Sport in Islington: beneficial for all

By Theo Onoufriou

Sports is very important for everyone’s physical and mental health. Fitness is improved every time you do exercise, no matter the sport.

“The number of people playing sport and taking part in physical activity in England is at the highest level on record, with 63% of the adult population doing 150 minutes, or more, of moderate intensity physical activity a week,” according to Sport England.

The mental health benefits of sport are arguably just as important as the physical ones, because if you are not mentally strong, you might not be physically strong either.

There are many places in Islington that offer sports clubs:

• Hollow Rocks Sports and Social Club, which offers football, basketball, gymnastics, boxing, and rugby.
• Islington Tennis Centre and Gym, which offers classes to learn the exercises for all levels of the sports.
• Go Mammoth, a leisure centre that offers courts in Islington that people can rent out to keep fit and play basketball.

Hollow Rocks Sports and Social Club offers a football training club on Saturday mornings that includes a variation of training to help players reach their full potential and they even include a match near the end of the training session.

Video Credits: Theo Onoufriou. Football training at Hollow Rocks Sports and Social Club

“Sport is one of the few things in life that can instantly connect people, boost their mental health and bring joy all at once,” said Toni McManus, manager at Hollow Rocks Sports and Social Club

“It’s not just about fitness at Hollow Rocks, it’s about fun, friendships and feeling good in your body. Especially as adults, we forget how powerful it is just to play. We make people feel like sport is something people want to do, not have to do.”

McManus said that many people come in for a free trial, and that she does her best to make every experience welcoming and fun. “The experience needs to feel light-hearted, social and judgement-free. Once people feel safe and like they belong, they come back and the real magic is helping them go from ‘I’ll give it a go’ to ‘This is my community now’.”

Her best advice? “Just start, you do not need to be fit, fast or fearless, you just need to show up!”

“The first step is always the hardest, but it gets easier and more fun from there. Surround yourself with people who cheer you on, not compare you. Remember, you do not have to be sporty to do sport”.

Her club also offers a basketball training club that focuses on certain training scenarios that could be used in a real basketball match, which the players apply to a fun match at the end of the session.

Video Credits: Theo Onoufriou. Basketball training at Hollow Rocks Sports and Social Club.

Mark, the football coach at Hollow Rocks’ football club, says: “All sports are a meditation for the mind and once you become active, you can get so many things done.”

What would he say to people just starting out?

“You are going to have fun! See what skills you have and keep on trying to succeed at the sport.”

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Sports also help to build social development and self-management skills. You learn to work together with people and have a sense of belonging somewhere, especially if your sports involve teams. The self-management skills are improving your time management, so that you can commit to different times and weight management, so that you can know how many calories you burn in the sport and how to maintain a healthy weight.

According to the World Health Organization, regular physical activity “helps prevent and treat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and breast and colon cancer. It also helps prevent hypertension, overweight and obesity and can improve mental health, quality of life and well-being.”

Sports have many different benefits

Football:

• Cardiovascular health, which involves running.
• Teamwork skills.
• Confidence and Self-esteem.

Basketball:

• Bone strength, less chance of osteoporosis.
• Muscle development (Strength and tone).
• Coordination skills.

Tennis:

• Increased Aerobic capacity, use of oxygen.
• Enhanced flexibility.
• Reduced risk of injury.

Fencing:

• Focus and concentration.
• Discipline and perseverance.
• Improves strength and agility.

Swimming:

• Improved breathing.
• Improves weight management.
• Stress reduction.