As part of the Inclusion 2024 programme Sam became a Sports Leader, through the Inclusive Sport Programme, completing Sports Leadership at level 1 and also gaining the level 2 in the community qualification. Sports Leadership is about developing the individual beyond the desk, beyond the classroom and beyond academic expectations, enabling the whole person to develop, thrive and meet their fullest potential.

We spoke to Sam, who is visually impaired, to find out more about his role as a Sports Leader and how he’s hoping to go on to college to study to become a sports coach.

I’ve been doing the sports leadership programme for two years now, I help our Head of PE, Mr Tier with lessons at my school and I also go to other schools to lead sessions.

The main sports I enjoy are football, rugby and basketball, but I like playing both in team and individual sports. What I love most about sports is problem solving when I’m playing, and I enjoy learning about different ways of strategizing.

It was my PE teacher Mr Walker who first got me into Sports Leadership and we started by designing our own sports and PE sessions.  Then we practiced this and thought how we would deliver it to a class. I think I was chosen because of my knowledge of sport but also because communication is really important for being a sports leader and also because I really like helping people.

During the sessions I help students who find it difficult and help them learn about different sports. First of all I demonstrate the sports to the students and then they have a go at doing it. I really want the young people that I’m helping to really enjoy the lesson. I encourage them to talk to me if they find things difficult and if they need more explaining, this helps them to learn more.

I’m a lot more confident now than I was when I first started, I’ve learned different ways to teach and I now know how to structure a lesson with a warm up and then move onto a sport. I have learnt these skills from seeing how Mr Tier communicates and delivers his PE sessions.  The more I do it the more confident I’m becoming.

I think the benefit of having young people like me leading sessions is that I think the children are more likely to ask questions if they are finding something difficult.  I think it makes them feel more supported.

I’m learning more about health and fitness for children and young people, as well as older people too. Eventually I want to become a sports coach and what I I’ve learnt in sports leadership will definitely help me when I become a coach.

My top tip for others who are considering getting into sports leadership is to watch what your teacher does and learn from them.  I would also encourage them to start small and design their own session and maybe deliver it to one person first to build up their confidence and then grow to deliver to bigger groups.

Following my sports leadership programme, I really want to go to college and learn how to be gym instructor or a sports coach.  I love problem solving and developing strategies for a team.

Head of PE, Mr Tier said:

“I’ve seen Sam grow and develop his confidence and skills over the past two years.  Sam regularly helps to support lessons with the PE team whether this is during his class PE lessons or when he helps teach/coach the younger classes within the school. His leadership skills have also greatly improved when he supports at sports days and other sporting competitions and festivals.

When Sam started he would find communicating to a group of pupils challenging, but what I’ve seen is that he can now lead a session with much more confidence and he can clearly explain what he wants the students to do.”