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Hopes shinty school will be a big hit!


By Tom Ramage

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School of Shinty, Camanachd Association, Kingussie High School, Shinty
School of Shinty, Camanachd Association, Kingussie High School, Shinty

IN Badenoch the love of shinty has always been academic – but that has become official as of yesterday!

Kingussie High School and the Camanachd Association have embarked on the nation's first School of Shinty.

The innovation will connect more young people with more shinty throughout the academic year.

Its launch yesterday is 125 years to the day since the formation of the Camanachd Association in Kingussie.

The School of Shinty has received the full backing of two giants of the game Newtonmore and Kingussie shinty clubs who hope that it could lead to the development of even more prodigious young talent.

Its exciting plans are aimed at ensuring continued growth of the sport within the strath's largest school to meet the development aims both in the classroom and the two Badenoch giants.

There will be a 10-week block of shinty from October to December.

Then in year two it will be offered continuously throughout the year as part of an elective.

As well as the development of shinty skills and match tactics, the school will offer opportunities to learn about an overall approach to sport including the physical fitness, time management, mental preparation and nutrition and hydration required to compete at the top of any sport.

The key aspects that the school will incorporate are coaching and officiating education both for staff members and pupils, delivered by the Camanachd Association with support from the local clubs.

The sport's governing body is currently exploring opportunities for a number of similar initiatives across the country to further develop the game and importantly support shinty clubs in their efforts to sustain participation throughout high school years.

Kingussie High School deputy head teacher Ian Adamson said: "We are excited to be in partnership with the Camanachd Association to be the first School of Shinty in Scotland and the benefits that this will have on not only Kingussie High School but the local shinty teams and community is fantastic.

"The programme will allow youngsters to develop their shinty skills and form pathways to local junior teams and eventually for some the first teams of Kingussie and Newtonmore.

"At the same time pupils will also be developing a range of important skills like teamwork, communication and resilience.

"I recently visited another school outside of Highland that has a well-established 'school of sports' and the engagement, attendance and attainment of the pupils involved has progressed significantly since it started."

Derek Keir, chief executive officer of the Camanachd Association, was equally delighted.

He said: "Primary school participation has grown substantially over the past few years, however, sustaining this into secondary schools was highlighted as a priority through our club consultations last year.

"As a result, we have been working hard with education and indeed secondary schools to explore innovative solutions which broaden the number of people delivering shinty and enhance the number of opportunities young people have to access our sport.

"The school of shinty presents more time on task for aspiring players and will be delivered through the curriculum to compliment the extracurricular provision already provided.

"One of the principles of the curriculum is relevance and there is not a more relevant sport in shinty communities to have as a context for learning."

Norman MacArthur, Newtonmore Camanachd president, said: "The club is delighted to be a partner. It's an exciting initiative that could spell the way forward for the sport of shinty in many parts of the country.

"It is good news that shinty is developing in this way, and it will help to keep teenage players involved in the sport. The more the partners can work together the healthier the future of shinty will be in Badenoch."

Kingussie club president Russell Jones said: "Kingussie, Newtonmore, Kincraig and Badenoch and Strathspey ladies shinty clubs all operate within a 10-mile radius of the school.

"As well as being socially and culturally important to keep the game strong in our area, encouraging students to play shinty in school can lead to long and successful playing careers with these local clubs therefore promoting health and wellbeing long into adulthood."

Sportscotland chairman Mel Young described the School of Shinty as "great news".

He added: "Initiatives like this and strong links between partners within the sporting community will continue to help the sport grow.

"At sportscotland we will keep working closely with partners right across the country to improve opportunities in sport as part of a world-class sporting system."


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