Sport's National Governing Bodies get the lowdown on myplace

The new Wembley Stadium was the venue for a seminar on sporting opportunities in myplace held on 18^th August 2009.

National Governing Bodies (NGB's) of sport were invited to hear more about the myplace programme and how they might get involved during a special event organised by the myplace support team.

Already we have set up a twinning arrangement between myplace centres and The Football Association aimed at improving the football offer at centres and improving sustainability.

This seminar began to explore what other opportunities there may be within other sports.

Under a new strategy introduce by Sport England at the start of 2009 money has been devolved directly to NGB's to decide how best to develop their sports in order to meet three sets of targets:

1. Grow: Increase the number of people participating in sport once a week

2. Sustain: increase satisfaction with the quality of the sporting experience

3. Excel: Increase the size and quality of the talent pool

Some £480 million has been made available to help NGB's to achieve their targets up to 2013. They have received £400 million directly; £60 million has gone to The Football Foundation; and £20 million is being spent on coaching and better governance.

Clearly, if a small investment in facilities in myplace centres can produce a significant impact on NGB targets then there is the potential for a win-win.

Five of the 46 NGB's attended the event, though others have expressed their interest in meeting. Based on the positive comments we received during the seminar we are planning to hold further events to ensure that all NGB's are aware of the potential for linking with the myplace programme.

Specific opportunities highlighted included:

• British Cycling: There is a need for more cycling circuits and they are keen to help to fund them, in particular all along the eastern side of England. BMX racing circuits are needed (though in due course they may be able to fund freestyle circuits). Also anyone having a more substantial tract of land could think about a road bike track. A new innovation ‘What-Bikes' uses computer gaming technology and a new generation of static bikes to allow virtual racing and they are currently piloting these.
• Golf: Keen to promote golf and want to point out that they are trying all kinds of innovations to get people engaged including indoor golf; driving ranges; and three par ‘golf in an hour'.
• Gymnastics: Although much of the funding goes towards gymnastics centres there is a lot of scope for centres offering limited gymnastics activities to get funding towards equipment.
• Netball: Could make contributions towards netball courts and are keen to see more activity in local settings. The NGB is experimenting with new innovations around the game including mixed netball and special wall rebound surfaces.
• Judo: Has the most ambitious target of any NGB and is aiming to double the number of people in the sport. Its advantage is that it needs only a small space. The NGB can help in terms of providing mats and is expanding its coaching network.

Myplace centres can find out more about NGB's, their targets and funding at www.sportengland.org/funding/ngb_investment.aspx.

In terms of the next steps the myplace support team will:

1. Provide NGB's with a facilities matrix so that they can see the full range of possible activities planned in every myplace centre.

2. Meet with other NGB's and hold a further seminar.

3. Match myplace centres with NGB's where there appears to be scope for collaboration.

Any myplace centre wishing to look further at the opportunities so far presented or which has ideas for working alongside another NGB should contact Malcolm McClean (m.mcclean@bearhunt.org.uk).