Sport England to help improve sports hall provision

Volleyball is amongst five sports that have come together with Sport England to help improve sports hall provision across England.

 New guidance will help tackle the frustration for people who find their local sports hall isn't suitable for their particular sport, as well as ensuring that facilities of the right size are developed in the right places to meet local demand.

Keith Nicholls, Technical Director for Volleyball England, has been instrumental in the discussions on behalf of volleyball. The guidelines - Developing the Right Sports Hall - produced jointly with four other national governing bodies including badminton, basketball, cricket and netball, will lead to a more efficient and flexible approach to the building, or upgrading, of sports facilities.

 Sport England Chair, Richard Lewis said, "This is a great example of how Sport England and governing bodies are working closely together to deliver a lasting grassroots sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 "In the past, some developers have failed to fully consider how small changes to the dimensions of a sports hall can hugely increase the variety and levels of sports that can be played. This guidance will lead to more choice for sports hall users and better value for facilities' investments."

 Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson said, "For us to achieve the ambition of a lasting legacy and drive up participation in sport off the back of hosting the London 2012 Games, it is important we have the facilities in place to give people the opportunity to play all kinds of sports. I welcome this joined up approach from the five national governing bodies involved and Sport England in developing this simple and consistent guidance. It will ensure that stakeholders are supported to develop the right sized sports hall which will ultimately help to grow their sport."

 Working through seven steps, the guidance will help stakeholders to develop a project brief, based on sports development needs and evidence, for either a new or existing sports hall. The questions are based on basic specifications required to play one or more of the following sports:

Badminton
Basketball
Cricket
Netball
Volleyball

The guidance also makes sure any new or existing sports hall development will contribute to social outcomes, be efficient and be sustainable.

To download a copy of the guidance, visit the Sport England website

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Sport England to help improve sports hall provision