|
Introduction
Golf Xtreme is the golf game and programme for secondary schools
that is related to the golf you see Tiger Woods play but is actually
a completely new game for young teenagers.
Golf Xtreme combines some of the best parts of the traditional sport
- hitting balls a long way at interesting targets - with scoring
systems you can create yourself, team games which include everyone
and keep you fit, and, important safety considerations for both
teachers and pupils. It's all designed with the 11 to 15 year old
in mind - the boy and girl who's outgrown Tri-Golf.
The vital requirement for the Golf Foundation in developing Golf
Xtreme was to listen to and act on advice from teachers and Partnership
Development Managers during the design, manufacture and testing
of this innovative equipment, and to set this work beside an intelligent
set of resources to help teachers deliver an innovative programme.
The result is one of the most exciting additions to the school sports
scene for a long time.
Recognising that the young teenager can be difficult to please,
Golf Xtreme will excite this pupil, lay the foundations of a good
golf game, and keep him/her active and enthused. In turn, the Golf
Foundation can train the teacher on every aspect needed to get the
most out of this new idea in school sport.
Responding to the growing demand
Following the proven success of Tri-Golf in the primary sector and
its role in strengthening links between schools and golf clubs,
many teachers, head teachers and Partnership Development Managers
had asked the Golf Foundation's Regional Development Team what golfing
initiatives might be available in the secondary school sector. Many
young people were being introduced to golf in primary schools through
Tri-Golf but as soon as they moved to the secondary school little
was available to them. In order to avoid some good foundations going
to waste a number of secondary schools had designed and started
to implement their own golf projects but struggled to find appropriate
equipment and resources to deliver the sport successfully. Something
new was needed, fresh enough to appeal to the young golfer but backed
up by established school sports principles. The Golf Foundation
worked with educational experts from schools and colleges and with
its manufacturing partners Davies Sports and the result is Golf
Xtreme - ready for action and on general release to schools in Spring
2006.
Equipment
Just as with Tri-Golf, equipment will again be distributed by Davies
Sports, making it easy for schools to access all Golf Xtreme product.
Bags are delivered with all the equipment you need such as lighter,
child-friendly clubs and reduced flight balls to ensure maximum
safety on school sites with surrounding property/limited space.
The delivery of the programme to children will be through games
and activities that help develop the skills of young people in a
fun structure.
A Golf Xtreme bag will include:
" A wheeled kit bag
" 20 Golf Xtreme clubs - one size to fit 11 to 15 year olds.
The clubs are able to hit both short flight and real golf balls
" (10 right-handed irons, two left-handed irons and 8 dual
use putters)
" 100 'Almost' short flight golf balls
" 36 GFX Multi Coloured balls for playing games
" 50 marker cones - for setting up GFX courses/games
" 20 putting cups
" 40 hitting tees
" 10 pairs of 'Foot Tees'
" 9 Velcro disc targets and flags for setting up courses/playing
games
" A Golf Xtreme activity manual including games and ideas for
delivery
Why Golf in Secondary Schools?
" Golf Xtreme is a new activity that is fun, inclusive and
can engage pupils previously disengaged from traditional team sports
delivered in schools.
" Golf Xtreme can be a high-energy game that helps with PE
and fitness.
" Closed skills that are easy to monitor and deliver.
" There is a wide network of established golf clubs all over
the UK to feed interested children into, with qualified PGA coaches
to help children progress further in the sport outside school.
" Golf actively promotes honesty and integrity among its players,
and sportsmanship and good behaviour follows.
" Both Golf Xtreme and general golf practice can be played
in a variety of places at school, offering flexibility for the games
lesson.
" Golf Xtreme has an informal 'street' feel which puts less
pressure on individual players who are less competitive by nature.
" Golf is a fast-changing sport. Thanks to Tiger Woods, Michelle
Wie and others, it has more credibility with young people and they
want to try it for themselves.
FAQs on Golf Xtreme
How can Golf Xtreme be safe for secondary pupils with metal
clubs?
Safety is dealt with as a vital part of the Golf Xtreme Activator
Workshop and the introduction of the short flight ball ensures the
safest delivery possible in all venues. The programme offers a variety
of playing formats such as 'Practise Round', structured similar
to a javelin lesson, and 'Around the World' with a central safety
zone and pupils playing out to targets. These make the delivery
of golf in a secondary school both safe and fun.
I don't know much about golf, how can I deliver this?
The Golf XTreme Activator Workshop enables teachers to use their
skills alongside quality resources described by a number of teachers
involved in early pilots as "the best resources of any sport
I have seen". With the ball being still, monitoring performance
is easier than many other sports.
I think golf is slow and boring. How does this fit into PE
in schools?
Many pupils need different activities to those traditionally offered.
Golf can be fun and Tri-Golf has proved this. As part of the Golf
Xtreme programme the Golf Foundation has included plenty of fun
games to play and a number of exciting playing formats such as 'GFX-Speed',
where pupils complete a course as quickly as possible.
|
|
