Over the weekend, Disability Sport Northern Ireland (DSNI) hosted the first of two Women and Girls Pathway Try Days, featuring four adaptive sports: Boccia, Lawn Bowls, Table Tennis, and Archery. Held in the hall of the Antrim Forum, the day began with Archery and Lawn Bowls, where small groups rotated through the activities. Participants had ample time to try each sport, allowing them to see if they were both their interest and ability levels for future participation.
This event was great, as coaches tailored each of the sports to work for everyone and would have supports in place to engage the participants and a club and pathway level. The coach from Lawn Bowls has worked with individuals from all levels and trained them to top performance levels. Seeing them adjust each set up so the girls to score points and get a feel for the wooden ball. The smaller numbers allowed each person a go with one on one instruction. This inclusion was similar with Archery as well, we even saw a few golds with the women and girls hitting a bullseye!
After a short break—complete with coffee, tea, and some friendly socializing—the women returned to try Boccia and Table Tennis. Smiling faces and laughter were common sights, reflecting the enthusiasm of participants and the likelihood that many would consider joining a club or pursuing a pathway in disability sports.
One participant’s father shared his excitement expressing how they wanted to see if there were options for their daughter that worked at her speed and ability level. It was great to see kids that have been involved in other sports come and try activities today. There were definitely a few cards given to help with finding a club to join after the day.
Terry Conroy from DSNI commented on the event’s purpose, emphasizing that even with smaller participant numbers, it’s crucial to showcase the range of sports available. Many people are still unaware of what disability sports have to offer, and creating these “try days” allows individuals to explore new possibilities in a low-pressure setting.
DSNI currently manages the club and performance pathways wheelchair basketball and boccia, but they support 12 governing bodies in their efforts to make their pathways more inclusive. Conroy noted that “the events are not just about trying a new sport but also about building confidence, discovering new skills, and potentially starting a journey into competitive pathways.”
The second Try Day is planned at the Foyle Arena from 2-5 pm on Sunday, November 10th. For those interested in exploring local opportunities in adaptive sports, visit the website ActiveLivingNoLimits.com
In addition to these events, DSNI offers ongoing support and resources for those who want to continue in disability sports. They organise a range of participation programmes, events, training courses and education projects all designed to improve inclusive sports provision.
