Get inspired by a summer of sports
Ways you and your girls can get active
Get inspired by a summer of sports
Ways you and your girls can get active
Illustrations by Sally Waite/agencyrush.com
With the Olympics around the corner in July, and the Paralympics following in August, there’s no better time to lace up your trainers and get moving with your girls. We caught up with a volunteer who scored big on fun and took her unit to play a parasport. Plus, we’ve made 4 sporty challenges to get energised and keep the passion for sport going throughout the year.
Sport is for everyone
Bryony, inclusion adviser and leader, took her Brownies and Guides to a local sports hall for a taster session of wheelchair basketball.
How did you organise the wheelchair basketball activity?
'I used to play for a wheelchair basketball club, so I spoke to my coach. I said, ‘do you fancy doing a session for Brownies and Guides?' and the answer was yes!
We hired a local sports hall, got in about 20 wheelchairs from our wheelchair club – all different sizes and adjustable.
We ran the session for an hour and a half, teaching the girls basic wheelchair skills and also giving them a taste of wheelchair basketball – throwing, catching, passing to each other and finishing with a mini game where they got to put all their new skills to the test.
A lot of people don’t realise that the height of the hoop for wheelchair basketball is the same as running basketball, but it takes a while to learn how to throw the ball up that high. So, we brought in a lower net for junior wheelchair basketball, which felt more achievable!
We also brought in a low to the floor hoop that we mainly use for practice shots, but this way, every girl managed to score and get a ball in a basket at least once.’
What are parasports?
Parasports, also known as adaptive sports, are competitive or recreational sports made for people with disabilities. Did you know parasports have been around for over 100 years?
What are parasports?
Parasports, also known as adaptive sports, are competitive or recreational sports made for people with disabilities. Did you know parasports have been around for over 100 years?
What were the girls like during the session?
'A few of the girls were a bit nervous at the beginning, having never sat in a wheelchair. But the coaches and I reassured them throughout.
'Also, prior to the session, we spent a bit of time with my wheelchair, taking it apart and putting it back together, so they did get a little familiar with all the mechanisms.
At the end of the session, all the girls joined in really well, working together and having lots of fun. They had a really good time, absolutely loved it, with lots wanting to do it again.'
Do you have any suggestions for volunteers who’d like to arrange their own parasport unit activities?
‘Disability sport is a small world. It’s much like guiding - it’s very friendly and so I think leaders should feel free to approach these places and see if they would be able to run a session.
I recommend researching local clubs and reaching out to them. Some places run parasport days, which aren’t specific to one sport like basketball or rugby, but they do all kinds of things. So, see what’s in your locality, and just reach out. If you need a place to start, I recommend:
And of course, just watching and supporting parasports is a great way to get involved – you could always check out what matches are on with local clubs in your area, and make a unit outing of it.’
Do you have any advice for volunteers who’d like to make sport activities more inclusive?
‘I would just say leaders should consider the needs of the young members in their units, consider how everyone can be involved in the activity, and what changes might be required.
I think our guidance on adjustments for disabled members is a good resource to look at.’
Want some more sporty ideas to do with your unit?
We’ve got a line-up of sports activities to help you bring the excitement of the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics to your unit. These are not part of the programme, but they might make a fun addition to your next term plan! And you can find lots of physical activities in the programme too - check out our activity finder.
We recommend the ‘Have adventures’ theme in particular.
Rainbows - mini Olympics
This activity is also suitable for Brownies, Guides and Rangers.
The Olympics and Paralympics are sometimes called ‘the Games’, so time to play some games of your own!
Split into groups and think of a country name. Can you make up a cheer for your country to use when playing?
The Games have lots of kinds of sports in them - some where you’re competing by yourself, like athletics, and some where you’re competing in a team, like football. In your groups, think of some single player games so you can shine and some games to show your teamwork skills.
Here’s some single player game ideas to get you started:
- Bean bag toss
- Welly throw
- Kicking a ball at a target
- Jumping high and far
And some ideas for team games too:
- Ball on spoon race
- Sack race
- Skipping race
- Relay race
When you’re finished, it’s time to try out one of your ideas. Give your teammates a cheer for being awesome mini-Olympians!
Brownies - rowing
This activity is also suitable for Guides and Rangers.
Note to leader: for this activity you’ll need a large, clear space. During the activity, stop any Brownies that get too close to walls, objects, or other people.
Rowing is a great sport that can be done alone or in teams. The first boat to cross the finish line is the winner. Let's try an indoor version!
Get into teams and sit in a line on the floor. Now practice your rowing action by bending forward and moving your arms forward and back in a rhythm. Can you row in time with your team? Think of ways you can keep in time. Does it help to look at the person in front of you?
Some Paralympians wear blackout goggles to make sure athletes with sight conditions are able to participate equally, as some people can see more than others. What are some ways these Paralympian teams might keep in time rowing when they can't see each other?
Often there is a teammate called a Cox whose job it is to tell everyone when to row. Can you think of anything else that might be challenging if you were wearing blackout goggles?
Now try out your teamwork skills! Using the rowing motion together, can your group keep rowing in time?
Some parasport athletes are born with medical conditions or disabilities, and some develop them later in life. That can initially feel like a big change, but it doesn't stop someone from achieving their dreams or even winning a gold medal!
What parasports interest you, and is there an athlete you can learn more about? If you don’t know any parasports, think about your favourite Olympic sport. Does it also appear at the Paralympics? Do they use any adaptations or specialist equipment to participate? If you were designing a game or sport, what are some ways to make sure everyone could join in?
Guides - breaking
This activity is also suitable for Rainbows, Brownies and Rangers.
Note to leader: for this activity you’ll need a large, clear space. Make sure girls warm up before starting this activity. You’ll need some music - make sure any music used is suitable and appropriate for your unit.
Breaking is the Olympics’ newest sport! Athletes use a combination of dance moves and change up their steps to improvise to the beat of the DJ’s tunes. Ready to pop, lock and roll?
Split into teams and come up with a fun team name. Can you do a chant or action to go along with it?
Before you start, in your teams do some stretches to warm up. Now, come up with a 1 minute dance routine, making it as creative and fun as possible.
It’s time for a dance off! Perform your sequence one team at a time and the team with the loudest cheer are the winners!
Rangers - attend a sports event or viewing party
This activity is also suitable for Rainbows, Brownies and Guides.
Part of what makes the Olympics and Paralympics so exciting is the live crowds watching the competition, supporting their teams from within the arenas, or cheering along from home.
Are you ready to become the ultimate fan or Olympic cheer leader? With your unit, research some sport events you could attend or watch together. Pick an event and organise a viewing party or sports event! This could be at your unit meeting place, local venue or an organised event. Why not include other units in your area? You could link up with a Rainbow unit holding a mini Olympics.
As you watch the athletes compete, decide what event you would want to try out – is there a sport you love that isn’t included? New sports are added to the Games every 4 years so give one a try and think about what it would be like to be on the first Olympic team for your sport. Give it a go and dream big!
A note from Girlguiding Ambassador, Ellen Buttrick
‘As a Paralympian I have witnessed first-hand the unique power of sport. It levels the playing field and can act as a catalyst for inclusion bringing together people to participate, support and volunteer from all walks of life, united by a common purpose. ’Rowing has been an important and grounding part of my life over the last 12 years. It introduced me to a community and has helped me to navigate difficult times. When you participate in sport, it reminds you of your strength and it connects you to one another. At the Tokyo Paralympics I was in awe of my fellow Paralympians and so proud to represent both Great Britain and the Paralympic movement which I am privileged to now be a lifetime member of. ‘Participating in sport improves our health and wellbeing, building our confidence and self-esteem. It also introduces us to positive role models and is a safe environment where we are able to make and learn from our mistakes, and overcome challenges as a team.’
- Ellen Buttrick, MBE
Did your unit enjoy these activities? We’d love to know how your unit tackled them, and any other sporty activities you get up to – share your photos with us @Girlguiding on social media.
Spread the word! Use the social media buttons below to share this article with your guiding friends