Rounders: passing 1st post at last!

After years of under funding the National Rounders Association, the governing body for Rounders, received a 100% increase in its exchequer grant from Sport England in 2001. This reflects the fact that Rounders is regaining its popularity in schools at all Key Stages - the Young People and Sport Survey 1999 showed that Rounders is the most popular sport for secondary school girls, and the third most popular primary school sport. Rounders can be played by girls and boys, as a single sex or mixed sport, and is proving to be a popular striking and fielding choice for GCSE PE.

More resources have enabled the NRA to employ staff to deal with development and office and administration work - for the first time there is a National Office which is open during office hours: every day except Friday, as the funding does not run to full time employees. No longer will teachers have to leave a message on an answering machine, and then wait until a volunteer has the time to ring them back.

Rounders courses for teachers as part of the Coaching for Teachers SportscoachUK initiative have proved to be very popular, with over 100 courses arranged over the past 2 years. Teachers can choose from coaching courses at KS1/2 or KS3/4, or umpiring courses at preliminary or intermediate level, which can lead to the governing body award.

Rounders courses for pupils are also on the increase, with many pupils taking the Preliminary Level 1 Umpiring and Coaching courses as part of the curriculum. More and more schools are using new sources of funding to provide after school Rounders clubs and coaching centres, and the newly appointed school sports coordinators are regularly contacting the NRA for information on Rounders development. What a shame that the powers that be have not increased funding to governing bodies to enable them to cope with all this extra work!

Rounders publications and resources have been reviewed and there is a revised Basic Skills Award, a new set of laminated Small Sided Games cards in a polypropylene wallet and a new Coaching video aimed at all key stages, which is an ideal wet weather resource. This is in addition to the ever popular GCSE lesson plans, the rulebook, the web site, and the various books on coaching.

The strategic plan for Rounders commits the NRA to developing the game more at regional levels, to support the international structure. There are England teams at all ages from U13 to adults. 

As one of the smallest governing bodies for such a popular and highly participative sport, the NRA is constantly looking for a major sponsor. Until they are found, the only sources of self-generated income are sale of resources and membership. This is why the NRA is so keen for more schools to become members - at only £15 per year schools receive a comprehensive package of benefits including free publications and ball, and most importantly their pupils become eligible to attend England trials and play in national competitions.

You can contact the National Rounders Association at 55 Westland Gardens, Sheffield, S20 8ES, tel 0114 2480357, fax 08700 520396, email nra.office@btopenworld.com

www.nra-rounders.co.uk