1. European School Sports Day
Kevin Scott
National Coordinator E.S.S.D

2. What is ESSD?
The European School Sports Day is a Pan-European initiative intended to be accessible for every European country.
It is a celebration of PE and sport with tens of thousands of young people from hundreds of primary and secondary schools taking part.
Main Goals
- Promote physical activity and health on an international level
Involve and unite as many children and young people as possible through physical activity.

3. What’s Involved? ESSD takes place on Friday 30th September
Having every pupil in your school, particular year group or identified section of pupils active for at least 120 minutes during European School Sports Day
ESSD takes place on Friday 30th September

4. Opportunities of ESSD
Opportunity to be part of an international initiative
Connect with other European countries
Raise the profile of PE and Sport in our schools
Create fun and enjoyment through physical activity for young people – Try out new physical activities and sports e.g Korfball, indoor curling…
Promote Health and Wellbeing for lifelong learning
Empower Social Inclusion and develop social competence amongst students

5. Connecting Agendas
Today’s children may be the first generation to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents because of lack of physical activity.
600,000 people in Europe die each year due to reduced physical activity. (Eurobaramoter, 2014)
Physical inactivity is estimated to cost nearly £300 per person per year in Europe. (WHO, 2014) This makes losses of almost £150 Billion annually!
Globally physical activity accounts for 1.5%-3% of national health care budgets. (Oldridge, 2008)
ESSD keen to get across the following messages during ESSD, outline that promoting ESSD is a step in the right direction to reduce these issues in Europe.

6. Planning an event
Utilise who you already have: Sports leaders, Sports Captains, Young Ambassadors to help plan/run the event.
Can encompass any activity – no set programme! – Do what works for your school.
Could utilise a ‘station’ system – school facilities in/out
Examples of activities previously used in other EU countries
Opening Ceremony – mass warm-up for all involved, intro activity
Encourage pupils to be active to and from school – walk/jog/cycle to school
Staff vs Pupils competitions during lunch-time/after school
‘Run along the Year!’ – Participants run the length of the year in metres (i.e 2016m)

7. Promote your event Invite local media to cover your event.
Share updates on twitter and facebook about your participation in ESSD
Share images to showcase what is taking place in your school
Use the hashtag #ESSD – linking with hundreds of schools throughout Europe

8. Involve other schools in your authority
Share information with secondary schools, curriculum sharing groups, PEPAS meetings etc
Involve Active Schools to encourage cluster Primary Schools to take part.
Use social media to highlight.

9. How to register Let me know of your intention to be involved-
Register to ESSD website: , click ‘registration’ and fill in details (simple process!)
Range of resources on website including helpful toolkit to assist with planning, organising…