Goalball Update Blind and Low Vision Tennis
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
T H E S E P T E M B E R E D I T I O N V O L . 0 9 THE VISION BULLETIN Produced by Blind Sports NSW I N T H I S I S S U E A MONTH IN REVIEW Blind Sports NSW have had a very exciting month of COVID-19 UPDATE September with the release of over 1000 showbags that HEALTHY INITIATIVE were sent out to primary schools all over the state, the first SCHOOL DAY IN Blind Low Vision Tennis Camp that was hosted at Tennis CANBERRRA NSW and a very successful Healthy Initiative program run by Gold Creek School in Canberra. BLIND SPORTS NSW SHOWBAGS! In this September Edition, Blind Sports NSW will provide a SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE: COVID-19 update, a month in review of all the amazing work that has been happening as well as all the new and SHAUN FITZPATRICK fun events happening next month in October. The team at TAMWORTH Blind Sports NSW are always there to provide support and MULTISPORT DAY opportunities for their members and community, so do not hesitate to contact Sonja on 1ST TENNIS CAMP AT [email protected] or jump on our website TENNIS NSW to find out more on our events and programs! 8TH OCT - WORLD SIGHT DAY 15 OCT - WHITE CANE DAY S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 V O L . 0 9 COVID-19 UPDATE The NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, has today announced the release of updated advice for the sector relating to spectator attendance at community sport, as well as school sport and outdoor education activities. From Saturday 26 September, interregional community sporting competitions can recommence without restricting these activities to regions or zones, where there is a COVID- 19 Safety Plan for the community sporting activity in place. The advice provided in August regarding limiting spectators to one parent per child, and inter-region sport and recreation activities has been removed, however organisations must still ensure their activity is delivered in compliance with the Public Health Order and the P HCOVID-19O T O B Y M A RSafetyT I N R . PlanS M I T requirements.H This includes the requirement to adhere to the 500- person limit for community sport activities (including participants, officials and spectators) and adhering to the one person per four square metre rule. Community sports organisations and participants should continue to avoid shared travel arrangements such as car-pooling, along with minimising social gatherings before and after the event. For any further clarifications, please read the NSW Public Health Order (link below). MORE INFORMATION To download the full BSNSW Return to Sport Policy, please visit: LATEST COVID-19 ADVICE FROM NSW www.blindsportsnsw.com.au/news/blind- GOVERNMENT > sports-nsw-releases-return -to-sport-policy/ S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 V O L . 0 9 HEALTHY INITIATIVE AT GOLD CREEK SCHOOL, ACT Blind Sports NSW were privileged to be part of the Healthy Initiative program hosted by the Gold Creek School in the ACT where students with blindness or low vision ranging from years 4 – 8, came from various schools across the state to participate. The students enjoyed many activities throughout the day including Goal Ball, Blind Cricket, Blind Tennis, Rock Climbing, Cycling, Cooking, Drumming and many more! Giving the opportunity to students to step out of their comfort zone allowed them to explore the numerous sports and activities that they initially never thought they could do. Friendships were made, comfort zones were pushed and fun memories were made. Thanks for having us Gold Creek School! Email Sonja at [email protected] to find out more on how to bring adaptive sports and active recreation to your school! S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 V O L . 0 9 Blind and Low Vision Tennis Blind and Low Vision tennis is growing every week with more players joining our training hubs. There are three weekly sessions occurring across tennis centres in Sydney including: - ACPE, Sydney Olympic Park Tuesday 5:30pm - 7pm. - City Community Tennis, Surry Hills Goalball Update Thursday 6pm - 7pm. NSW Goalball have been getting creative with keeping their -Blacktown Tennis Centre, Stanhope Gardens members engaged during their season with weekly virtual catch Saturday 10:15am - 11am ups involving Trivia nights, discussions with Goalball Australia and National Championships are looking to be held in the pathways for our athletes to advance with their sporting career. South Australia later in October, depending on The virtual catch ups went international as well, with Team NSW restrictions between States. Our NSW players are zooming with the Great Britain Goalball team and sharing their training hard and looking forward to the event. training ideas and memories of past tournaments. NSW Goalball also partnered up with Victoria Goalball in a first ever COVID Cup where members accumulate points based on their physical activity completed throughout the month of September. The state with the most points by October 1st takes the title. We will keep everyone updated with the result! Let’s Go NSW!!! NSW Goalball training is back on Wednesday 6:30pm-8pm at ACPE, Sydney Olympic Park. Dates: 30th Sep, 7th October & 14th of October NSW Goalball final Competition for 2020 will take place on Saturday 17th October at ACPE, Sydney Olympic Park. Register you participation at www.goalball.com.au MORE INFORMATION Tennis Registrations: Goalball Information https://www.blindsportsnsw.com.au/events/70 For more information, please 002/ visit www.goalball.com.au or Email: [email protected] email: [email protected] for further training and program details. S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 V O L . 0 9 NSW Blind and Low Vision Tennis Development Camp Tennis Australia with the support of Blind Sports NSW, hosted the first Tennis Camp for people with blindness and low vision in NSW! The Camp was held at Tennis NSW in the indoors courts at Sydney Olympic Park, Sunday the 20th of September. We had 12 NSW players join the camp and experience a range of tennis drills followed by match play games. The session was led by Tennis Australia's National Inclusion Manager, Steve Manley and assisted by coaches Sonja and Sean who both coach Blind and Low Vision Tennis at Blind Sports NSW, ACPE Building and City Community Tennis, Surry Hills respectively. Tennis NSW will be hosting another camp due to the growing interest in the sport. The details are as follows: WHEN: Sunday, November 22nd: 12pm - 4pm WHERE: City Community Tennis, Prince Alfred Park Tennis Courts (outdoors) COST: FREE! Organised by Tennis Australia We encourage all people within the blind and low vision community to come and try out. The camp is open to all playing abilities and is a fantastic way to make long lasting friendships in sport! Registration link is at the bottom of the page MORE INFORMATION For further information or to register, please visit: https://bit.ly/3kez2lU If you have any questions regarding the camp, please email Blind Sports NSW Program Manager, Sonja Balic at [email protected] S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 V O L . 0 9 Athlete Spotlight: Shaun Fitzpatrick Shaun began his journey at Blind Sports NSW at the age of 13 where he initially played Goalball and later moved onto other adaptive sports, finding interests in Cricket, Touch Football, Soccer and Tennis. Shaun, now 23 years of age has conquered the national stage for Goalball, Cricket and Soccer including 3 National Championship Titles in Cricket.... in a row! One his most memorable sporting moments came from competing at the Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Shaun remembers the training session he had before his first debut at the World Cup, standing at the foot of a large mountain and thinking to himself "WOW! I'm actually here" Shaun's future aspirations don't see him slowing down anytime soon in the sporting world. His goal in sport is to represent Australia in as many Blind sports as possible, and hopefully setting the record in doing so. Understanding the importance on giving back, Shaun has been passionate on mentoring and supporting young kids coming up the sporting pathways. Outside of the sporting world Shaun is studying to be a veterinarian, as his biggest passion other than sport is helping animals! Blind Sports NSW wishes Shaun the very best of luck in both his sporting and academic career. We are proud to have him as a member and look forward to sharing his story again in the future! FUN FACT! " When playing sport I like to imagine there's always crowd and cameras around me. It makes me think I'm one of the pros " Giving back to community " I want to help the kids coming through in sport know what amazing things sport can do for them and how fun they can be! " MORE INFORMATION If you are a blind or low vision sport participant or know someone who is, Blind Sports NSW would absolutely love to hear your story and share it with our community! Please feel free to email Blind Sports NSW Program Manager, Sonja Balic at [email protected] to have your story featured in our newsletter. S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 V O L . 0 9 2021 Visionary Athlete Scholarship Blind Sports NSW is pleased to announce the Young Athlete 'VISIONARY' Program which supports outstanding athlete achievement for Blind Sports NSW member athletes aged 25 years and younger.