The Kent Pétanque Association were approached in February to see if we could help to deliver pétanque in an ambitious Sports Festival across four year groups for four local schools in Kent. The venue was the grounds of the School of Science & Technology, Maidstone. Duncan Brown and I visited the site in May after several email exchanges with Jo Winkler, the Trust Sports Coordinator. The date of the event was Tuesday 9th July.
An area was identified and the site of four previous cricket nets was perfect. Little work would be required to convert into temporary pistes. The site manager tackled the weeds and tidied up the area.
I am very grateful for the support of a large coaching team supporting each other. Thank you to:
Melissa Rowley, Richard Wenban, Sophie Rowley, Barry Menzies & Keith Atkinson – GRFC
Duncan Brown – Railway
Jamie Finley – Seal
Craig Poynter – Hartley
Steve Wells – Crockenhill
Carolyn Edwins – Bat and Ball
We delivered three coaching sessions of about an hour and a quarter, in which all students were playing competitive games after a basic introduction to the grip and throwing of a boule. We used target rings and jacks to provide a challenge. The groups were roughly 28-30 pupils in size. The students were enthusiastic about trying a new sport and we shall link again to invite them to Junior Coaching during the summer holidays.
