Herts Coach Education Week

Herts Coach Education Week 2012 takes place in February half term (11-19 February) at venues around the county. There is a full programme of courses, workshops, seminars, lectures and other events: to download the full programme click here.
 

This year WHSPAA is offering clubs the opportunity to get £100 worth of funding to help get coaches on courses....apply now through the Special Club Development Fund launched 23 January!!!!!

Welwyn Garden Swimming Club Win £100 - and Help Shape Sports Future

Welwyn Garden Swimming Club chairman Derek Milton received the £100 cheque for the November draw from among the 24 clubs that completed the questionnaire on how WHSPAA sport strategy should shape for the next couple of years.  The cheque was presented by WHSPAA chairman, Dave Bartlett, at Hatfield Swim Centre and with Derek are Tom Brennan, Head Teacher (in yellow T shirt) and Treasurer, Sandra Yearsley.

Matt Rayner, Welwyn Hatfield Youth and Sport Partnerships Manager, said "It's really important that we understand what we can do to help clubs and to progress sport in the Borough over the next couple of years - and the questionnaire will allow us to do just that.  So I would encourage all clubs to participate - and £75 draw deadline to enter is 31^st December!'

The winning draw was made by John O'Callaghan, Herts Sports Partnerships, Club, Coach & Sports Development Manager.  John said 'This is a great opportunity to help shape local sports strategy that will impact young and old - particularly in the Olympic/Paralympic year and for the Legacy.'

Click here to go to the questionnaire on SurveyMonkey and automatically enter the draw..

The Olympic Torch will come to Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield!

Fantastic news!  Matt Rayner, Jodie Williams and the Mayor officially announced today Monday 7th November that the Olympic Torch will definitely come to our Borough on 8th July 2012. The Torch will pass through both Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield.

Celebratory events that every one can be involved in are already planned by the Council under Matt Rayner's co-ordination, for 2012 and particularly around this date and the Torch will be the absolute icing on the cake!

See the BBC website on the announcement  and this link on the route.

More local information will unfold in due course!

Update 6Dec11: Local Government Minister Grant Shapps has urged communities to host sporting events in their own neighbourhoods - before, during and after the London 2012 Games.  Click here for more information on the Government's CLG website.

Latest Welwyn Hatfield Schools Newsletter

Lots of news from our schools in their latest newlsetter!

See PE and Schools Sports. 

Clubs at Forum, 2nd November, heard about the New Sports Scene and New Opportunities

Welwyn Hatfield clubs met at HSV to hear an update on the local sports scene including:

-  Our new School Games partnership, how it operates and the opportunities for clubs, from Michelle Bavington, WH School Games Organiser

-  Funding for Clubs in the Current Environment from John O'Callaghan, HSP

-  Opportunities for clubs from Active Universities 3-year Programme and Sportivate, from John O'Callaghan, HSP

-  WH Olympic/Paralympic Events in 2012, from Matt Rayner

Documents from the meeting will appear in the 'About us/WHSPAA Date and Documents' section.

Welwyn Hatfield Sports People Honoured at Prestigious Herts' Service to Sport Awards Ceremony!

Welwyn Hatfield clubs, coaches and sports people were honoured at the county's prestigious annual sports awards ceremony held at the University of Hertfordshire on Monday 12th September.

Examples include, see photo, right, Coach of the Year, Female, 1st - Catherine Walker, Herts Phoenix Athletics Club (3rd from L), and 3rd - Joy Porter, Hatfield Netball Club (2nd from L), receiving award from Welwyn Hatfield Councillor, Helen Bromley (2nd from R) with compere BBC commentator David Croft (1st on L).

For the complete details see the organisers' Herts Sports Partnerships webpage on the ceremony and awards.

Hertfordshire School Games Pilot at Herts Sports Village

Jeremy Hunt (Culture Secretary) and Sue Campbell (CEO Youth Sports Trust) visited the University of Hertfordshire for the pilot of Herts School Games (10 sports) on Friday 17th June.  At the festival, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt set out plans to drive a step change in school sport for disabled children, - see articles on websites: Wuzzup , Youth Sports Trust and DCMS website. 

The Badminton Pilot for the School Games had been held 28th March at Cavendish School, Hemel Hempstead - see article on News section Herts Badminton website.

Ofsted Report on School Sports Partnerships released

Ofsted released their report on lessons learned from School Sports Partnerships from a study of 12 SSPs and 'identifies key characteristics of good practice'.  See more and links to a summary and the full report on our 'About Us',  'County and National Announcements and Documents' section, click here.