UWTSD Building the Foundations for Sport (BFS) in Wales
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) research mirrors alarming global evidence that more than 70% of children lack movement skills to participate in sport and physical activity.
The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases shows that up to 70% of preventable adult deaths from diseases linked to lifestyle (Non-Communicable Diseases) are associated with risk factors originating in childhood and adolescence. Interventions that can successfully control or prevent chronic disease in young people can dramatically improve health outcomes later in life.
Dr Nalda Wainwright, Associate Professor and Director from UWTSD’s Wales Academy for Health and Physical Literacy, stated:
“The lack of movement skills in young children is a critical issue. If we do not act to reverse this worrying global trend, we are putting people’s future health at risk. The good news is that we have a solution which works. Building on decades of evidence-based work, our UWTSD training course gives coaches the knowledge and skills that quickly improve children’s movement skills, meaning they can have successful and enjoyable access to sport”
Working closely with Sport Wales and stakeholders from community sport, UWTSD has developed the Building Foundations for Sport (BFS) course. The BFS course builds on UWTSD’s long-established early childhood physical literacy programme, SKIP-Cymru, which has already shown a positive impact on children’s outcomes by supporting better movement skills, confidence and engagement.
BFS trains coaches to analyse children’s motor skills and adapt activities for every child to have enjoyment and success. This course is not specific to any sport, but lays the essential foundations needed for children to participate in all sports and physical activity.
To date, UWTSD has provided BFS training to over 450 coaches across Wales and collaborated with further education colleges to provide free training to over 250 students in South Wales.
Sport Wales promotes the BFS as a core course. This supports the implementation of the National Foundations Framework for Wales into practice. The Framework is a good practice guide for all people delivering physical and sporting activities to children ages 3 to 11.
Dr. Wainwright, quoted in the Foundations Framework, highlights the importance of this approach in helping adults create positive, inclusive movement experiences that support children’s development, not just participation.
“We must capture children’s natural motivation while they are young, when they will try anything! Just like other academic skills, proficiency in Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) needs developmentally appropriate instruction and opportunities to practice skills in high-quality learning environments. Children who are delayed in FMS are less likely to be physically active both now and in the future.”
Further Information
Lowri Thomas
Principal Communications and PR Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: lowri.thomas@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07449 998476