Project sparks swimming boom in Thames Valley District - Concluding comments
Concluding comments
Matthew Cooper, Sport Waikato Chief Executive
Sport Waikato Chief Executive Matthew Cooper said the successful development of Thames Valley swimming was an excellent example of how the SportsForce programme, which includes elements of CoachForce, was a viable model to ensure the needs of grass-roots sport were met.
“SportsForce has been going for almost 10 years, and we are fortunate that we have passionate and committed individuals like Christine Jolly on board to listen and respond to the unique needs of each community,” he said.
“Christine’s ability to liaise at levels from volunteer to strategic at a regional sport level was key to ensuring the success of this initiative, along with her ability to really listen to people.
“The involvement and encouragement of volunteers are also pivotal to ensuring sport happens, and is successful in every aspect. What Christine has done is irreversibly increased the skill, capacity, and enthusiasm of volunteers in swimming in the Thames Valley area,” Matthew said.
“These swimming volunteers give up their time, day-in, day-out, but over the past year they have had very positive experiences. They are a huge part of the success that SportsForce has experienced with this growth in swimming numbers.”
SportsForce is funded by SPARC (CoachForce) and Trust Waikato.
David Knowles, Relationship Manager, SPARC
“This kind of success story proves that sports clubs can recover from hard times. It is an amazing transformation – and it challenges the shallow thinking that says organised sport isn’t popular any more. The people in the Thames Valley clubs themselves deserve a big pat on the back, as do Swim Waikato and Sport Waikato who helped them make the changes. The rise in the number of swimmers says it all.”
For further information about this project contact Sport Waikato SportsForce Swimming Officer Christine Jolly, ph 07 858 5388 or mobile 027 2236 149.
Updated | 10 Dec 2008.
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