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Creating 'unlimited' sporting opportunities
Young people are taking part in a city-wide initiative to encourage greater participation in sport
Whether it's badminton, boxing, cricket, dance, football, ice skating, girls' rugby or netball, the sport unlimited programme offers activities to suit young people of all ages and interests.
Launched last month, the initiative will run until the end of March to give as many local young people as possible, aged from 10 to 19, the chance to get involved in sport and improve their health and fitness.
Venues include Woodford Leisure Centre, Costello Stadium, Ennerdale Leisure Centre, Gemtec Arena, Flinton Fields, Hull Arena, and other sports fields and schools, with sessions held on weekdays after school and on Saturdays.
The activities are provided at low cost and some are free.
The free activities include ice skating, girls' rugby, and use of the Shokk interactive fitness suite at Woodford Leisure Centre.
It's hoped the initiative, now in its second year, will encourage more young people to make sport an important part of their routine and increase their activity levels from the two hours of physical education they receive at school to at least five hours a week by taking up sport in their free time.
Hull City Council's sports development team has organised sport unlimited in partnership with Humber Sports Partnership and local sports clubs and groups, including Hull City's Football in the Community Team and Hull Kingston Rovers Education and Sport Trust.
The programme of activities is jointly funded by the council and Sport England.
"Sport is a great way of meeting up with friends, trying something new and keeping fit and healthy," says Cllr Christine Randall, who has responsibility for education and children's services.
"I hope all young people will be able to get involved in some of these fantastic activities on offer." Booklets detailing the full programme of activities, times, and venues have been sent out to young people at all Hull schools.
They are also available from libraries, customer service centres and community centres around the city.
So if you want to improve your football skills to become the next Nick Barmby, or learn how to box and become Hull's answer to Ricky Hatton, now is your opportunity.
"The sport unlimited programme is just one of the many varied sporting opportunities on offer for young people in Hull," says Rachel Roberts, assistant head of service for sports development at the council.
"We want more young people playing sport in their local community and using the great facilities we have in the city – above all, it's great fun!"
Hull High Fliers
Meanwhile, one of the largest competitive trampoline clubs in the Yorkshire region has benefited from the initiative.
Hull High Fliers gained new members last year as young people tried out the sport for the first time – and became instantly hooked.
"We have young people in our club who may never have got involved in trampolining had it not been for the free sessions we laid on for sport unlimited," says high performance trampolining coach Julie Williams.
"Since then they've been bitten by the bug of trampolining, they've committed themselves to training and are progressing exceptionally well.
"We had young people from Hull competing in 16 events at the National Trampoline Championships in Birmingham and they are proving to be great prospects for the future.
"Trampolining is suitable for any age and fitness level.
It's ideal for young people who want an individual sport where they can be coached to progress at their own pace but still enjoy a club atmosphere and train amongst friends.
"The young people trampoline for two minutes, and then rest as other members take a turn, and then they go again so it really builds up their aerobic fitness while being a very low impact sport."
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