A ball game which features in the Paralympics is being used in Merseyside schools to encourage inclusivity and participation.
The sport ‘Boccia’ – which means ‘ball’ in Italian – was originally set up to support those with cerebral palsy. It is now played at the Paralympics Games by athletes who have any type of neurological impairments that affects their motor function.
The ball game allows people with Special Educational Needs (SEND) to experience true competitive sport. Boccia is an inclusive sport, allowing anyone regardless of ability, disability, gender, or age to take part.
Alan Scott, founder of community organisation Enable You, says integrating the paralympic sport into mainstream schools can be a transformative step towards fostering inclusivity and help enhance the well-being of students.
Enable You delivers health, wellbeing and social services across Liverpool and Merseyside. The organisation works within the community and aims to promote social inclusion reablement throughout the delivery of their services.
Alan said: “It’s so important for Boccia to be rolled out into mainstream schools as it promotes mainstream and SEND children to work together as one.
”It doesn’t classify or single out the needs of the SEN child over the needs of the mainstream child- it brings them together as equals and promotes being inclusive.’’
To play, participants aim to throw or roll their coloured balls as close as possible to the target ball, the jack. The team or player with the most balls closest to the jack at the end of the game wins. The sessions aim to promote active participation, improve mobility and hand/eye motor skills.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of children with SEND, but the number of special school places are very limited, giving many parents no option but to put their children into mainstream education.
It improves teambuilding and teamwork
By bringing mainstream and SEND children together through sport, Alan believes that social barriers are broken down. Students learn to work together and interact in a supportive way, encouraging teamwork, communication, and social interaction.
Alan added: “It improves teambuilding and teamwork – you’re working as a team to achieve an overall goal.”
In a mainstream setting where SEND children may face social challenges, Boccia emphasises collaboration and provides a positive environment for social development.
Alan said: “It’s a really good enrichment activity that schools should need and want within their setting because it focuses heavily on being person-centred.”
According to the Inclusive Sports Academy, over 64% of UK sports clubs don’t have suitable equipment to cater for their disabled audiences.
Sport is for everyone, and Enable You believe that integrating inclusive sports should start within the education system, creating a fun, equal environment for all.
- To find out more about Enable You Services, visit their website here
