UK Sport's ICES webinar 10: New sports codes drive global participation

In the quarterly webinar, organised under UK Sport’s International community Coaching Education System (ICES), practitioners based in Africa shared with online participants how the promotion of new sports codes through community coaches has led to a significant rise in grassroots participation.

The African continent is famed for high levels of interest and involvement in football, but international organisations such as UK Sport, the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Rwanda, the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) and the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) are working to support the development of less traditional codes.

Sitting volleyball in Rwanda
In Rwanda, the introduction and popularity of sitting volleyball has made a significant contribution to the participation rates across the country. This adds to the success of Rwanda’s national team, which became the first to represent Sub-Saharan Africa, during the London 2012 Games this summer. With support from UK Sport through the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the team has their sights set on the Rio 2016 Games.

Dominique Bizimana, national team member and president of NPC Rwanda, presented the acceleration of participation and interest in sitting volleyball as well as future plans to involve groups such as war-combatants in the sport.

The East African Cup Community Education System (EACCES)
Community coaches are also the focus for the East African Cup Community Education System (EACCES). Working group member, Paul Otieno, shared how the initiative will work alongside grassroots organisations to ensure there is a standardised level of sport coaching in over 10 countries.

Speaking on the success of the initiative that is supported by UK Sport and launched last year, Otieno said:

“The number of community coaches has grown under East Africa Cup… Community coaches are vital implementers, as they are trained not just to coach but also organise and implement activities. They hold the key towards our success stories and learning for future planning."

Rugby League in Ghana
Meanwhile in Ghana, development manager of Ghana Rugby League, Sylvester Wellington, who is supported by UK Sport and RLEF, says community coaches and media have helped the sport to succeed.

Speaking on how a relatively unknown sport has reached hundreds of children across the capital, he said:

“We have to start from schools, which is why we have been able to move ahead and are incorporated in the International Schools Sports Association of Ghana.  

“Through community work, we have been able to develop eight community teams… and now security divisions such as the army and navy have bought into the project.”

Netball in Zambia
IFNA is concentrating on key countries in Africa to develop the game of netball, including in Zambia, in partnership with UK Sport through the IDEALS Netball programme. Africa currently hosts some of the world’s best teams, including South Africa, Malawi and Botswana and their programmes extend to countries like Burundi, where sport participation is led by boys and men.

ICES webinars take place every quarter and is an opportunity to learn about international practices of sport and development organisations, supported by UK Sport

[This article has been edited by the Operating Team.]

Visit the UK sport website to view the original article.