Sport in the Corps

Introduction

“Everyone does Sport!”  Well no, actually, but they could - given the right encouragement.  Sporting activities form a large part of the activities of the Air Training Corps, and include the major sports for men and women.  Each event is conducted generally within the rules set out by the governing body for that sport, although the ATC cannot always supply the requisite number of ‘qualified’ officials.  Events below Regional level rely heavily on co-opting willing volunteers!  For events staged at Regional level (inter-Wing) for example, suitably qualified officials are provided from the County sport organisation, such as the ASA and FA, but they do not come free.

Which Sports?

The table below shows those Sports the ATC is involved in, separately from the Adventurous Training ‘sporting activities’, such as canoeing and skiing.

* May be both at unit level, but high levels of supervision and control required.

Age Limits

Age limits for each of the competitive sports are detailed in ACP 20A, ACTI 94.  To ensure the latest list of age limits is used, these are promulgated by the Wing Physical Education Officer (PEdO) in the advisory letter, or on the team entry sheets for each event.  Please check the dates of birth of cadets when entering them for events, and that they comply with the requirements.  If cadets are under or over age for an event, they will be disqualified.  Should cadets not be entered for the correct age group for a Regional event, it is possible the entire team could be disqualified.  If you protest a competitor’s age, are you ‘clean’?

Information Sources

Air Cadet Publication (ACP) 20A details the sporting activities, and the range of competitions supported by the Corps. ACTI 94 and its Annexes detail the competitive sports for the Corps, and set out the requirements and general rules of the competitions at Corps and Regional levels.  These are also used as the basis of the Wing competitions.

The ATC offers the Sports Leader course for cadets, details of which can be found in ACTI 85 in ACP 20A.  This course prepares the SNCO for increased responsibility in organising sporting and physical activities on the unit.

County Councils offer a number of leaflets and some training courses that may prove useful in promoting an active interest in a particular sport.  Your local library should be able to provide details, but your County Council  may be supportive and provide details of current programmes.

Organisation

This simple diagram shows the relationship between PEdO’s at all levels of the Corps structure. The responsibilities for each may be found at ACP 20A, ACTI 95.

Wing PEdO

As shown in the structure above, the PEdO. is appointed to organise and encourage the participation of units and cadets in sporting activities at a competitive level. The PEdO is directly responsible to the Wing Commander for ensuring that as much opportunity for sport participation is provided for the cadets of the Wing, with the second objective being to secure a good placing in the ‘Gillan Trophy’ competition.  ACP 20A details this competition, but points are scored for results achieved by cadets at Region and Corps level events in the various sports.

The PEdO is authorised a budget for each year by the Wing Committee to support the participation in competitive events.  The expenditure of the budget is dealt with under Finance below.

Sports Committee

The Wing has a ‘Sports Committee’ to assist the PEdO, and these personnel are drawn on from units in the Wing on a ‘supernumerary’ basis.  Each of the members of the Sports Committee has a particular sporting interest, and can offer advice when Wing Team selections are undertaken.  Two of the more senior members act as Deputies to the PEdO, to cover for clashes of events, absence or sheer workload.  More assistants (including some of the more senior cadets) are always welcome to the Committee, and the commitment is only what the individual can offer.

Unit Sports Officers

Ideally, one individual of the adult staff of a Squadron or Detached Flight will be delegated to manage the sporting activities of the unit.  Ideally, that person will have some interest in, and knowledge of, sports in general.  Ideally, that individual will be supported by others to promote and encourage the cadets to participate in sports for their own enjoyment and the benefit of the unit.  However, we don’t live in an ideal world and subsequently have to manage with the resources at hand. It should not be surprising to learn how keen and knowledgeable the more senior cadets are in their own sporting interests.  This enthusiasm should be used to engender the appropriate support for sports, organising teams, ensuring cadets are available and helping to organise transport where required.  Let them help to shoulder the load, for this also gives them a level of responsibility and challenges their capabilities.  This leaves an appointed adult with the responsibilities of overall co-ordination and administration - the management aspects.

A note of caution for those organising their own sporting activities at unit level, and acting as Team Manager at Wing (and Region) events.  People can, and do, get hurt participating in sport.  Sometimes this can be the result of inexperience causing an injury, lack of adequate supervision by officials allowing ‘rough play’ or just bad luck - nobody’s fault.  Whatever the potential cause of an injury to a cadet:

      Have you considered your ‘Duty of Care’ responsibilities?

      Have you organised activities properly?

      Have you sufficient and ‘qualified’ adults supervising the event?

      Have you arranged for qualified First Aid personnel to be on hand?

      Have you thought of attending a First Aid course yourself?

      Have you left your hands free to deal with emergencies?

      Have you got telephone contact numbers - including ‘the Boss’?

Finance

The ATC provides funding for a range of sports, but only at the Regional level and then confined to travel cost reimbursement for conveying cadets to the event.  If you get involved in transporting cadet competitors to and from Regional and Corps sports events, you are entitled to claim reimbursement, using form GPF 1.

Wing level events organised by the Wing Physical Education Officer (Wing PEdO) are supported from Wing funds.  The Wing PEdO sets an annual budget and, providing it is approved by the Wing Chairman and Committee, is used to pay for all the transport to Regional events and the organisation of Wing events.  This extends to the purchase of sports equipment, and the annual maintenance or replacement costs.  Team strips are expensive items to purchase, and the laundry bill during a season soon adds up!  Regrettably, the fund can’t reimburse travelling costs of unit teams to Wing events, or the officials and supporters we count on. 

For events staged at unit level, Squadron and Detached Flight, the costs must be met from unit funds. This includes the charges for the use of pitches and pools, and transport of cadets to the venue. It is usually worthwhile visiting the local Manager of these facilities, for personal contact can often uncover hidden reductions once the ‘local youth’ aspect of the Corps is known.  Despite having such a wonderful name in the community for the behaviour and citizenship involvement of ‘Air Cadets’, it is still surprising how few people actually recognise the existence of the local unit.

Involvement

None of the sporting activities in the Corps happen without the invaluable help given by volunteer supporters.  In addition to the knowledgeable cadets and the unit Sports Officer, many parents actively participate in Sport and may bring some sorely needed expertise. Surprisingly, when asked, many will be qualified officials only too willing to help.  Don’t allow these opportunities to slip by - people don’t offer twice!  However, make sure their accreditation or qualification is recognised by the Corps before you allow them to officiate at one of your events.  Contact the PEdO for advice.

It is often stated that ‘you only get out what you put in’.  Nothing is truer when considering sport.  Try to get everyone involved.  It not only helps build the team spirit of the unit, but serves to underline the unit identity.  Competition raises standards in many hidden ways.  Some cadets really do find the technical syllabus difficult.  Often, these cadets prove to be good sports men and women and develop as individuals alongside their peers in a different sphere.  Each makes their own contribution, and sporting success brings increased levels of confidence and achievement in other areas. 

Representative Badges

Badges are awarded to cadets who are selected to represent their Wing or Region, and the Corps. The PEdO issues the badges, often referred to as a ‘Blue’, at each level following the participation by a cadet in a qualifying event. At Wing level, travelling reserves are also awarded their ‘Blue’, even if they are not called as a substitute player.

Summary

Well, it’s all there for the ‘sport-minded’ - and the ‘not so sport-minded’ if they are encouraged to participate. Active participation in physical education and sport demands we keep fit. The returns are the enjoyment of a better standard of health, a wide circle of friends sharing a common purpose and the benefits of accomplishing a common goal in a competitive environment. All this requires is some dedication by the individual, support from the organisers and lots of enthusiasm - something we all claim to have, but occasionally need to demonstrate.