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The goal of the ASPIRE Multisport Skill Development Program is to increase the number of Qatari and Arabic-speaking children aged between 6 and 14 years (grades 1 – 9) who, in an enjoyable environment, master the motor development skills and movement fundamentals that are the underlying pre-requisites for successful sports participation: static and dynamic balance, spatial awareness, kinaesthetic differentiation, jumping, landing, rhythmic springing, skipping, rotation, throwing, passing, catching, kicking, and hand-eye coordination. The objectives of the MSDP are to:
- Encourage participation and skill development in a variety of sports
- Improve the amount, quality, equity and variety of sports activities available to children
- Promote fair play and good sporting behavior while discouraging a win-at-all costs attitude among children
- Promote enjoyable and satisfying competition
- Establish a sound foundation that encourages sporting activity throughout life and higher level sports skills development
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Multisport Skill Development Programs |
- Identify, encourage and select sports-talented children to pursue a pathway into ASPIRE Sport-Specific Skill Development programs, ASPIRE Academy Feeder groups, QOC sports federations and club sport programs and possibly be selected as ASPIRE Academy student-athletes
Research demonstrates that children who acquire sports skills competences have the opportunity to participate and have fun participating in sport, are more likely to remain active in sport and seek greater skill development. Therefore, the MSDP is committed to providing the highest quality instruction in the most positive and enjoyable environment with coach/child ratios that do not exceed 1:12. Each MSDP instructor is a certified physical education teacher or licensed coach and the activities selected and the instructional methodology emphasize friendship, fun, achievement, identity, fairness, and success.
Types of Multisport Skill Development Programs (MSDP) |
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Basic Multisport Development Center. Multisport Skill Development Centers are located in school facilities and within the ASPIRE Dome. MSDCs offer an after-school program structured to meet the needs of, and open to, all boys and girls aged 6 through 11 (grades 1-6). The MSDC coordinators write specific programs to be delivered to their gender respective schools. Different activity and instruction stations focus on different motor control activities (i.e. static balance, dynamic balance, throwing, kicking, striking, etc.). A typical training session includes warm up and stretch (20 minutes), activity stations (5 x 6-9 minutes). This method is used to maintain high levels of intensity and reduce the risk of mental fatigue. Children that show greater movement development are also invited to attend on a Thursday to assist them in their pathway to the advanced group.
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MSDC Applied Sport Program. The Applied Sport program is an optional addition to the basic MSDC program that is open to all boys and girls aged 9 through 14 years (grades 4-6) that offers an introduction to sport specific skills and the rules and strategies of multiple specific sports. Participants aged 9 through 11 must participate in BOTH the basic MSDC and the Applied Sport classes. Participants aged 12 through 14 participate in the Applied Sport classes only.
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MSDC Advanced Program. Boys and girls aged 9 through 11 years (grades 4-6) that show sporting potential are classified as “Advanced” and are invited to a class similar to the basic MSDC program that runs simultaneously. This program offers the same curriculum, has smaller coach/athlete ratios, greater constraints and a higher level of instructional and training intensity. The children in this program are expected to attend three days a week. This program is also open to invited girls aged 12 through 14 years.
Children are required to attend twice weekly (Sunday & Tuesday or Monday & Wednesday) with selected participants also attending on Thursdays. The timing of the program is in direct relation to school finishing times. MSDC programs generally start 30 minutes after school is dismissed. This allows time for children from surrounding schools to attend and MSDC part-time coaches to travel from their respective schools. It also allows time prior to the start of the session for unstructured play, which is a very important element of youth development.
All children are taught basic sports nutrition, namely what are good foods to fuel an exercising body and the importance of hydration. All participants are given water bottles (330ml) at the start of every session, from which they are encouraged to drink during station rotations. At the end of the session, the children are given a small muesli /date bar to eat on the way home. |
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