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Case Studies:
[Boccia Young Officials Superstar
referees at National Championships]
[From Small
Beginnings...]
[Young Officials at the CP Sport Midlands
Regional]
Boccia Young Officials Superstar referees at National
Championships
In April 2008 Mansfield School Sport Partnership hosted a Boccia Young Officials award, in just
under a year since the course one of the participants has refereed at the Boccia National Championships.
Sian was selected as a Boccia Young Officials Superstar in 2008 having shown great enthusiasm,
eagerness to learn and passion towards the role. Through the Superstars programme she was invited to attend the
Midlands regional competition where she soon impressed and was later asked to attend the Boccia National
Championships in an officiating capacity.
The Boccia National Championships were held in Sheffield on the 28th and
29th of March, Sian was a valued member of the officiating team that supported the event.
CP Sport:
'Sian was yet again a 'Superstar' this weekend. She stayed for both days and did tremendously well. She started
off doing some timekeeping then was let loose refereeing and she did not disappoint. Everyone was very impressed,
and we've already asked her along to some future events. We're really keen to keep Sian involved and hope she is as
keen to stay involved!'
Following the National Championships we caught up with Sian to see what she has made of her
journey so far;
What inspired you to be involved with the Boccia Young Officials project?
With two students at my school having Cerebral Palsy I have always had a curiosity about the
game. When the course was offered I jumped at the chance to be involved. I felt there was a need for young people
to help out as there is a lack of that in Boccia at the moment, and taking this course could be the first step to
helping.
What's the best experience you have had so far through your involvement with the
project?
Definitely the Nationals, everything is so exciting. You can feel the atmosphere and to be a
part of it was great. Also I refereed my first BC4 match which was an amazing experience and I met some of the most
wonderful people including silver medallist Nigel Murray, I couldn't have asked for a better weekend.
How does being an official at regional and national events make you feel?
It feels great, with all the bad press that teenagers get at the moment to stand up and show
everyone that a teenager, that only a year ago hardly knew a thing about Boccia, is refereeing at Regional and
National level, it's immense.
In 5 years time do you think you will still be officiating at Boccia events?
I've got my sights set high; I hope to keep getting involved with larger events. I would
definitely say an ambition of mine is to be part of the 2012 Paralympics, which would be amazing.
What would you say to other young people thinking about becoming an official?
I would say just get involved, not only is it a qualification it's an excellent opportunity to
meet new and amazing people with different opinions and backgrounds, learn a lot about yourself and others, it's
just great. If you get the opportunity, take it, it'll be the best thing you do.
Sian's journey began with her attendance at the Boccia Young Officials award at Mansfield and
will no doubt continue for many years to come.
More information about the
Boccia Young Officials Award
and how to get involved.
FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS...
Raheem, Jason and Edward attended the Boccia Young Officials award organised by Active Surrey
Sports Partnership back in March 2008, the boys had been selected as 'Superstars' having shown great enthusiasm and
eagerness to develop and learn new skills. As 'Superstars' the boys were invited to attend the CP Sport South East
Regional as Young Officials. Raheem, Jason and Edward were an excellent addition to the officiating team at the
competition and left with a great sense of pride in what they had achieved.
John Woodroffe, Sports Leadership and Volunteering Development Officer for the Active
Surrey Sports Partnership:
"We at the Active Surrey Sports Partnership are passionate about removing barriers to sport -
whether people choose to be involved as a participant or as a volunteer. We were therefore delighted to play our
part in giving special school students the opportunity to attend a Boccia Young Officials award last year."
"The attendees clearly enjoyed learning the rules of Boccia and how to officiate, and we hope
they are now not only keen Boccia players but also role models in volunteering and leadership to other special
school students."
Liz Morley (Jason and Raheems' teacher):
"Boccia is an important part of the PE curriculum at The Park School so with this award, the
boys were confident and competent to practise their skills and support younger KS3 pupils in lesson time and in
inter-house competitions."
"A few months after the course, I received an invitation for the boys to become Boccia Young
Official Superstars by helping officiate at the CP Sport South East regional."
"This experience was all new to Jason and Raheem but they were made very welcome by the
experienced officials and quickly progressed from time keeping to assisting as match referees. They were totally
involved throughout the day and gained invaluable experience and self confidence as Boccia officials, a great deal
of respect for the skill and determination of the competitors and an insight into the considerable effort and
expertise that goes into organizing a major sports event."
"As a direct result of their involvement as Boccia Young Official Superstars, Jason and Raheem
were invited to take part in the North West Surrey School Sport Partnership leadership day at PGL, sampling
exciting outdoor adventurous activities and team building exercises. They have also been offered the opportunity
to take part as officials in the Surrey Youth Games Boccia tournament in June."
"Our thanks go to all those who made this succession of opportunities happen and to those who
have supported and encouraged along the way."
Diane Calder (Edward's teacher):
"The Boccia training for Edward was an invaluable and rewarding experience. It gave his self
esteem and confidence a boost and an opportunity to show some independence and responsibility when overseeing
others. He has supported younger pupils in the main school in a tournament following his training and attended the
South East regional competition as an official. Any such experience can only be advantageous, particularly for
students with a learning difficulty as the opportunities are not so readily available."
The Young Officials project is designed to provide new ways for young people in England to
engage as volunteers and leaders in sport. 16-19 year olds undertake the Awards (in this case Raheem, Jason and
Edward did the Boccia Young Officials award) and then are deployed as qualified Young Officials at schools or NGB
competitions locally, regionally and nationally.
Young Officials at the CP Sport Midlands Regional
Two young people since completing the Boccia Young Officials award attended the CP Sport
Midlands Regional as Officials. Sian from Mansfield and Philip from Birmingham were invited to attend the
Boccia regionals held at Nottingham on the 8th of November. Both had been selected as 'Superstars' from the
Boccia Young Officials course they attended earlier in the year, having shown great enthusiasm, eagerness to
learn and passion. Sian and Philip were an excellent addition to the officiating team at the competition and
from their feedback in return had a fantastic day.
From an International Referee's perspective:
It was great to see some of the young officials at the Midlands Regionals. The regionals
are important events for competitors as they form the gateway to National (and potentially International)
Boccia, therefore the refereeing has to be of a high standard. Sian and Philip did very well, putting into
practice all they had learned from the course. I look forward to seeing other young officials at future
regionals. They are very important to the future of Boccia refereeing.
Pam Johnston, International Referee
From a Partnership Development Managers perspective:
I was asked to pilot a Boccia Young Officials course through my partnership and thought
it would be a fantastic way of engaging young leaders to support school based lunchtime Boccia clubs and
festivals, I wasn't quite expecting the enthusiasm and overwhelming dedication from the group that attended
the course. Feedback from the young people that attended was positive and they were excited to start using
the new skills they had learnt.
A core group from All Saints School, Mansfield have been particularly proactive, they
now run a lunchtime Boccia club, help run my Boccia festivals and have just started volunteering at a newly
established junior Boccia club, how great is that!
Since attending the course Sian has done really well. She was selected to attend the
Midlands Regional event as a Young Official, following this experience she said; "The Boccia Young Officials
award has opened up a world of opportunity for me and I love it!"
Mandy Wright, Partnership Development Manager (Mansfield School Sport Partnership)
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