet dos- ing system) several years ago. FlowTab has evolved over the years but we still have units in industry working from those early days. An automatic preparation system suitable for both municipal and potable water, it provides a constant strength solution, requires little maintenance and is compatible with all automatic control. Today, choosing products and treatment techniques can be confusing to the buyer and can become an expensive decision if Water treatment methods made incorrectly. Deciding on the best treatment methods must should account for health and take into account several factors – including environmental in- safety, environmental influences fluences, heath and safety and especially in today’s climate, cost and cost effectiveness effectiveness. A challenging task for even the most experienced pool operator where impartial advice may need to be sought. www.jakwater.co.uk 60 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 SPLASH IT TIP IT SPRAY IT SQUIRT IT STATE-OF-THE-ART 9 bring life to your pool UV SYSTEMS 9 replace old water features FOR SWIMMING POOL APPLICATIONS 9 create revenue through play 9 latest interactive water Effective Against Chlorine technology Resistent Cryptosporidium 9 designs to suit all pool types Reduces ‘Red Eye’ & Skin Irratations Breaks Down & Eliminates Problem Chloramines Allows Reduced Levels of Chlorine Provides Bright Sparkleing Water & Fresh Clean Air Fully Automatic & Cannot Be Over Dosed Tel: +44 (0) 1752 771740 3rd Party Validated, NSF & E: [email protected] W: www.hippoleisure.com MAHC Complainant www.atguv.com www.jakwater.co.uk 01942 216161 Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 61 SWIMMING Pool customers enjoy water that appears to be crystal clear, blue and sparklings Barry Humphries, leisure sales manager, Siemens Water Technologies he key to effective water treatment water quality parameters, automatically controlling the is integration. By effectively integrat- addition of disinfectant and pH correction to reflect the T ing systems, facilities will be able to changes in the pool. increase energy and operational efficiency, The controller can be offered with options to measure the which ultimately reduces operating costs. combined chlorine, TDS and redox value on an ongoing basis. Many operators of sports and lei- This means that if the pool water is within the user defined lim- sure centres are unaware of the levels its, the DEPOLOX® Pool controller can signal to the pool’s flow of savings that can be achieved through meters and the variable speed drives to reduce their speed. adopting an integrated solution, which Should this quality deviate, the controller does the reverse will optimise energy, water and chemical usage, while main- and normal circulation levels resume. Crucially, this is where taining optimal water quality conditions – a key performance significant energy savings are to be made and water quality indicator for customer satisfaction. can be maintained – even as bathing loads fluctuate. In the case of swimming pools, Siemens offers an innova- Through the installation of SED2™ variable speed drives, tive energy and water optimisation system (EWO), which has a facilities can save up to 50 per cent on the energy consumption modular design so operators can select the right elements for of circulation pumps. their facility. The DEPOLOX® Pool controller by Siemens sits at Further savings can be made by using a UFOX sludge water the heart of this recycling system. It can reduce water consumption by safely system. It continu- recovering 80 per cent of backwash water to the highest stan- ously monitors dards, so it can be reused for functions including pool filling or all of the critical toilet flushing. For ultimate efficiency, integration should span a facility’s complete water system. These should also use low footprint The DEPOLOX technologies for the best use of space and ensure a safe envi- Pool Control- ronment for customers. ler can signal to At Siemens we can offer a total water treatment solution, flow meters and from rainwater harvesting through to cooling towers and speed drives sterile cleaning to meet these objectives. www.siemens.co.uk 62 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 www.dorsetwoolliscroft.com @e[ljkip$c\X[`e^dXib\k`e^ Xe[[\j`^ej\im`Z\j N`k_dfi\k_Xe*'p\XijË\og\i`\eZ\# c\`jli\d\[`X c\`jli\d\[`Xjkl[`fn`ccnfibn`k_ JKL;@F pflkfZi\Xk\Y\jgfb\gi`ekXe[n\Y jfclk`fejkfgfn\ipflidXib\k`e^ ◗ N\Y[\j`^e ◗ @dX^\i\kflZ_`e^ ◗ ◗ C Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 63 SWIMMING As water features raise the fun factor, chlorine disinfectant can cause problems Paul Hennessey, Keith Glass sales and marketing manager, atg UV sales engineer, Triogen he use of ultraviolet (UV) dis- hlorine is the most common infection for swimming pool method employed to treat pool T applications is growing fast. From water as it’s a fairly effective dis- small swimming pools, spas and hydro C infectant and eliminates a large pools to large municipal leisure facilities number of bacteria, as well as some and full-scale water theme parks, this viruses. It’s also a fairly strong oxidising treatment is now becoming standard agent that reacts with organic matter in practise in many UK leisure facilities. the swimming pool water. As water features, wave machines, However, chlorine does have its limi- flumes and splash pads raise the fun factor in swimming pools, tations and has several disadvantages. These include the fact the traditional method of disinfecting water by using chlorine that potentially harmful micro-organisms such as cryptosporid- is causing problems for operators and customers alike. Higher ium parvum and giardia lamblia remain unaffected, and the water temperatures and increased turbulence in leisure pools chloramine by-products can irritate the bathers’ nose, eyes, requires increased dosages of chlorine, leading to pool users respiratory system and skin. complaining of burning eyes, red or itchy skin and an over- Ozone has proved to be a viable option over the past 30 powering chlorine smell throughout the facility. In some cases years. It’s a gas that can be loosely described as a concentrat- the fabric of the building has also been attacked through cor- ed form of oxygen and is responsible for the ‘fresh air’ smell rosive condensation. that’s experienced after a thunderstorm. The main reason for these problems is the production of Generated by passing a stream of air through an electric ar- chloramines in the water caused by the reaction of free chlo- cor by passing air over a specially-dosed UV lamp, ozone is not rine residuals with organic materials, such as bacteria brought a stable compound and quite rapidly decomposes to oxygen. into the environment by pool users. While ozone can be suc- It has a half-life of only about 20 minutes at room tempera- cessful at reducing chloramine levels, both the installation and ture, which means it can’t be manufactured and stored; it operation could be expensive and may require skilled person- must be generated at the location where it is used. nel to operate the plant, again driving up operating costs. Ozone gas, when used to treat water, is a strong oxidising UV treatment provides another option. UV wavelengths agent while offering a strong biocidal effect: it kills or ren- between 240 and 280 nanometres deactivate all micro-organ- ders harmless micro-organisms unaffected by chlorine, which isms, particularly Pseudomonas (SP) and Ecoli. Manufacturers means that it’s a powerful disinfectant when applied at the such as atg UV can incorporate UV systems into existing con- correct dose. When ozone is used in conjunction with chlorine, trol strategies to protect against micro-organisms, including the undesirable chloramines are destroyed and their undesir- chlorine-resistant pathogens such as cryptosporidium. able effects are largely eliminated. A correctly-sized UV treatment system also reduces chloram- Ozone gas is generated in an ozone generator. This gas is ines, the compound responsible for skin irritations, red eye then mixed with water from the pool filter, and the water/ and the often overpowering chlorine smell. The result is safe, ozone mixture is held in a tank for a predetermined time. glacier-clear sparkling water, fresh air and a more inviting This allows the ozone to react with the impurities in the water bathing environment. Typically, following the installation of and also allows any excess ozone to separate from the water. this treatment, operators report a significant drop in com- The excess gaseous ozone is converted back to oxygen bined chlorine levels, chlorine smell and a large reduction in and discharged to the atmosphere. The cleaned water is re- the need for taxing back washing and shock treatments. turned to the pool. The flocculating effect of the ozone collects Systems such as atg UV’s ECF system offer pool operators small particles to form larger particles that can easily be re- a flexible and cost effective solution, treating up to 2000 m3/ moved by the filter and the pool water is clearer, bluer and hr in a single high-output, small footprint system. more sparkling. www.atguv.com www.triogen.com 64 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 The leading provider of high quality Changing, WC and Shower cubicles, storage lockers and complementary products With over 30 years experience of providing high quality Changing, WC and Shower cubicles, storage lockers and complementary products in glass and compact grade laminate. Lockers Marathon lockers are suitable for projects from public swimming pool changing areas (where resistance to vandalism and ease of maintenance and cleaning are important) to the provision of high quality glass lockers and wooden lockers to leading name health & fitness groups. Cubicles Marathon cubicles are either "Fully Framed Panel Cubicles" (NBS K32/112a), essential for high use and wet areas, or unframed "Panel Cubicles" (NBS K32/120a), in which case they contain specially designed components to avoid the normal problems suffered by cubicles that rely on panel media for their strength Tel: +44 (0) 1709 377147 Email: [email protected] www.prospec.co.uk inclusive fitness recognised product 2010 Prospec Limited Canklow Meadows Estate ...working around your leisure West Bawtry Road, Rotherham S60 2XL, England CHANGING ROOMS FUNDING CHANGING ROOM REFURBISHMENT Jon Pearson looks at the funding options available for facility refurbishment and the issues that need to be taken into account when specifying changing room provision lthough there may be fund- such as through Sport England’s £130m fittings should be paramount. Ideally ing problems currently being Places People Play funding initiatives. the latest materials and designs should faced by local authorities, Then there’s the continued demand for be considered to bring a facility into A trusts and operators of public planning gain from companies, such as the 21st century, while taking account leisure facilities, building development supermarkets, that are prepared to work of the latest regulations regarding safety and refurbishment certainly hasn’t with councils under the new planning and accessibility. ground to a halt. guidelines to free up important central In fact, in some circumstances, the sites – in exchange for funding the devel- DESIGNING FOR FUTURE USE current situation is much better than opment of new and more efficient leisure In my opinion, it’s essential to employ the anticipated a couple of years’ ago. This is facilities on ‘brown field’ sites. Other op- services of an experienced architectural due to the fact that there are a number portunities exist through private sector practice that understands the community of funding options open to facilitate new partnerships with leisure providers that needs – today and into the future – with- and refurbishment schemes – some of have access to matched funding, in return in a multi-leisure centre facility. which are a direct result of legacy prom- for long-term management contracts. Of course, facility design is impor- ises linked to the nation’s successful bid to Self-financed refurbishment schemes tant, but the quality of the fixtures and host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. are also available. For example, a busy fittings, how they operate and the mate- facility with around 220,000 annual rials used need to be proven. FACILITY FUNDING users could generate enough funds Design and build contracts are a Government help is available, either di- via profit shares rental agreements to current trend in leisure facility procure- rectly or via National Lottery funding and pay for £100,000-worth of refurbished ment however, these have drawbacks. there are various ways of obtaining this, changing and washroom facilities. This The initial client’s brief and specification route can also be needs to be sufficiently detailed to used to provide ensure that the client/operator has a equipment, such facility that is fit for purpose. as lockers, in new In this competitive age, there are facility schemes, many examples of original specifications without capital being ignored or downgraded, to the requirement. determent of the final product. To avoid However, the additional cost or inferior finishes, the funds are limited, initial brief must be strong and detailed. so it’s essential This is important for clients using portals, that the new or which are open for tender to any compa- refurbished facil- ny that has ability to pass through to the ity offers value for tender stage. There have been a number money. A good of examples where intended specifica- life expectancy tions have not been met because the Lockers should conform to health, safety and building regulations of all fixtures and tender specification was weak. 66 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Consider cubicle systems that have fewer floor fixing for easy cleaning It’s essential to employ the services of an experienced Suitable mounting systems architectural practice that understands the in on lockers ensure that locks community needs – today and into the future can’t easily be removed High-use public changing and wash- edge of an open door to the pan, The strength relies on the construc- room facilities need an early decision on shower head or bench seat. tion of the cubicle not on bolted fittings the type of changing facility required. UÊ The fronts of cubicles should have a through the panel media. Spring hinges Currently, village/unisex changing ar- 30-point light reflection variance be- will out-perform lower-cost rise and fall eas are preferable for cost and ease of tween the door and frame or side panel types. The type of cubicle latch should supervision, however, there is also the UÊ Division panels in laminate cubicles be designed to cope with heavy use – need to take account the needs of those between cubicles or spine walls should including slamming doors with the latch using the facility – particularly ethnic mi- be in a material that prevents the drill- in the closed position. nority groups, who prefer added privacy ing of spy holes. and may be deterred from using the fa- UÊ The hinge edge of the door needs to LOCKERS cility if this was not available. avoid finger traps and nipping on the There are many types of locks on the It’s easy to calculate the size and inside and outside of the door. market, mechanical and electronic, with provision of both cubicles and lockers. Ex- UÊ Provision to stop people standing on systems that prevent or reduce perienced architects in leisure provision bench seats and looking into cubicles the likelihood of leisure facility users have access to recommendations from UÊ Provision for anti-camera skirts to personalising their lockers. Sport England and can also draw from prevent the use of mobile phone Suitable mounting systems are re- their past experience. cameras underneath the cubicles. quired to ensure locks cannot be easily Once the layout and size of the facility UÊ Cubicle-framing head rails and anti- removed or knocked from the back of has been decided there are important peep rails strong enough to enable the door. A good range of differs and issues to consider regarding conform- users to carry out chin ups. availability of master series are essential. ing with building and health and safety UÊ Consider cubicle systems, which have There are low cost lock and keys, which regulations as well as understanding the fewer floor fixings for ease of clean- have the same master series, so anyone type of customer behaviour expected in ing and supervision or incorporate obtaining a master key from one leisure a busy leisure facility. attachments bonded without screws centre can open lockers in another. penetrating through the floor finishes. The same applies for the choice of CUBICLES: (Reference to Part M, UÊ Provision of showers, pre-cleanse etc. key. It’s easy to find methods of using a Section five of Building Regulations) within changing areas that cater for ‘bump’ key to open locks on the internet. UÊ WC compartment doors and doors to male and female, will now need to However, there are locks with a large wheelchair accessible unisex toilets, UÊ be enclosed and opaque. number of differs and master series, util- changing rooms or shower rooms UÊ Relevant Disability Discrimination Act ising ‘drilled’ keys, which are safe to use should have an emergency release (DDA) provisions to be adhered to. and can’t be bumped. mechanism so they can be opened These are just some of the consid- outwards from the outside in case of LIFE EXPECTANCY erations in preparing changing room an emergency. The materials should be designed for a specifications to ensure best practice and UÊ Turning space should be a minimum minimum of 15 years life expectancy and value – once the funding is in place. L of 450mm in WC cubicles and 550mm remain rigid throughout their working in changing and showers, from the life with normal levels of maintenance. Jon Pearson is director of Prospec Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 67 PLAY Beijing’s Happy Magic Watercube Famous for its bubble-wrap exterior, Beijing’s Water Cube – the swimming and diving venue for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games – has been transformed into a family-friendly, indoor waterpark, complete with slides, a lazy river and a wave pool. We ask Anthony Van Dam, vice president of conceptual designer Forrec how the new design respects and enhances this landmark building. What is the Happy Magic Watercube? and its cultural importance within China, 2010 and media interest in the ‘fantasy It’s the fully-themed indoor waterpark our aim was to create a waterpark that aquarium’ has made the Watercube our contained within Beijing’s existing iconic would be sympathetic to and expand on most publicised project to date. Olympic venue – the National Aquatics the structure’s unique qualities. Centre – also known as the Watercube. What services did Forrec provide? It now offers an ambience that changes When did Forrec embark on Forrec’s scope of work included: master- from bright and tropical during the day the project and when did it planning, concept design, schematic and to moody and mysterious at night. open to the public? interior design, architectural services, To capitalise on the national and interna- theming and limited site direction. Who was the client, what was the tional interest in the structure, the plan design brief and how was this met? was to re-open the venue as the Happy What attractions are on offer Our clients, the Tianyou Tourism Group Magic Watercube two years after the within the waterpark? and its partner, the Beijing National Olympic Games, so the design and build The park includes a wave pool, over- Aquatic Center Company, asked us to cre- schedule was extremely tight. looked by a giant video screen, a ate a themed waterpark experience in Forrec‘s team of creative designers, collection of water cannons and water the uncompleted leisure hall within the architects and interior designers began sprays, a dozen speciality slides and sev- Watercube, which would both respect work on the project in April 2009, and eral spa pools. and enhance the architectural icon. Build- construction began in October of that Proslide has provided a Tornado fun- ing on the venue’s worldwide renown year. The project opened on 8 August nel slide, Bullet Bowl and PIPEline, as well 2010 – exactly two years after the close as the company’s first RideHOUSE family of the 2008 Olympics. waterplay structure. From Whitewater West comes China’s first Aqua Loop and How has the park been received an Aqua Tube body slide. A 450sq m chil- by the Chinese public? dren’s play area has been furnished by People have taken to the waterpark in Empex Watertoys. a big way. It was reported that open- The waterpark equipment is incorpo- ing day tickets were so coveted that rated into the volume and character of they were being sold above their face the entire space. Slide towers, for exam- value. The operator is controlling the at- ple climb high into the floating bubbles, tendance by capping it at around 4,000 aquatic plants and jellyfish – giving guests a day. visitors a new and unexpected view of The clients are so pleased with the re- the underwater environment. The play sult that they are working to extend the structure allows children to explore the brand throughout China. The interna- colourful world of a tropical reef. tional waterpark industry awarded the project its Industry Innovation Award in How did you address the challenges of designing a water feature within Since the waterpark’s opening, interest an existing structure? has been so high that the operator has Forrec has built a reputation for cre- capped daily attendance at 4,000 ating projects that reflect the unique characteristics of each site. The leisure 68 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 hall within the Watercube interior of- design challenge was to confine all of The Watercube’s unusual cellular fered a generous space, which occupied the features within the building en- structure suggested an underwater more than 10,000sq m of floor area, with velope, without making them look environment that allowed colourful, a height of about 30m, and had been cramped or crowded. The solution was to abstract, floating elements designated as a recreational facility post carefully consider all three dimensions of Games. During the Olympic Games, the the space and to combine the attractions space was used for exhibitions and con- and thematic elements into one enor- popular interest in the Watercube (of- ferences, so few permanent elements mous, inter-woven composition. ficially, the National Aquatics Center) did had been installed. However, the Watercube’s vast interior not diminish. Along with the Bird’s Nest Through clever foresight the building’s also offered some huge advantages. The (National Stadium), it immediately be- developers had provided some infrastruc- unusual cellular structure that formed came Beijing’s hottest tourist attraction. ture to support future water attractions. the building’s exterior – and the way that However, in order to maximise the use of daylight filtered through it – strongly Has Forrec worked on other post- the volume, some alterations needed to suggested an underwater environment Olympic sports venue adaptations? be made. Forrec worked closely with sup- in a tropical locale. So Forrec proposed At the close of the 1988 Winter pliers to ensure that the new equipment an ‘underwater’ world, using large, Olympics in Calgary, Canada, Forrec could be woven into the fabric of the colourful, abstracted aquatic elements developed a ‘Big Idea’ for the revitalisa- existing features in a way that satisfied that would float within the space, to cre- tion of the site and the development of both the client’s needs and the high aes- ate a dramatic atmosphere; unusual and new attractions. The goal was to build thetic goals within the project. sophisticated enough to complement the on its Olympic heritage and make it a Traditional indoor waterparks maxi- architecture, but playful enough to offer premier international venue for win- mise space by extending water slides and an entertaining environment. ter sports training and competition. raft rides outside the main hall, however, Forrec’s distinctive ‘boardwalk plan’ the Watercube’s thick and complex struc- How did the general public respond unified the site and now offers interac- tural shell made this impossible as any to the Watercube’s conversion from tive attractions that allow the visitor to alteration of the building structure’s geo- Games-time to legacy mode? experience the Winter Olympic venue as metric simplicity was unthinkable. The When the Olympic Games were over, a competition athlete. L Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 69 4HE LATEST NEWS AND VIEWS FROM 3!0#! 15!,)49 3#(%-% &/2 42!#+3 !.$ 0)4#(%3 In a move to raise the quality of sports facilities in the UK, the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) has launched a scheme that will see all synthetic sports pitches and ath- letics tracks, built by its approved contractors, registered on a quality assurance scheme. All synthetic sports pitches and athletics tracks over 3,000sq m will be registered onto the Pitch and Track Registration Scheme by members of SAPCA’s Pitch and Track Divisions. PIC: © ABACUS LIGHTING On a selection of these projects, SAPCA will undertake random site inspections to en- sure that projects are being constructed to the standards required by the Association’s 3OUTH "RISTOL ,EISURE #ENTRE Codes of Practice. Post-project feedback will also be requested from clients to establish satisfaction levels with contractors’ perfor- The Pitch and Track Registration Scheme SAPCA is the recognised trade association for mance and, in the unlikely event of any issues will help to ensure that any scheme delivered by the sports and play construction industry in the regarding technical quality, SAPCA can act a specialist SAPCA-registered contractor is built UK. Its role is to foster excellence, professional- as a mediator if required. to a high standard. alism and continuous improvement throughout Chris Trickey, chief executive of SAPCA, “The scheme will ensure that standards of the industry, in order to provide high-quality says: “New, refurbished or resurfaced synthet- sports and play facilities continue to be raised and facilities for sport, physical activity, recreation ic turf pitches and athletics tracks represent we would urge any facility designer, buyer or op- and play. a significant investment by facility owners erator to use only SAPCA members for the design, ■ More details about the new scheme are and we want to help to protect that investment. construction or maintenance of their projects.” available at www.sapca.org.uk 3!0#! CONTINUES TO GROW 3!0#! RELEASES With more than 240 organisations now members, SAPCA is continuing to demonstrate FACT SHEET ON ' that fostering excellence, professionalism and continuous improvement reaps SYNTHETIC TURF benefits – not only for sports and play construction companies but, more importantly, for the specifier, buyer and user of sports and play facilities With synthetic turf pitches possibly mak- ing a comeback in the Football League, THE LATEST NEW SAPCA Genan A/S – manufacturers of SAPCA has produced a useful leaflet entitled: MEMBERS ARE: high-quality rubber granulate ‘3G – The Facts’ to offer more information to Gewiss UK – lighting manufacturer interested parties. Horticon – hard and soft landscaping and Global Maintenance – specialists The leaflet explains what 3G synthetic turf is associated works, throughout the North in sports surface maintenance and separates the truth from the myths. West, North Midlands and Yorkshire. R&J Hill Engineering – Details include: Central Flooring Services – provides high- manufacturers of sports equipment s How the playing performance of synthetic performance indoor sports flooring systems. Reflex Sports Ltd – design, turf has changed since the 1980s Cardinal Sports – sports and leisure testing and supplier of timber/ s The relevant pros and cons of synthetic turf equipment and solutions. hardwood and PU sports flooring versus natural grass for sport use ABG – manufactures and supplies s Insight into injuries linked to playing on geosynthetics synthetic grass pitches ACT Global Sports BV – international For details of all s The maintenance requirements for manufacturers of artificial turf SAPCA members, synthetic turf pitches. scan the QR code or – specialists in ■ For a free copy of the 3G – The Facts leaflet Ecosse Sports visit www.sapca.org.uk sports surfacing installation contact SAPCA on: +44 (0)24 7641 6316 or email: [email protected]. 70 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 4HE LATEST NEWS AND VIEWS FROM 3!0#! 3PECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PLAYING PERFORMANCE OF A SPORTS SURFACE MAY NEED TO ADHERE TO GOVERNING BODY STANDARDS PIC: ©SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/TOMASZ BIDERMANN It takes five minutes and 10 steps to find out how to ensure your sports construction project is a success 4!+% &)6% 5SE APPROPRIATE as the performance of the playing surface, 'ET THE PRODUCT RIGHT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE or the precise design and standard of sports Apart from any other aspect of the project, Depending on the scale of the sports facility lighting – are catered for properly. the choice of sports surface itself is compli- project proposed, there are a large number of SAPCA’s Professional Services Group in- cated, with such a wide variety of products specialist advisers who might be involved dur- cludes a variety of independent specialists on offer these days. ing the different stages of development. involved in sports facility projects, details of It’s important to establish which sports are When selecting professional consultants it which can be found at www.sapca.org.uk. to be played and to what level, the likely usage is essential to check that they have relevant pattern and how the facility will be managed experience, and often a team approach is re- )NVESTIGATE THE SITE and maintained. The maintenance and replace- quired to ensure that specific aspects – such A full understanding of the nature of the ment costs should be identified, as well as proposed site is vital as this provides the basis the longevity of a surface, which together on which the facility will be designed. will help to determine the necessary annual It is generally better to employ an inde- sinking fund provision. pendent consultant to undertake the site investigation. In this way the client can better -AKE SURE YOU HAVE A control the quality and consistency of the COMPREHENSIVE SPECIFICATION information and giving the results to the There are two main options – either pro- contractors invited to tender ensures that ducing a full specification against which everyone has the same report. contractors can be invited to tender, or a Funding bodies will usually include the cost ‘design and build’ approach, where contractors of the site investigation within the eligible are required to provide and price their own project costs for financial support. design solutions. The project specification may need to include specific requirements for the play- 'O FOR A TEAM APPROACH IN THE ing performance of a sports surface, such as SELECTION OF PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS compliance with the particular standards of a TO UNDERTAKE THE SITE INVESTIGATION sports governing body. Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 71 4HE LATEST NEWS AND VIEWS FROM 3!0#! )TlS WISE TO INSPECT SIMILAR PROJECTS THAT CONTRACTORS HAVE COMPLETED AND ASK PREVIOUS CLIENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES 5SE AN APPROPRIATE FORM OF CONTRACT The appropriate choice of contract will be )4l3 )-0/24!.4 4/ %34!",)3( 7()#( 30/243 !2% 4/ "% dictated by the scale and complexity of the 0,!9%$ !.$ 4/ 7(!4 ,%6%, 4(% ,)+%,9 53!'% 0!44%2. project, from a simple letter of agreement !.$ (/7 4(% &!#),)49 7),, "% -!.!'%$ !.$ -!).4!).%$ through to the various standard forms of con- tract available, such as are produced by the ICE, the JCT and the RIBA. Specifications included within the contract be updated throughout the project. Stage pay- -AINTAIN THE FACILITY should clearly define the scope of works and ments will typically be linked to the Contract There’s no such thing as a maintenance- also include all drawings. Contract clauses Programme, with payments due when agreed free sports facility. Having invested in a new should be fair to both parties and the tim- project milestones are reached. sports facility it’s also important to invest in escales required should be reasonable. The the appropriate maintenance equipment and pricing summary should be unambiguous. 5SE APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION provide the right training for the grounds staff. Whatever the level of professional supervision Ten Steps to a Successful Project is one of 3ELECT THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR employed, it’s always important for the client the subjects being covered at the Sports It is sensible to use a select list of contrac- to have someone to act as its single point of Facility Shows being held in Cheltenham on tors, such as SAPCA members, who have been contact throughout the management of the 15 May and in Salford on 12 June. Attendance vetted to ensure that they have the necessary project, to ensure a consistency of approach is free. Details regarding these events or how experience, financial status and quality and clear channels of communication. to project manage sports construction proj- of workmanship. Read the CDM Regulations, as they stipu- ects can be found at: www.sapca.org.uk L It’s important to inspect other similar proj- late the requirements for supervising health ects that contractors have completed and to and safety on site. speak to their previous clients about their 35--!29 #(%#+,)34 experiences. Contractors should be inter- #OMPLY WITH THE viewed and questioned to ensure they can #ONDITIONS OF #ONTRACT To ensure sports construction work well as a team. Independent consultants Conditions of Contract are there for the projects run smoothly: will also be able to provide very useful guid- protection of all parties. s Use appropriate professional advice ance from their own experiences. Within the contract the client is committed s Investigate the site to make payments at agreed stages, within s Get the product right !GREE A REALISTIC PROGRAMME a certain time period, and so it’s the responsi- s Have a comprehensive specification A programme should be prepared for the bility of the client to ensure that the necessary s Use an appropriate form of contract overall delivery of the project, not just for funding is in place. s Select the right contractor the construction phase. The initial stages of During the entire length of the contract, s Agree a realistic programme feasibility, funding and planning may mean all instructions to the contractor should be s Use appropriate supervision that there’s a very long lead-in time required, put in writing to avoid potential misunder- s Comply with the Conditions of Contract especially with large projects with indoor standings even if they seem relatively trivial. s Maintain the facility to the required facilities. The Contract Programme is one of Communication is undoubtedly better than standard the essential contract documents and should confrontation. 72 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 4HE LATEST NEWS AND VIEWS FROM 3!0#! Five years ago, new European Standards were introduced that replaced all existing national standards for the performance of sports surfaces. Since then, the work to develop these standards has continued and new versions will soon be published. SAPCA provides an update and examines the implications for the marketplace in the UK %UROPEAN 3TANDARDS FOR 3PORTS 3URFACES 7HAT ARE THE %UROPEAN 3TANDARDS To limit the huge amount of work involved, use and should withstand rough treatment and As part of the EU’s desire to facilitate the if there is already a relevant ISO standard then remain stable for a realistic period of time. free trade of products throughout Europe, CEN will simply adopt it as a European Stan- It was not long after the introduction of the each country’s existing national standards for dard, rather than duplicate it. first synthetic sports surfaces in the late 1960s sports surfaces have been through a process and early 1970s that sports bodies began to of harmonisation, leading to the introduction 7HY DO WE NEED STANDARDS AND recognise the need to be able to measure of new European Standards. In the UK, these TEST METHODS FOR SPORTS SURFACES and specify the playing characteristics they standards replaced the existing British Stan- A sports surface is a complicated piece of required from the new types of surfaces. dard BS 7044 for multi-use sports surfaces. engineering that must have the right playing characteristics for the sport. It must be safe to 7HAT PROPERTIES ARE MEASURED (OW ARE THE STANDARDS DEVELOPED The European Standards set down agreed The Committee European de Normalisation limits for the performance of sports surfac- (CEN) is the European equivalent of the Brit- es – not the method of construction – using ish Standards Institution (BSI). Within CEN agreed test methods. The tests can generally there are numerous technical committees, be split into four groups: each looking after the harmonisation of stan- s Ball/surface interaction: properties such dards for different products: CEN TC/217 is as ball bounce, ball roll and pace. responsible for sports surfaces. s Person/surface interaction: dynamic Under this technical committee there are properties such as shock absorbency, sur- various working groups, each responsible for face deformation, energy restitution and the standards for different types of surface or frictional properties of the surface as expe- looking at different aspects, such as test meth- rienced by the athlete or player. ods and environmental issues. s Constructional aspects: properties Each country has its own shadow techni- influenced by factors during construction, cal committee, which co-ordinates its input such as seam strength, tensile properties into the work. In the UK it is BSI Technical (of in-situ mixed and laid polymeric ma- Committee PRI/57. This committee is made terials), permeability, gradients, regularity, up of experts from various stakeholder or- dimensions and line markings. ganisations from across the UK sports facility s Durability: how resistant a surface is to marketplace; many of the committee mem- ageing through weathering, wear and tear bers are from the industry, but there are also and predictions of how the sport perfor- sports councils, sports governing bodies and mance of the surface may change over its other sports-related bodies represented life, as a result of these influences. 7HAT IS AN )3/ 4HE STANDARD FOR SYNTHETIC TURF IS (OW DO %UROPEAN 3TANDARDS ISO stands for International Standards Organi- SPLIT INTO SEVERAL SECTIONS WITH RELATE TO STANDARDS SET BY .'"S sation; an ISO standard has worldwide status, The European Standards are aimed at recre- DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR HOCKEY whereas CEN just relates to Europe. ational standards of play, for sports facilities Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 73 4HE LATEST NEWS AND VIEWS FROM 3!0#! open to public use, whereas sports governing bodies, such as IAAF (athletics), FIFA (soccer), %ACH OF THE INTERNATIONAL IRB (rugby), ITF (tennis) and FIH (hockey), SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES define the requirements for higher-level par- SPECIFIES ITS OWN SURFACE ticipation in their own sports. In most cases REQUIREMENTS FOR the standards should be complementary. HIGH LEVEL COMPETITIVE PLAY 7HICH STANDARDS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED Three standards were published in 2007 and 2008: indoor surfaces for multi-sports use; synthetic surfaces for outdoor sports areas; and synthetic turf and needle-punch surfaces for outdoor use. The existing British Standard for multi-use sports surfaces (BS 7044) was then withdrawn. The standard for indoor sports surfaces (BS EN 14904) relates to surfaces for multi-sports use and not single-sport facilities such as in- door tennis courts. This covers indoor surface systems, i.e. it includes both the supporting and upper layers whether prefabricated, pro- duced in-situ or a combination of the two. )4l3 6)4!, 4/ 4(% 5+ -!2+%40,!#% 4(!4 #(!.'%3 4/ The standard for synthetic surfaces for out- 4(% %52/0%!. 34!.$!2$3 !.$ !$/04%$ 2%'5,!4)/.3 door sports areas (BS EN 14877) focuses on polymeric (rubberised) surfaces, for three spe- 3(/5,$ ./4 %8#,5$% 4(% 02/$5#43 4(!4 !2% cific uses: athletics, tennis and multi-sports. #522%.4,9 53%$ !.$ !##%04%$ 7)4(). 4(% 5+ The standard for synthetic turf (BS EN 15330) relates just to surfaces for outdoor use, and is split into several sections, with dif- replaced, and are more representative of the 7HAT ARE THE #ONSTRUCTION 0RODUCTS ferent requirements for hockey, football, rugby, types of sports surfaces now commonly used, 2EGULATIONS AND DO THEY APPLY tennis and multi-sports use. The standard is compared to the range of products available The Construction Products Regulations aimed at grassroots sport; each of the inter- when BS 7044 was first introduced. (which replaced the existing Construction national sports governing bodies separately Products Directive in March 2011), aim to specifies its own requirements for high-level 7HAT CHANGES WILL BE MADE “ensure the free movement of all construc- competitive play, as necessary. Work to update the standards for synthetic tion products within the EU by harmonising The European Standards are generally more surfaces and synthetic turf is nearing comple- national laws with respect to the essential comprehensive than the British Standard they tion and the revised standards should be requirements applicable to these products in published later this year or early in 2013. terms of health and safety”. As well as including various corrections The simplest way to comply with the and editorial amendments, the new versions regulations is through CE Marking. This is a will put greater emphasis on the need for declaration by the manufacturer that a prod- site testing, to help ensure the quality of uct meets certain safety requirements, usually installation – not just the quality of the prod- a set of essential characteristics that each ucts themselves. There is also a proposal to product must satisfy and which are identified create a new standard for synthetic turf in the relevant harmonised standard. when used indoors. Outdoor sport surfacing has, until now, Work to update the standard for indoor been excluded from the regulations, but this surfaces will take longer to complete, and is ‘opt out’ is currently being reviewed. The regu- not likely to be published before mid-2013. lations will, however, apply to indoor sport The scope of this standard is being expand- surfaces from July 2013 onwards.These key ed so that it will embrace a wider range of issues will be discussed when the BSI Technical surfaces in the future, and therefore more Committee meets later this month. products will be required to comply. It’s vital to the UK marketplace that the There is also an important discussion taking changes to the European Standards and the place within CEN about which chemicals and regulations that will be adopted should not substances can be used in the manufacture of exclude the products that are currently used indoor flooring; while not and accepted within the UK. To achieve this, specifically aimed at sports surfaces there the input of the UK within the process has /UTDOOR SURFACING HAD BEEN are potentially significant implications for been very important and the sports facility EXCLUDED FROM THE REGULATIONS BUT manufacturers and suppliers of indoor industry continues to be actively represented THIS IS CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED sports floors in the UK. by a number of members of SAPCA. L 74 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 The Sports and Play Construction the industry, in order to provide the from tennis courts and sports pitches Association, SAPCA, is the high quality facilities necessary for to playgrounds and sports halls. recognised trade organisation for the the success of British sport. SAPCA also represents manufacturers sports and play facility construction SAPCA represents a wide range of and suppliers of related products, industry in the UK. SAPCA fosters specialist constructors of natural and and independent consultants that excellence, professionalism and synthetic sports surfaces, including offer professional advice on the continuous improvement throughout both outdoor and indoor facilities, development of projects. PRINCIPAL CONTRACTORS KEY Construction, Design & Charles Lawrence Tennis Courts A Tennis Courts 4 Allen Avenue, Quorn, Loughborough, Surfacing of all Sports Facilities. Leicester LE12 8TR Telephone: 0844 448 4370 B Synthetic Pitches Fax: 0844 448 4371 Tel: 01509 563212 email: [email protected] Fax: 01509 561325 C Athletics Tracks Web: www.ambsports.com email: [email protected] D Multi Sports A D A B C D I J K N O P A D I J K P E Natural Sportsturf F Play Surfaces Honours Yard, Lodge Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks HP84AJ To book your advertisement tel: +44(0)1636 615866 T: 01494 766673 F: 01494 766674 in the SAPCA directory call E: [email protected] David on www.charleslawrencesurfaces.co.uk www.thechilterngroup.co.uk +44 (0)1462 471902 A B C D O Q A D I J K O Q S A D J K P DURA-SPORT LTD Unit C2, Chartwell Point, Chartwell Drive Wigston, Leicestershire LE18 2FT T. 0116 281 3200 F. 0116 281 3202 Design, Build & Maintain the Finest E. [email protected] Tennis Courts & Sports Surfaces Tel: (0116) 246 0500 Fax: (0116) 246 1561 Specialist Installers 01621 85 86 86 Email: [email protected] of Synthetic Surfacing for Sport & Play www.etcsports.co.uk www.fossecontracts.co.uk A B D F A B D A D I J K O P S A B C D To book your advertisement in the SAPCA construction maintenance equipment directory call David on St. Peter’s Works, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham GL51 9AL Tel: 01242 513251 Fax: 01242 226396 +44 (0)1462 471902 www.grimshawgroup.co.uk A D E F I J K O Q B D E Q Hunter Construction (Aberdeen) Ltd, Unit 32, Clwyd Close, Centaur House, Hawarden Industrial Est, Thainstone Manor Lane, Hawarden, CH5 3PZ, Business Park, Inverurie T: 01244 533184 Hanslope, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK19 7BX, AB51 5GT F: 01244 533184 POLYTAN SPORTS SURFACES LIMITED Tel: 01908 510414 / 511155 Fax: 01908 511056 E: [email protected] Phone: 0845 224 1416 Fax: 0845 224 1617 Tel: 01467 627290 Fax: 01467 625791 Email: [email protected], Email: [email protected] E-mail:[email protected] www.landunitconstruction.co.uk www.plattconstruction.co.uk www.polytansports.co.uk B D E A D J K P Q B C D O Newbury Berkshire t: 01635 34521 The Sports and Play Construction Association can www.sandcslatter.com [email protected] be contacted on: 024 7641 6316 SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF SURFACES AND EQUIPMENT FOR: L Multi-Sport Facilities Email: [email protected] www.sapca.org.uk L Cricket Facilities L Play and Educational Facilities D F Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 75 ANCILLARY CONTRACTORS, MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS KEY Abacus Lighting Limited G Adhesives Sutton in Ashfield ARTIFICIAL GRASS B&L Fencing Services Ltd Nottinghamshire, NG17 5FT MAINTENANCE Phone: 01527 882101 H Aggregate Producers www.abacuslighting.com www.artificialgrassmaintenance.co.uk Fax: 01527 882123 Tel: 01623 511111 I Equipment Suppliers Fax: 01623 552133 Tel: 01354 65 44 22 www.blfencing.co.uk Email: [email protected] specialist sports surface maintenance Fencing Specialists to the Sports Industry J Fencing Systems K S S J K Floodlighting L Indoor Structures M Paint Manufacturers Bridome Ltd, The Courtyard, Wisley, Surrey GU23 6QL N Screening/Windbreaks Tel +44 (0)1932 350365 Fax +44 (0)1932 350375 !"# ! $%&'(')* www bonaryarns.com e. [email protected] www.bridome.co.uk '%&'(')* O Sports Surface Suppliers O L M P P Surface painting/Line Marking Q Civil Engineers & Sports flooring · Sports surfaces Sports Lighting Specialists Groundworks www.cuphosco.com Tracks for champions R Irrigation & Pumping www.berleburger.com Design . Manufacture . Install . Maintain Tel: 01920 860600 S Maintenance Tel: 01422 200 143 Fax: 01920 485915 Email: [email protected] Tel: 0800 9886370 www.collinson.co.uk Email: [email protected] O L K Fabrieksstraat 13, 8281 BW Genemuiden, To book your advertisement The Netherlands. in the SAPCA directory call Unit 2, Swanston Steadings, 109 Swanston Road, Edinburgh, EH10 7DS T: +31 (0)38 425 00 50 F: +31 (0)38 425 00 51 SUPPLIERS OF ADHESIVES FOR ALL APPLICATIONS Tel: 0131 629 0437 E: [email protected] IN THE SPORTS SURFACE INDUSTRY David on Email: [email protected] Tel: 01889 271751 Fax: 01889 271161 www.edelgrass.com www.envirostik.com Email: [email protected] +44 (0)1462 471902 www.fieldturf.com O G O . $$ GEZOLAN AG T: +41 748 3040 % "$ '&*( *+# ! (-'( '% Switzerland email: ")"* ,,,! (-'( '+# www.gezolan.ch [email protected] O O I O P I " !#$ High quality sports posts, ! $ nets and tennis court equipment $ T: 0121 783 0312 "$"$ www.markharrod.comwww.maww maarkharrod.com F: 0121 786 2472 E: [email protected] Products for Sport www.hexasports.co.uk $$$$$ $ " I I J K Sports Facility Construction: Exhibitions & Seminars SAPCA regional exhibitions featuring the leading constructors of sports facilities and suppliers of related products and services, together with seminars on key aspects of sports facility design and construction. FOR FUTURE EXHIBITIONS AND SEMINARS Tel: 024 7641 6316 or Email: [email protected] www.sapca.org.uk 76 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 ANCILLARY CONTRACTORS, MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS Murfitts Industries Limited Station Road, Lakenheath, Suffolk IP27 9AD Temporary Tel: 01842 860220 Fax: 01842 863300 buildings Email: [email protected] www.mri-polytech.com www.neptunus.co.uk O O L O SPORTS PITCH REPLAY Maintenance Ltd www.playrite.co.uk Wesley House, Whittle Close, CONCEPT TO Newark, NG24 2DY CONSTRUCTION 01636 640506 [email protected] www.nottssport.com Tel: 01926 423918 T: +44 [0] 1455 883 730 Taking Care of Britain’s www.obriencontractors.co.uk Sports Surfaces. O Q O I P S 280 Watford Road, St Albans, Herts, Support in Sport (UK) Ltd AL2 3DN Market leaders in the manufacture, design and construction Specialists in Tennis Courts and GG of sports fields and training complexes Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA’s) Tel: 01900 817837 Fax: 01900 817605 Tel: 01727 730707 :CV %]]Q` 1J ]Q` 8HQI email: sales@supportin sport.com [email protected] www.supportinsport.com www.sportscourts.co.uk L O B D E J K O P Q R S A J N P S Surfaces and equipment for sport, To book your advertisement play and leisure. in the SAPCA directory call Wood, PVC and Linoleum Flooring Solutions for Multiuse, Multisport or Specialist Sports Applications Tel: 01858 545789 0800 3891490 David on For more information call 01892 752306 Fax: 01858 545890 www.norsemanstructures.com email [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] +44 (0)1462 471902 www.tarkett-sports.com/english I O L O Thorn Lighting Limited Get it right the first time, use British Sugar TOPSOIL Durhamgate Spennymoor Co. Durham DL16 6HL Sports Synthetics sports pitch mainenance experts Buildings tel:// 08702 400 700 fax:// 08702 400 701 Tel: 01388 420042 Fax: 01388 420156 +44 1724 710 681 | [email protected] email:// [email protected] Email: [email protected] web:// www.technicalsurfaces.co.uk www.thornlighting.co.uk Tel: 0870 2402314 www.bstopsoil.co.uk www.veldemangroup.com S K O L Wright & Maclennan Ltd Camps Industrial Estate PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Kirknewton, Midlothian, EH27 8DF T: 01506 881486 F: 01506 883669 Cleaning, marking and lining of sports surfaces E: [email protected] Tel: 01342 311155 Fax: 01342 311156 www.white-line-services.com www.wrightandmaclennan.co.uk t: 01403 259400 I P S J e: [email protected] www.sportsconsultancy.net To book your advertisement in the To book your advertisement in the SAPCA directory call SAPCA directory call David on David on Tel: 01536 400012 Fax: 01536 401953 Email: [email protected] +44 (0)1462 471902 +44 (0)1462 471902 www.surfacingstandards.co.uk To subscribe to Sports Management, log on to www.leisuresubs.com email [email protected] tel +44 1462 471913 fax +441462 433909. Annual subscription rates are UK £27, Europe £37 rest of world £58, students UK £13 Sports Management is published each quarter by The Leisure Media Company Limited, Portmill House, Portmill Lane, ,OOKING FOR A SUPPLIER Hitchin, Herts SG5 1DJ, UK and is distributed in the USA by SPP, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid @ Manchester, PA. POSTMASTER. Send US address changes to Sports Management, c/o PO )NTERESTED IN BECOMING Box 437, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. The views expressed in print are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher The Leisure A 3!0#! MEMBER Media Company Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recorded or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright holder. Printed by Manson Group Printers. © Cybertrek Ltd 2012 ISSN 1479/9146 4EL o WWWSAPCAORGUK Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 77 Product round-up sport-kit.net the search engine for leisure buyers Wherever you are in the world, fi nd the right products and services 24 / 7 Edel Grass joins rugby by logging on to Sport preferred producers Management’s free search The International Rugby Board’s (IRB) engine www.sport-kit.net ‘One Turf’ programme has seen the ap- pointment of Edel Grass as one of the Preferred Turf Producers. The Nether- Rubb takes centre lands-based company, with more than court at Budehaven 30 years experience in the artificial turf industry, joins the IRB Preferred Turf Rubb Buildings was the main sub- Producer Programme, having met the contractor responsible for the design, governing body’s player welfare, techni- manufacture and installation of a new cal and performance criteria. sports hub at Budehaven Community School in Cornwall, a specialist sports sport-kit.net KEYWORDS college. The project – Rubb’s third in edel grass the area – began as a one court ten- nis hall, grew into a two court hall and was then changed a second time to accommodate two netball courts as well. Rubb provided the steel framed superstructure for the 39.5m x 35m building, which is clad with a PVDF- sport-kit.net KEYWORDS coated polyester fabric membrane. rubb buildings Buoyant future for Anti Wave’s new lane C&H Products, Europe- Replay in contract with an manufacturer and Edinburgh Leisure distributor of the Anti Wave brand of leisure Edinburgh Leisure – which manages all and professional swim- Edinburgh City Council’s leisure facili- ming products, has ties – has signed a five-year agreement unveiled its new modi- with Replay Maintenance to undertake fied Maxi Racing Lane. surface maintenance of its synthetic Working in conjunction sports pitches, spread across six sites. with swimmers and Replay’s Revive process uses a special- coaches to develop ly developed, single-operator machine the product, the com- to remove contaminants from in-filled pany has improved the Maxi Racing To create the new lane, tooling was and water-based synthetic turf carpet Lane by increasing its buoyancy in modified and floats added at every as well as polymeric surfaces. the water. As a result it offers a more Maxi Disc along the lane’s length. effective racing lane by providing a sport-kit.net KEYWORDS much greater barrier against waves sport-kit.net KEYWORDS replay maintenancecreated by swimmers. anti wave 78 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 log on to www.sport-kit.net and type the company name under ‘keyword search’ Olympic team kit revealed by adidas Adidas, the official sportswear provider of Team GB and ParalympicsGB, has unveiled the team kit that will be worn by the British athletes at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The clothing was created by British designer Stella McCartney, who was appointed by adidas as creative direc- Thornton onside Oldham tor for the project. The design is said to focus on the British flag. It breaks Supported by OnSide North West, a down its iconic design and recon- charity that’s currently developing sport-kit.net KEYWORD structs it – creating a modern and 21st century youth facilities, Thornton adidas contemporary twist. Sports has constructed a five-a-side football pitch for Oldham Youth Zone. The company built the pitch and Nike and Tact Enviro are making sport count worked with main contractors, Eric Wright Construction. Thornton also As part of Nike’s ‘Make It Count’ installed a 4m-high fence including campaign ahead of the Olympic 1.2m rebound panel and roofnet to Games this year, Tact Enviro built a fully enclose the area of play. temporary basketball court on the roof of the London Aquarium adjacent sport-kit.net KEYWORDS to the London Eye. Fitted above the thornton sports aquarium’s shark tank, the Premium TactTiles MUGA court measured 17m x 15m, half the size of a standard court. Its installation took approxi- mately an hour and the court will continue to be used and expanded for various ‘Make It Count’ events across sport-kit.net KEYWORDS the UK throughout the coming year. tact enviro Dorset Woolliscroft’s range for all reasons Technical revitalisation The comprehensive range of Dorset Woolliscroft slip resistant Artificial pitch maintenance specialists, flooring products provides fully Technical Surfaces, has recently carried vitrified tiles – designed for a out its specialist deep-cleaning Revite® variety of sporting applications. on the 3G sports pitch in Stoke City These range from solutions needed FC’s Academy Dome. Alongside for the most hazardous of settings everyday tasks – such as drag brushing, – including wet areas such as light decompaction and grooming – swimming pool surrounds, showers the Revite® process is designed to and changing rooms – through to penetrate deeper into the carpet pile everyday use in areas with high and rubber infill, providing a more footfall, including reception areas intensive clean than can be achieved and cafeterias. Independently through regular sweeping. tested by CERAM, all of the tiles sport-kit.net KEYWORD offer slip resistance ratings from sport-kit.net KEYWORDS dorset woolliscroft R10 up to R12C. technical surfaces Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 79 SPORTS MANAGEMENT Be seen by over 5,500 active buyers in the most exciting full colour buyer’s guide in the sports industry. Call the Sports Management DIRECTORY team now on +44 (0)1462 431385 Email: [email protected] construction & surfacing fencing manufacturers indoor/outdoor surface line Indoor sports halls/temporary of sports facilities and supplier marking & maintenance or non - traditional structures Cleaning, lining and resurfacing of sports surfaces The best in sports Tel: 0845 058 0644 facilities & surfaces Fax: 0845 862 2640 Email: [email protected] Call 0844 448 4370 www.white-line-services.com 01608 678238 www.ambsports.com [email protected] www.duralock.com to book your advert in the consultants SPORTS MANAGEMENT DIRECTORY Practice Made Perfect Interior " " " " " Call David now on Solutions Tel: 0800 3891490 +44 (0)1462 471902 INTERIOR DESIGN & PROJECT MANAGEMENT lockers/changing rooms RECEPTIONS LOUNGES CAFES BARS " " " "" !" "!" www.norsemanstructures.com CAINE GROVE FIVE OAK LANE STAPLEHURST KENT TN12 0HT Tel: 01730 237100 TEL; 01580 890123 FAX: 01580 893626 www.interior-solutions.co.uk [email protected] CONTACT: ROY ROBERTS Temporary buildings FITLOCKERS Quality Affordable Timber Lockers T: 01923 770435 sales@fi tlockers.co.uk www.fi tlockers.co.uk www.neptunus.co.uk Contact us for a FREE technical design and specification lockers/changing rooms service or a FREE brochure. Tel: 01902 796699 [email protected] G>9<:L6N;JGC>IJG: exercise equipment www.zaun.co.uk 8=6C<>C<HDAJI>DCHIDHJ>I:K:GN7J9<:I indoor flooring UÊÃÌ>>ÌÊEÊ,ivÕÀLà iÌ UÊ->`}ÊEÊ-i>}Ê UÊ,i«>ÀÊÊUÊ i>}Ê UÊ >Ìi>ViÊ*À}À>ÃÊ UÊ iÊ >À} UÊiiÀ>Ê i>}ÊEÊÊ ÊÊ >Ìi>ViÊ*À`ÕVÌà Tel: 01477 544 149 IZa/%-,%)'%,-&- Email: [email protected] :bV^a/hVaZh5g^Y\ZlVn[b#Xdb lll#g^Y\ZlVn[b#Xdb www.franciscoatings.co.uk 80 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 sales & marketing sports equipment suppliers sports surface maintenance & manufacturers The leading manufacturer of netting, posts & sports ground equipment Tel 01502 583515 www.harrod.uk.com Taking Care of Britain’s Sports Surfaces. [email protected] www.glyfco.com Products for Sport REPLAY Maintenance Ltd www.markharrod.com Wesley House, Whittle Close, 01636 640506 Newark, NG24 2DY [email protected] 01502 710039 www.replaymaintenance.co.uk sports buildings surface coatings sports ground construction tennis court construction & maintenance SPORTS HALLS ! " # $ $ $$ %$# Specialists in Tennis Court Construction & Maintenance for the brighter choice! !"# Local authorities, Councils, Schools, ! Tennis Clubs & the Private Sector Tel 01995 606451 $%&'(')* 01727 730707 www.collinson.co.uk www.sportscourts.co.uk www.whitehorsecontractors.co.uk sports flooring sports lighting Book your advert on our website and be seen by wet leisure play products over 33,000 buyers every month. Tel: 01623 511111 Fax: 01623 552133 Email: [email protected] 0 Picture courtesy of Cheshire County Sports Club %% & #% ('+) +,$ "!)/() (& #*#+ ---"!)/() (,$ www.abacuslighting.com , %#+. %,! Interactive Play Sports Lighting Specialists Flume Slides www.cuphosco.com Safety Solutions Plant Equipment and Maintenance Specialist Services to book your advert in the Seamless Coatings Call the Sales Team Today SPORTS MANAGEMENT Design . Manufacture . Install . Maintain to Discuss Your Booking DIRECTORY Hippo Leisure Products Ltd, Unit 18, Estover Contact us now for your Road, Estover, Plymouth PL6 7PY Free Lighting Design 01462 431385 Call David now on Tel: + 44 (0) 1752 771740 Tel: 01920 860600 E: [email protected] +44 (0)1462 471902 Fax: 01920 485915 W: www.hippoleisure.com Email: [email protected] www.sportsmanagement.co.uk Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 81 powered by aZ^hjgZY^Vgn#Xdb DIARY DATES Worldwide events listings for leisure professionals 15 MAY 2012 13-15 JUNE 2012 SAPCA’s Sport Facility Show Stadia & Arena Cheltenham Racecourse, UK Bordeaux Congress Centre, France This free event replaces the Sport and This top European venue management Play Construction Association’s (SAPCA) event, now in its 14th year, enjoys the long-running Sports Facility Construction support of IAVM Europe (International ADVERTISERS INDEX events. It comprises a series of informa- Association of Venue Managers) and ESS- Arena Group 55 tive and educational seminars regarding MA (The European Safety and Stadium the design and funding of sports facilities Management Association, incorporating atg UV 61 www.sapca.org.uk head groundsmen). www.sam.uk.com Charles Lawrence Surfaces 39 15-17 MAY 2012 Stadium Business Summit 15 JUNE 2012 Forum Events 59 Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy CLOA Members Meeting Gerfl or 27 Stadia owners, operators, designers and Bisham Abbey, Marlow, UK suppliers will congregate for debate, This meeting will focus on harnessing Harrod UK 31 knowledge-sharing and networking in a the benefi ts of the Olympic/Paralympic venue that heralds a new breed of stadia legacy, maintaining the momentum of Hippo Leisure 61 design. The theme for this year’s event the broader cultural olympiad and capi- will celebrate the fact that stadia are at talising on the economic impact IOG Saltex 55 the point of convergence between the for tourism. JAK Water 61 broadcast event and the live experience. www.cloa.org.uk www.stadiumbusinesssummit.com Jordan 47 19-20 JUNE 2012 20-25 MAY 2012 Play Fair LIW 43 SportAccord Convention Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, UK Quebec, Canada This is the UK’s trade event for those Mark Harrod 13 This six-day gathering of more than 1,500 involved in the selection, purchase, up- Neptunus Structures OBC leading representatives from internation- keep and replacement of children’s play al sport offers the sports family a power- equipment. It’s is free to visit, with free Norseman Structures 57 ful opportunity to come together in an parking and a series of free seminars – exclusive and authoritative networking designed to keep visitors updated on the O’Brien Contractors 39 environment, to build relationships, share latest thinking and demands affecting Original Style 63 knowledge and develop ideas that will our play spaces today. benefi t the community. www.playfairuk.com Polytan 7 www.sportaccord.com 4-6 SEPTEMBER 2012 Prospec 65 25-27 MAY 2012 IOG SALTEX 2012 Grassroots Football Show Windsor Racecourse, Berkshire, UK Recticel 31 NEC, Birmingham, UK This annual, outdoor event embraces turf Replay Maintenance 50 The 20,000sq ft event include 3 vs 3 and sports surfaces, turf maintenance playing areas and cross bar challenges, equipment, children’s outdoor play and Rubb Buildings IFC workshops and best practice in coaching safety surfacing, landscaping, outdoor techniques, a football products exhibi- leisure and facilities management. S&P Architects 21 tion and a kids zone. Guest appearances www.iogsaltex.co.uk include Newcastle’s Chris Hughton and SAPCA 47 ex-England manager Graham Taylor. 5 SEPTEMBER 2012 Stadia & Arena IBC www.grassrootsfootball.co.uk European Sports Development Network Symposium 2012 The Grass Group 15 12 JUNE 2012 Sheffi eld Hallum University, UK SAPCA’s Sport Facility Show Held in collaboration with the Chartered Thornton Sports 39 Salford City Stadium, Manchester, UK Institute for the Management of Sport This free event replaces SAPCA’s long-run- and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and the Veldeman Structure Solutions 57 ning Sports Facility Construction events. County Sports Partnership Network White Line Services 47 It comprises a series of informative and (CSPN), the theme for this event is educational seminars together with an ‘Beyond 2012 – what’s next for sport exhibition featuring specialist in the and physical activity? It builds partner- sport-kit.net design, construction and maintenance of ships between universities and industry sports facilities. professionals. For more information on our advertisers’ www.sapca.org.uk www.cimspa.co.uk products log on to www.sport-kit.net 82 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 BORDEAUX 13-15 JUNE 2012 BORDEAUX 13-15 JUNE 2012 , &.*&."+. %&'.' . % #. ) #'.* . . $(#. '$. ."$&'.(& (!.#. .* !! %' #!+. . $ # .'$. ('(% ) #'&- . . . . . . www.sam.uk.com . . NEPTUNUS RELOCATABLE BUILDINGS Neptunus is an international specialist in relocatable and temporary buildings HIRE PURCHASE LEASE Do you need temporary space? Neptunus is a leading supplier of high quality temporary structures and semi-permanent buildings for hire or purchase. Particularly suitable for sports and leisure applications, the Neptunus semi-permanent product range is the most technologically advanced and versatile choice in today’s market. Based on high-tech and innovative designs with durable components, these structures have similar characteristics to a permanent building. Flexible Sustainable • Readily available and quick to install • Fully insulated • Comprehensive choice of sizes • Superior energy performance • Suitable for use from several months to 20 years • Relocatable • Hire, lease or purchase • Recyclable NEPTUNUS Ltd The Old Rectory | Main Street | Glenfi eld Leicestershire LE3 8DG | United Kingdom T (+44) 0845 180 40 01 | F (+44) 0116 232 01 50 [email protected] | www.neptunus.co.uk