Tumbling

Scottish Gymnastics is backing Parents in Sport Week 2020 which starts today and runs until 11 October.

Run by the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), Parents in Sport Week aims to highlight the important role parents play in youth sport, from helping to keep children safe, to encouraging them to take part and achieve.

This year’s theme is ‘Let’s talk about keeping children safe in sport’ and the aim is to raise awareness amongst parents of the types of things clubs should have in place to keep children safe and how parents can get help with any concerns.

New research has found that fewer than four in ten parents actively sought to understand the safeguarding procedures of their club before signing their child up to take part in sessions and competitions.

The online YouGov survey*, conducted on behalf of the NSPCC, showed that only 38% of parents across the UK actively tried to find out whether basic safety measures were in place before allowing their child to join a club.

Further cause for concern is that 38% of parents* said they had either never received or could not recall whether they had been sent any information about safeguarding measures by their child’s sports club once they were a member.

As part of this week’s campaign, the CPSU is asking sports parents to make the Sports Parents Promise – a three-point pledge to their children to listen to them about their concerns, check clubs are safe to enjoy, and encourage their children to take part in a positive way.

They hope this will help parents to understand how their contribution to their child’s sport makes it a safer place for all children.

You can help support the CPSU and Parents in Sport Week by making the Sports Parents Promise on their website, where you can also find helpful information about being a great sports parent and working with parents in sport.

> Sports Parents Promise

Scottish Gymnastics CEO Doc McKelvey said: "We fully support Parents in Sport week as they play an important part in sport whether taking their child to a club or supporting them through their competitive journey. 

"We are committed to providing a safe, healthy, and positive environment for children and young people to enjoy gymnastics and encourage parents and carers to ask ten key questions to find out about the safeguarding procedures in their club."

You can also support and follow the campaign on social media using #ParentsinSportWeek2020.

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Findings based on a YouGov online survey undertaken on 16 - 21 September 2020.  1,088 parents of children under 18 across the UK were surveyed, 693 of whom had signed a child up for a sports club. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

We are delighted to announce the winners of our competition with partner Quatro to design a special edition leotard celebrating our 130th birthday.

The winning boy’s and girl’s designs were created by talented brother and sister Cameron and Lucy Falconer who were inspired by iconic Scottish symbols of strength.

Cameron, who is 12 and a member of West Lothian Artistic Gymnastics Club, used The Kelpies sculptures in his winning boy’s design. The pattern on his leotard is found on the 30-metre high horse-head sculptures made from steel near Falkirk. He has also incorporated the Scottish Gymnastics anniversary logo stripe creating a strong and bold design.

Ten year-old Lucy from Hamilton Gymnastics Club, has designed her Celtic leotard incorporating the Dara knot which represents the roots of an oak tree and symbolises strength, and the trinity knot which symbolises inner strength. This stunning leotard also has lots of sparkle, accentuating the sublimated Celtic knot design.

Both winners have celebrated a birthday since entering the competition so were 11 and nine when they designed their leotards. The competition was judged in February after the closing date, but we delayed announcing the winners due to Covid-19. Lucy and Cameron are now celebrating their drawings coming to life, thanks to the design department at Quatro Leotards.

Speaking about his inspiration, Cameron said: “When I think of Scotland, I think of the Kelpies as they’re a landmark. They are big and strong like gymnasts. I’m happy and I like the design a lot.”

Lucy said: “I was looking at Scottish things like thistles and unicorns and then I saw Scottish jewellery and the Celtic knots. It’s really good I’m excited. It will be strange seeing people wearing the leotard in the gym!”

As well as seeing their designs come to life, Cameron and Lucy will each receive the leotard they designed.

You too can have these special edition Celtic Knot and Kelpies leotards from the Quatro shop in time for Christmas, if you place your order by October 16 to guarantee delivery. Any order received after this date will be delivered eight weeks from the order date.

Scottish Gymnastics head of performance Sam Hendrikson said: “It was heart-warming to see the creativity from our young members and such a high level of design. Everyone put so much thought into their drawings and we were particularly pleased to see so many entries for boy’s leotards.

“Congratulations to Cameron and Lucy. We judged the competition without looking at names and so it was a complete surprise when we realised our winning designs came from a brother and sister! The judging panel felt their bold designs featuring Scottish icons and symbolising strength were perfect to celebrate Scottish Gymnastics’ 130th birthday.

“Our thanks to Joanna and her team at Quatro for their support and bringing the designs to life. We cannot wait to see the actual leotards!”

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition. We received around 70 entries which were all so different and imaginative. Our judging panel narrowed it down to nine finalists which included our youngest designer, Zoyah, aged just three and a half! Congratulations to our finalists:

Boyd Sibbring, Dumfries Y Gymnastics Club
Rebecca Stewart, Acrobay Gymnastics
Amelie Hill, CK Elite
Tara MacNab, Linlithgow School of Gymnastics
Holly Girvan, Meadowbank Gymnastics Club
Kira Mihhailova, Saltire Team Gymnastics
Zoyah Mihhailova, Saltire Team Gymnastics

This week marks an important next step towards the return of sport in communities across the country with indoor sports courts and swimming pools now able to reopen in line with the latest Scottish Government public health guidance.
 
The Scottish sports’ governing bodies forum and executive group welcomes Monday’s communication from Stewart Harris, CEO, sportscotland announcing the release of a £1.5m Covid Support Fund to support Scotland’s sporting system (Sportscotland set up £1.5m Covid support fund for governing bodies). This timely statement recognises that whilst progress has been made with the re-opening of sports facilities across Scotland, this does not mean a full restart of sport as we know it and that many sports, particularly those reliant on accessing indoor sports facilities for club training and competition, face a much slower return as local trusts and leisure operators take a cautious and phased approach to the re-opening of their facilities.
 
We want to see more progress made in line with the latest public health guidance at all levels of sport, to ensure that clubs and local communities have access to facilities. The SGB Forum continues working with partners across the sporting system including sportscotland, the Scottish Government and local authorities and local trusts to bring about the safe return of sport, and is committed to ensuring that all of Scotland’s sports club members, volunteers and communities can access critical and much loved sporting and physical activity opportunities as soon as possible.

However, whilst there is a clear desire from all partners to reopen facilities and get our sports into these facilities as quickly as is safely possible, the ongoing difficulties presented by Covid-19, including facility staff on furlough, training requirements and venue remodelling to comply with social distancing measures, means that it is unlikely that all venues will be able to reopen fully for some time to come. 

In the meantime, as a sector, we need the support, understanding and backing of all our clubs and members now more than ever as we work to protect the rich sporting fabric of our nation and strive to bring sporting activity back to being at the heart of our Scottish communities once more.

The Scottish Governing Bodies Forum

Brian Ewing has been appointed as chairperson of the Scottish Gymnastics board.

Brian brings his wealth of experience in sport and business to the role which he officially took up on 1 July succeeding interim chair Ian Chambers who remains on the board.

During four decades of working in higher education, Brian was Director of Sport and Exercise at the University of Dundee for 25 years. Starting in physical education at Kirkintilloch High School, he moved on to other teaching roles at the University of Strathclyde and Moray House Institute of Education, University of Edinburgh.

His work at local, regional, and national level has seen him heavily involved with many organisations including sportscotland Institute of Sport, Scottish Football Association, National Coaching Foundation, British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, and Dundee City Council.

A former non-executive Director of Scottish Golf, Brian was chair of Scottish Student Sport for six years and was awarded Honorary Life Presidency in recognition of his contribution. He also received an award last year from British Universities and Colleges Sport for outstanding contribution to
Higher Education Sport.

Speaking on his appointment, Brian said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as chair of Scottish Gymnastics and very much look forward to working with the gymnastics community as we continue our journey to become a leading sport and world-class governing body. 

“With over 40 years’ experience in business and sport, I feel that I can make a significant contribution in leading Scottish Gymnastics through this next phase of its ambitious and exciting strategic plan.  To achieve this, we will need to galvanise the efforts of all involved in our sport - staff, coaches, athletes and members - in finding innovative and creative ways to maximise the potential and performance of the sport in the years ahead.

“I will strive to ensure that member communication and engagement, and open, transparent governance will be the key pillars of our work.  Over the last few weeks, I have personally experienced a very steep learning curve as I have worked to gain a greater and detailed understanding of our sport.  

“I have been overwhelmed by the passion, commitment and dedication of those working across the sport - particularly in such difficult and challenging times. I have no doubt that working together we will overcome these challenges and re-establish our sport to its rightful place on the Scottish sporting landscape. I hope that I can rely on your continued support of Scottish Gymnastics over what will be a difficult period as we all work to secure a safe return of our sport. 

“I very much look forward to working with you all as we fulfil our dreams and aspirations for Scottish Gymnastics.”