At home fitness challenge for Burnley primary school children

A-Level sport and physical activity students have developed a 30-day fitness challenge for Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils – and their families – to complete at home.

The Sock Challenge is part of FUNdamentals – a month-long initiative to keep youngsters fit and active at home in the absence of regular PE lessons. The challenge focuses on three key area of exercise – object control, body control and locomotor – with fun activities involving the innovative use of socks as a safe way to encourage movement and skills.

Sports tutor Bradley Pates said: “In previous years, as part of their end-of-year assessments, students have run a tournament for local primary schools. We regularly see up to 12 schools get involved and it’s a real highlight for the pupils who come to college and take part in a well-organised, fun event.

“Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we had to rethink our 2020 plans. Not wanting to cancel, and with primary schools still keen to participate, our amazing students pulled out all the stops to create and develop a fun and engaging online schedule which promotes fitness and activity.

“Working with the primary school pupils is the ideal way for our students to put the skills and knowledge they have learned in the classroom into real-life.”

Interaction with FUNdamentals and the Sock Challenge is via a private Facebook page explained Brad, who added: “We believe this online FUNdamentals activity is the start of something amazing. Going forward, we hope to continue running frequent challenges and engage even further with our primary school coaches and pupils online.

“Our students have a real passion for sports coaching – many of them are planning professional careers in this sector – and have had to show their ability to adapt and innovate to transfer their work online. The videos they’ve created – in close consultation with tutors – have been outstanding and have added a further valuable dimension to their learning."

The FUNdamentals activity is being rolled out to primary schools across Burnley and Pendle via the Schools Sports Partnership. Any families wishing to get involved should contact their children’s primary school sports teachers for further details.

In addition, Burnley College Sixth Form Centre is now an accredited FA Wildcat Football Centre, with staff trained to encourage and run football-based activities and matches for girls aged five to 11. Following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions by the Government, the college plans to launch its Wildcats activity within the community and inspire the female football stars of tomorrow.