SportsNation

ICYMI: After a stellar show in 2024, the water leisure industry will return for the 29th exhibition of SPATEX Ltd at the Coventry Building Society Arena in February 2025. We preview the event: educational programme, awards, exhibition and advice for commercial pool operators. BSPF - British Swimming Pool Federation, Certikin, Golden Coast, Institute of Swimming, I.S.P.E. The Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers, LEGIONELLA CONTROL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, Mariner 3S, Origin Aqua - Innovative water technology, Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG), RECOTHERM LIMITED, Royal Life Saving Society UK - RLSS UK, SPATA - Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association, STA (Swimming Teachers' Association), Suntrap Systems, Superior Wellness, The Water Management Society. Read more: https://bit.ly/3VQRWof

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has launched a campaign which looks to invest £50m in improving football facilities across the country. Called ‘Pitching In’, the joint initiative between the Scottish FA and the The Scottish Football Partnership Trust includes a commitment to build 40 new 3G pitches, upgrade 50 existing 3G pitches and upgrade 75 existing changing facilities over the next five years. In a statement, the Scottish FA said: “Reaching this ambitious target will be a team effort. We will work with investors who share our aims and ambitions — to maximise the number of people from all backgrounds able to participate in the game we love. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5bmvqZx Ian Maxwell, Mike Mulraney #Football #ScottishFootball #3Gpitch #SyntheticTurf

ICYMI: Three former Olympians have teamed up with a simple mission – to get more children swimming. Tom Walker speaks to Rebecca Adlington, Steve Parry and Adrian Turner and discovers how their venture could transform the way swimming pools and leisure centre are built in the UK. Read more: https://bit.ly/3CWAxDK

ICYMI: SportsNation speaks to Marina Logacheva, the disability sports lead for marketing agency, MATTA. As well as working with some of the world’s leading sports brands and organisations, the agency has recently focused on promoting disability sport. Read more: https://bit.ly/4isxhk2

ICYMI: This year’s SAPCA The Sports and Play Construction Association Technical Meeting was a historic one, as it was the first one held outside Loughborough University since the event’s launch in November 2010. The new surroundings at the East Midlands Conference Centre, which is part of the University of Nottingham campus, provided a fresh look for the one of the sports facility construction industry’s most popular gatherings. With a record number of 223 delegates in attendance, the 2024 edition was kicked off by former Microsoft technology leader, Allister Frost. Frost delivered a thought-provoking keynote on the importance of having a future-ready mindset. This was followed by a comprehensive programme of seminars and sessions discussing technical updates and sustainability issues. “Since its launch in 2010, the SAPCA Technical Meeting has grown to become crucial date on the industry calendar, providing an unparalleled programme of seminars and workshops on the most important technical topics of the day,” says Colin Corline, SAPCA’s Technical Lead. “Networking is also a big part of the event and it was great to see so many colleagues from across the sports and play industry, representing national governing bodies of sport and other key sector organisations." Read more: https://bit.ly/3Vr9M0J

Figures from the Diversity in Sport Governance 2024 report – published today (19 December) – shows that the percentage of individuals from culturally or ethnically diverse backgrounds on boards of sports organisations has increased from 7.9% to 15.1% since 2020. There has been a slight widening of the gender representation gap, however. as UK sports organisation boards are now 57.4% male and 40.8% female, compared to 56.2% and 43.2% in 2020, respectively. Among those identifying with having a disability or long-term health condition the figures have gone from 13.0% to 16.1%. Commissioned by UK Sport and Sport England, the report was conducted by Perrett Laver and provides a detailed breakdown of the makeup of more boards and senior leadership teams of sports organisations. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g5RCVryF #equality #sport #diversity #diversityinsport Tim Hollingsworth OBE, Sally Munday

ICYMI: UK Coaching CEO, Mark Gannon, talks to SportsNation about why a recent event at Buckingham Palace was an important reminder of the importance of coaching. Read more: https://bit.ly/4gkr7QX

ICYMI: Padel is booming across the UK and, in September, LTA announced its new strategy for the sport. One of the main focuses of the strategy is to grow and improve the infrastructure of padel. “The strategy will help take padel in Britain to the next level. The strategy and tactics that we’ve put in place will truly help to open padel up to many more people across the country, with more funding, facilities and coaches ensuring that the sport is accessible, welcoming, enjoyable and inspiring." - Tom Murray, Head of Padel at LTA. We also include a round-up of some recent projects, including: Bloom Heathrow London, Bolton School, CopriSystems, DESTINATION PADEL, Fordingbridge, Game4Padel, The Heron Country Club, PORTICO SPORT UK, Rocket Padel, Smart-Space Instant Buildings, Soul Padel, Turley. #padel #facilityinvestment #strategy Read more: https://bit.ly/4gHcAz9

The home nation sports councils (Sport England, sportscotland, Sport NI and Sport Wales) – have now recognised pickleball as a sport. In addition, Sport England has recognised PickleballEngland as the national governing body in England. Invented in the USA in 1965, Pickleball combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis and is played both indoors and outdoors. In a statement, Sport England said: "“During a rigorous process, PickleballEngland demonstrated they met the strict criteria required to run and represent the sport, showing good governance as well as having established delivery mechanisms in place and plans to increase participation." Read more: https://lnkd.in/eiSbt8uP #pickleball #tennis #sport #racketsports

ICYMI: More than 260 aquatic professionals came together in October for the STA (Swimming Teachers' Association)’s annual two-day conference and Aquatic Excellence Awards. Dave Candler Ali Beckman Greg Whyte OBE Zoe Cooper Read more: https://bit.ly/49twVVS