Uncategorized
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”
When former President Nelson Mandela said these words at the Laureus Awards in Monaco in 2000, they inspired Benoni resident Greg Smith to use sport to make a change in his community.
“Listening to that speech inspired me to use sport to bring out the best in youngsters, especially in a way where they can experience something new and grow from that experience,” he said. team, training on Friday afternoons.
The objective was to not only have them play soccer but to come together and learn life skills, such as commitment, confidence, desire to improve and just experience in the enjoyment in what was being achieved.”
After establishing this team, Smith said they made history when they held CBC Parklands to a draw. The winner at the end of the match, he added, was the achievements of what they had set out to do.
Smith has won four u-9 soccer trophies on two continents. He said the achievements were meaningful but the goal was to nurture the youngsters to grow into respectful adults.
Smith has admitted that their goal as educators is to bring the best out of their students. But he wonders what sport defines the community of Benoni.
“What is our preferred sport? Communities in South Africa are defined by a sporting code, what are we? Hockey, soccer, rugby, tennis, chess, etc.?and a stamp in their ity.”
Smith has outlined six outcomes he believes could assist in high-quality school sport:
• Commitment: ensure all learners attend practices on time and are ready. To make sure they commit themselves to the team and understand their responsibility and assist in encouraging fellow learners to join in the sports programme. And making sure they are wearing the correct practice and playing gear.
• Understanding: strive to make sure learners have an understanding of the different styles of thinking needed for the particular sport they are playing, as each sport requires the use of principles, composition and game strategy.
• Confidence: build our learners’ confidence for them to demonstrate what they can do as well as create an environment where they will have the confidence to try a new sport without feeling insecure about their abilities. Teach them that it is ok to ask for help when developing their new skills and being able to talk about what they have just learnt.
• Thinking and decision making: create an environment where learners can work and train without constant coaching and start thinking for themselves. Allow them to ask questions so they can make progress, come up with a range of ideas and strategies to help them improve. Teach them to vary and adapt to what they do, taking into account others’ strengths and weaknesses, and reacting to situations intelligently when performing.
• Desire to improve: ensure learners show determination to achieve the best possible results, get them to compare and evaluate their performance to stimulate the improvement.
• Enjoyment: ensure learners stay keen to take part in what is going on, get learners to talk about what they are doing with enthusiasm, make time to take part in sport and maintain a positive attitude when taking part in school sport.
–Benoni Times