School Athletics Day for Deaf and
Hearing Impaired Children
21 June 2005
The 2005 Schools Athletics Day for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children
Tuesday 21st June 2005 saw a packed stadium full of bubbly, deaf school children performing not only to the best of their abilities in several events but, above all, having fun in the process! The 2005 Schools Athletics Day for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children, which was held between 10am and 2pm, at the South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove, Leeds, attracted a whooping 250 children from 30 Yorkshire mainstream schools, as well as 3 Yorkshire deaf schools. These Championships are held annually and are open to all deaf and hearing impaired children in school years 3 to 11.
The children are classified into the following school year groups
Girls 3-5, Girls 6-7, Girls 8-9, Girls 10-11
Boys 3-5, Boys 6-7, Boys 8-9, Boys 10-11
The events for both girls and boys include
Jumps - High Jump, Long Jump, Standing Long Jump
Throws - Soft Discus, Soft Javelin, Soft Throwball
Track - 50m, 80m, 100m, 200m, 800m, Relays
The Schools Athletics Championships for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children
Yorkshire is the only region that hosts these Regional Deaf and Hearing Impaired Schools Athletics Championships.
The event has been held annually since 1994 due to the hard work, dedication and commitments of Colin Macdonald, Federation of Disability Sports Organisation, and Regional Resource Officer (Deaf People) Yorkshire.
Through the efforts of Colin and John Woodcock (Athletics Coach, Bradford), the Yorkshire Deaf Schools Athletics Championships was born 11 years and was first held at Doncaster College for the Deaf in 1994. It attracted 4 deaf schools with approximately 100 children participating. It was so enjoyable that it has continued ever since.
The Championships is held in different stadiums throughout Yorkshire. In 2004 it was held in Hull, East Yorkshire. It is highly likely that next year’s competition will be held on the last Tuesday in June in South Yorkshire, although the details are to be confirmed.
Development of these Championships
In the last 5 years the competition has grown both in popularity, as well as in the number of participating athletes. However it has become even more challenging to promote the event. This is because more and more deaf schools are being closed down and as a direct result deaf/hearing impaired children have to enrol into mainstream schools.
Reaching out to deaf/hearing impaired children in mainstream schools isn’t very easy, as it is difficult to pinpoint which particular schools have deaf and hearing impaired children. In some schools, there is only 1 deaf/hearing impaired child. However, in others, there could be 30 or more! It is a major challenge, therefore, to provide athletics events for deaf/hearing impaired children, especially as the dedication and passion of Deaf UK Athletics (DUKA) identifies more and more talented deaf and hearing-impaired athletes!
It is hoped that encouraging youngsters to follow in the footsteps of the GB Deaflympics and international medallists, will give deaf/hearing impaired children the encouragement they need to become interested in this exciting sport of track and field athletics.
For the above reasons, DUKA is always keen to support any region that is hoping to set up athletics events for deaf/hearing impaired people whatever their age group. DUKA is actively campaigning for regions across the UK to organise regional competitions along the lines of those held in Yorkshire, which are an excellent example to follow. Everyone involved with organising the Yorkshire Championships is happy to support and advise any other regions that wish to host any types of athletics events for deaf/hearing-impaired children and/or adults.
The Barriers to Participation
For non-deaf/hearing impaired school athletes, there are opportunities in regional, county and national championships. Those performing to high standards are rewarded with the opportunity of representing GB at the World Student Championships.
The opportunity for deaf/hearing impaired students to reach equal standards as non-deaf/hearing impaired school children, is very limited since for deaf/hearing impaired people to receive equal training and learn new skills, which will enable them to improve on their performance, they will have to go to their local athletics clubs to receive specialised training, advice and appropriate medical treatment should there be injuries. This is not easy!
Not many club coaches and management teams have been to Deaf Awareness Training courses. Consequently, when they are faced with deaf/hearing impaired, bubbly athletes, the coaches panic and look up to the sky for help!!
Getting deaf/hearing impaired school children from mainstream schools to attend an event is sometimes a problem as many mainstream schools have insurance concerns with their local education authorities, as well as teacher availability transporting the children to the events. It is the school’s responsibility to get the children to and from the school after the competitions. In addition, deaf/hearing impaired children miss out on competitions because the schools are not aware of them.
DUKA’s Regional Development Plans (RDP) are intended to identify and resolve the main barriers that prevent deaf/hearing impaired athletes from enjoying athletics and, as a result, progressing further on to world class standards.
It is not that deaf/hearing impaired athletes are not capable of reaching the same standards as non-deaf/hearing impaired people. Our past and current athletes have proved that they can compete in the hearing world and do well if given the opportunity. Some have won top class competitions like the Scottish Championship – Lauren Peffers winning the under 17 age group 800m and 1,500m events. She is ranked in the top 10 in the UK and capable of giving Kelly Holmes and Paula Radcliffe a run for their money!!
The Organisation of these Championships
For the Yorkshire Championships to happen there are several key, regional people that have to come together. These people include the Deaf Sports Co-ordinator, Regional English Federation of Disability, the Regional Development Co-ordinator, AAAoE as well as officials and schools. It is even more important to involve Local Authority Sports Development Officers and School Sport Partnerships Partnership Development Managers and make them fully aware of the opportunities for deaf/hearing impaired children in their mainstream schools.
It is vital that ALL those involved, in the implementation of sports and physical education in mainstream schools, receive Deaf Awareness Training. DUKA is more than happy to provide information on where to attend such a course. This is vital if they want to work with deaf/hearing impaired children as well as the parents and guardians of these children.
School Sport Partnerships Partnership Development Managers are also a very valuable source of promoting regional and national competitions. They will provide the links between the organisers of the events and the schools.
No other Regional Championships
Currently, apart from Yorkshire, there is no other Regional Deaf and Hearing Impaired Schools Athletics Championships in the UK.
The dream and ambition of Yorkshire, along with DUKA, is that the Regional English Federation of Disability Sports Managers, will follow the Yorkshire region in setting up competitions for deaf/hearing impaired children in these regions that are missing out on the opportunity for children to demonstrate their physical and mental abilities, technical skills and strength and determination to succeed in track and field events.
Even more important is the opportunity to have fun in athletics, as well as the option of meeting and making new friends from other schools and proving to DUKA their potential to succeed in international competitions.
Impressions that these Championships made
The 2005 Yorkshire Deaf and Hearing Impaired Schools Championships made huge, positive impressions on all those who attended on Tuesday 21st June. DUKA Director, Brian Kokoruwe, who was the Guest of Honour said
“Wow! It is brilliant to see so many deaf and hearing impaired children enjoying themselves, competing against each other and having fun. It is a pity that key athletics representatives ,Local Authority Sports Development Officers and School Sport Partnerships Partnership Development Managers across the UK do not work more closely together to set up similar competitions and events around the country. Let’s hope that the Yorkshire event will open the doors for other regions to provide something similar for their deaf and hearing impaired school children”.
Manchester City Council’s Disability Sports Manager, Miss Nicky Boothroyd, who also attended the event was very impressed and said
“It is such a fantastic activity. Let’s hope that the North-west region can come up with something similar. It is definitely worth exploring further and bringing such fun to our region would make a positive impact on the state of athletics for deaf and hearing impaired people in North-west England.”
It was a privilege on the 21st June for everyone to meet Lauren Peffers, the Deaflympics and Scottish Champion, who was flown into Leeds especially to present medals and meet the children! Lauren was over whelmed to see so many deaf/hearing-impaired children having fun and trying to follow in her footsteps! The level of enthusiasm and excitement of the children had to be seen to be believed! Many of them had had sleepless nights with the thoughts of meeting the Deaflympics Champion, seeing her gold and silver medals and receiving signed photographs.
Lauren was swamped throughout the day – signing over 250 autographs for the competitors, volunteers and school teachers! Lauren commented
“It’s such a brilliant event! I wish there is something like this for deaf and hearing impaired children all over the country. I certainly would have competed in a Regional Deaf and Hearing Impaired Schools Championship in my region. I think there are other deaf and hearing impaired children who give up athletics, even before they start, because there are no competitions for them to prove their fitness ability and standards.”
There were many impressive performances by the children, which were witnessed by DUKA representatives, during the Leeds event. It is the intention of DUKA to send a congratulations letter to all those schools that entered a team. Many of these youngsters are capable of reaching the top in track and field athletics.
DUKA’s Future Aims and Goals
DUKA is keen to establish schools-to-clubs links. In the first instance this will be to introduce deaf/hearing-impaired children to proper coaching outside school. Deaf/hearing impaired children, their teachers, parents and local clubs will be introduced to and encouraged to take up initiatives, including star:track!
There is a need to establish, encourage and foster positive relationships between DUKA, UK Athletics, Amateur Athletics Association, deaf sports organisations, disability sports organisations, deaf clubs and other organisations for deaf people. Polling together the expertise, resources and representatives from these organisations, will enable GB Deaf Athletes to take a proud place at the top of world deaf/hearing impaired athletics.
DUKA’s Regional Intentions
For the deaf/hearing impaired, these include:
Hosting annual schools regional championships
Biding for annual national schools championships
Biding for annual national ‘open age’ championships
DUKA is more than willing to provide assistance, support, advice and guidance to any region that wishes to host any such competitions. You never know but your competition could identify the future Deaflympics champions and therefore bring pride and joy not just for the country, but also to your region!
DUKA’s Regional Development Plans
To expand from the Yorkshire region, DUKA has received a lot of enquiries about the implementation of deaf/hearing impaired athletics in North Yorkshire. Unfortunately, due to various restrictions and complications placed upon us by some sports organisations, this has not been pursued yet.
If any of these enquiring athletics clubs, Local Authorities and sports organisations are still interested in working with DUKA, please get in touch with Brian Kokoruwe or Felicity Edge. Contact details are below.
Initially we have just been focusing on the Yorkshire region. As an organisation DUKA has plans for other regions including London, South and West Midlands. These plans are outlined in our Regional Development Plans (RDP).
DUKA’s RDP are intended to identify and remove the main barriers, which prevent deaf/hearing impaired athletes from enjoying athletics and further progressing on to world-class standards.
If you are interested in reviewing our RDP or simply just wish to find out more about DUKA, please contact us.
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