SPORTS LEADERSHIP AT BENFIELD

Due to Benfield’s recently formed partnership with Newcastle United’s Foundation our Sports Leaders were called in to action to act as officials for boys and girls Regional Football League Tournaments. As officiating is a learning outcome that the students need to pass to complete the Level Two Sports Leadership Course, this was a brilliant experience for the Year 12 students for whom refereeing a competitive tournament tested their attitudes, behaviour and their ability to deal with various situations quickly and competently. The students were given very positive feedback and praised by the Newcastle United staff, teachers, parents, and even the players themselves.

This is not the only leadership volunteering that has been going on recently, sixth form students have also been out into the community, working with The School Sports Partnership’s Competitions Manager Steve Beharall, who has given students ample opportunities to volunteer their time to work with disabled participants in many of the competitions that have been running in our region. Again to complete their course working with either disabled performers or older people is part of the assessment process that needs to be met by the students. However working in this environment in a tough test of not only the leaders own skills and knowledge from a sporting perspective, it is also a test of their character and personality. Steve Beharall commented after the event to say that all of the Leaders who helped out on the day conducted themselves in an excellent manor and were a fantastic help with the participants.

Level Three Students have also been volunteering with the next generation of leaders. The students have been going into local primary schools to help deliver the Young Leaders Award to years 4 and 5. The primary school students learn the basic principles of leadership and progress on to lead their own sports activities. Benfield’s volunteers have been brilliant role models for the primary school children as their experience and leadership know-how is proving to be invaluable to the Young Leaders of the future.

Whilst on the subject of leaders of the future, two of Benfield’s up and coming young leaders have been handed a fantastic opportunity. They have been chosen to represent Benfield School as Silver Ambassadors as part of the School Sports Partnership Ambassador’s Programme. The pair who are in Year 10 and are currently enrolled in the Level One Sports Leaders Course were chosen as a result of their hard work and because they displayed huge potential in Sports Leadership lessons.