About Us
welcome to playball belfast!
Motivate - Inspire - Challenge 
Give your child the opportunity to enjoy "ALL" Sport with us in a creative, fun and structured enviornment!
STORMONT | WINDSOR LAWN TENNIS CLUB | QUEENS PEC
ULSTER UNIVERSITY JORDANSTOWN | BUMBLES NURSERY
BUTTERCUPS AFTERSCHOOL | INCHMARLO PREPARATORY SCHOOL
ROSETTA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Playball is educationally based: positive coaching methods are used to develop life skills like independence, self confidence, courage, discipline, concentration and listening skills, goods sportsmanship, responsbility and social interaction.
Playball is result orientated: A maximum of 8 - 10 children per class ensures adequate individual attention and an excellent learning enviornment.
Playball is specialised: Coaches are trained every 16 weeks using specialised coaching equipment and methods
Playball is currently taught in several locations around South & East Belfast. If you are interested in Playball at your school or Nursery contact us to schedule your free trial and take an active step in forming our childrens future
WHY PLAYBALL WHAT DOES IT DEVELOP?
PLAYBALL TAUGHT ALL OVER THE WORLD
Playball is a sports program which offers 6 different sport and movement programs for boys and girls between the ages of two and eight. All of the programs are taught in a fun-filled, energetic and positive enviornment and for the last 25 years children from all over the world have enjoyed the positive impact that our programs have had on their lives.
At face value Playball programs seem to have only two main objectives - improving basic movement skills and refining sport skills and techniques. However the success of this seemingly "sport program" is in actual fact that through competent sports participation, achieved through sound coaching principles, children secure a solid base from which to develop many other and more important aspects of their lives.
Our goal is clear. To teach sport properly so that any child who attends any one of our 6 programs will achieve a measure of competence!
All of the programs have been developed, improved and re-designed over the past 25 years resulting in a coaching system that is educational and appropriate in every aspect. The programs are age speciifc, with each of our programs taking into account the difference in the cognitive, emotional and social development of the children taught in each age group.
WHY PLAYBALL, WHAT DOES IT DEVELOP?
We are involved in many, if not most of the child's developmental stages.
Senses - daily experiences that develop sensory systems through movement and play are crucial to gaining an understanding of the surrounding world
-
- Vestibular - Balance & Movement
- Tactile - Touch, Vision and Body Position
Fundamental Movement Skills
-
- Locomotion
- Stability
- Manipulation
- Movement
- Body Awareness
- Crossing the Mid-line
Life Skills - Confidence, Sportsmanship, Cooperation, Flexibility, Responsibility, Persistence, Leadership, Decision Making, Communication, Positive Relations, Courage, Respect, Self-worth, Goal Setting
The program follows the progression from basic fundamental sports skills, to mini games of tennis, hockey, cricket, rugby, football, basketball, baseball and volleyball etc. Our action-packed curriculum will engage your little star in fun, age-appropriate, high quality games and activities, ensuring that they have a positive experience with us and enjoy every minute of being physically active!
All of our coaching Systems© are "outcome" based meaning that they are defined by what children require at a specific stage in their developmental level - all of our programs are thus age specific and align themselves with the sound educational principle of teaching children well within the boundaries of their age profile. Our programs for younger children are more focused on movement development - with a smaller ratio of sport skills, whereas programs for older children have a bigger ratio of sport skills and a smaller percentage of movement skills.
Playball has developed learning material backed by occupational therapists, sports coaches and teachers for each age group separately according to developmental milestones for each specific age. This ensures effective learning as content is just right for your child. Each age group has its own objectives.
Programmes available for children aged 2-7 years.
Two can do (2-3 years)
At 2 we are still laying the basic foundations of movement in order to enable the child to accomplish more challenging sport-related skills. An early encounter with a structured learning environment, 2's are exposed to concepts like a learning routine, listening and following instruction, basic concepts like colours and shapes, spatial concepts and an introduction to basic movement skills.
Watch me @ 3 (3-4 years)
The learning environment is still structured and children are exposed to fantasy and creativity which are relevant to this age group. More is expected regarding skills - a basic foundation in sports skills are laid at this young age.
Dinkies (4-5 years)
Children of this age are able to concentrate for longer periods and are also more accurate when imitating skills. More technical detail is added and a wide variety of specific sport skills are covered at this stage.
Preps (5-6 years)
Refining sport skills are priorities now. Children are corrected and guided to use the right techniques and are also required to work in pairs.
Players (6 years +)
Sport blocks are coached: Hockey, tennis, volleyball, baseball, basketball/netball, soccer and cricket are presented. Children learn basic rules and game plans of each sport.
Playball is progressive in nature and so each of the above program's is equally split into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced (3 terms) consisting of 10 - 12 weekly classes per term.
At Playball we only teach between 4 and 8 children per session. This guarantees individual attention and results which is key to the success of the program. Children receive progress reports and are rewarded with medals and certificates on completing each stage. Parents receive information and newsletters regularly keeping them updated about their child's development. Playball coaches are partners in education who work alongside school staff to give your child the best chance in Developing optimally.
Playball© sport coaches recognise that when coaching young children sport, it is not appropriate to teach physical skills in isolation. The emotional, social and cognitive development of the student has an equally important role to play when considering how the student is taught. A very important component of our teaching methodology, is to make the children aware about social skills, values and norms whilst developing their physical skills. This approach is educational and holistic, ensuring that the focus is on the development of the "whole child". Our approach is a positive one - we believe that positive encouragement and giving the child an opportunity to experience success (however small) results in improved self-concept and confidence which in turn will improve competence.
Playball© is taught in an organised and structured manner. Class numbers are small, children are taught to listen to instructions, to observe demonstrations attentively and to concentrate while attempting the skills. No pressure is placed on the child to achieve! Healthy values are instilled such as treating other students with respect, co-operating well, taking turns, being flexible and being a good sport
We find that children who attend Playball display:
- Increased confidence and independence
- Motivation to want to succeed
- Persistence and courage to keep on trying
- Mature attitude to both winning and handling disappointment
- Ability to take part in, not just one, but multiple sports
- Love for physical activity and sport
Self Confidence, Listening Skills, Perception, Life Skills, Teamwork, Balance, Gross Motor Development, Improved Co-ordination, Dominance (right/left), Better Concentration, Rhythm & Timing, Midline Crossing, Independence
PLAYBALL TAUGHT ALL OVER THE WORLD
The concept has been successful all over the world and is currently teaching children in the USA, Canada, England, Ireland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, UAE, Switzerland, Cyprus, Mexico and Southern Africa.