4J Studios Virtual SUPERteams short-listed SWiS Innovation Award

Sunday 15th November 2020

Image created by Bobby Gavin

scottishathletics are delighted to confirm our Events Team have been nominated for a top award – thanks to the innovative approach behind our 4J Studios Virtual SUPERteams Series during 2020.

The Scottish Women in Sport Awards are coming up virtually later this month and athletics is sure to be very well-represented once again.

And SWiS have advised us that our 4J Studios Virtual SUPERteams Series has been short-listed as a finalist in the UWS Innovation Award.

The category was looking for the best and most innovative approaches from Governing Bodies during lockdown to help deliver and promote the development of girls’ and women’s sport.

It also offered a wide scope for organisations who created online resources to engage with their members during the pandemic.

Here’s the detail from the submission by our Events Manager, Alasdhair Love, and Events Administrator, Caitlin Watt, who was very much leading on the SUPERteams (as clubs will be aware).

SUPERteams 1 (May) – 566 Athletes, 277 Female, 1418 Performances, 38 Clubs

SUPERteams 2 (July) – 577 Athletes, 357 Female, 955 Performances, 32 Clubs

SUPERteams 3 (September) – 399 Athletes, 218 Female, 784 Performances, 15 Clubs

Scottish Disability Sport Virtual Pentathlon (September/October) – 496 Athletes, 137 Female, 12 Branches

scottishathletics SUPERteams Programme May to September 2020

Competing and representing your club are big motivators for many participating in sport. scottishathletics’ 4J Studios Virtual SUPERteams offered athletics competition for athletes aged 9-12, maintaining engagement with clubs, members, parents and coaches during lockdown.

Each Virtual SUPERteams Challenge offered a dual competition opportunity: athletes completed four athletics activities (sprint, endurance, jump, throw) to record an individual score for their club leaderboard.

Clubs then also submitted results to the national leaderboard where teams of four represented their club on the national stage. This ensured not only that competition was available to young athletes during lockdown, but that it was available at an appropriate level for each child. Participation amongst girls was particularly high.

Challenge 1 (May) – 147 teams – 72 female

Challenge 2 (July) – 178 teams – 92 female

Challenge 3 (September) – 121 teams – 66 female

Caitlin Watt – led on our 4J Studios Virtual SUPERteams throughout the summer (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Virtual SUPERteams is inclusive, with adaptations available so that any athlete with a disability can take part alongside their peers. This was particularly successful in our partnership with Scottish Disability Sport, who offered a version of the Challenge to their branches in September/October.

Each Virtual SUPERteams event also utilised equipment found at home, from vertical jumping with post-it notes to socks used as throws implements.

Club information packs were accompanied by YouTube tutorials and a Zoom masterclass for club administrators. Each club and national leaderboard were available online for live tracking of scores, and clubs and athletes were encouraged to post pictures and videos on social media.

The events comprising the Virtual SUPERteams were updated throughout the summer to reflect changing lockdown restrictions. Athletes could register performances at home, in the park, on the street or (when facilities reopened) during training sessions.

Several clubs also expanded the age range to include younger and older athletes in their club leaderboard, encouraging more members to join in.

Several clubs competing in SUPERteams reported increases in their young membership during lockdown, and scottishathletics itself has welcomed over 150 new female, U13 members.