Booking
- This is an Inclusive Borough Championships event.
- Booking is available to schools on the initial booking date of:
- Monday 16th September 2024 at 5pm
- If an event is full, schools will be placed on a waiting list and be notified of this.
- MSSP will contact schools should places become available in the build-up to events.
Event Eligibility
- Pupils with SEND should be prioritised by schools when selecting a squad.
- To progress to the London Youth Games: ‘All competitors should have an identified additional need or disability.’
- Specific SEND inclusivity details on how we approach each of our inclusive festivals and competitions can be found via our Inclusion page on this site.
- School squads should be well prepared and have time to practise with the competition rules before attending this event.
- There will also be Inclusive Multi-Skill events being delivered this year.
- Please consider the most appropriate event for your pupils to attend before registering.
Team Eligibility
- Age: KS2 (Year 3/4/5/6)
- Mixed gender event. Teams are required to enter at least 1 girl.
- Squad size: Maximum of 5, minimum of 3 in a squad.
- There must be at least one girl on court at all times.
NGB Info
For supporting Boccia in your school please visit: https://bocciaengland.org.uk/
Requirements – Teamsheets
Kit & Equipment
- Players of the same school should wear the same colour tops/bibs.
- No jewellery permitted.
- All children must wear appropriate footwear.
Staffing and Spectators
At public sites such as parks we will section off an area for the public where parents that are not with the school party may spectate from.
On any school sites: Spectators will not be permitted entry to any school/private sports facilities. Primary schools must inform parents in advance when inviting students to take part. All staff attending the event must have enhanced DBS clearance and have been fully vetted by their primary school. DBS numbers, full name and school will be required in advance by the host school.
Rules
- Boccia is a game similar to bowls where each team’s objective is to try and position their balls as close to the target ball (jack) as possible. A game consists of two sides, the red side and the blue side. Each team is made of 3 players with 2 balls.
- 3 on court at any time (minimum 1 girl + 1 boy).
- Group games played at two ends (dependent on time available). Finals played at three ends (dependent on time available).
- All players must be seated during the game.
- The ball can be propelled by rolling, throwing or kicking. A ramp may be used to help children when rolling.
- The red side always propels the jack in the first end.
- The jack ball is white and is thrown first. The jack ball must cross the ‘V’ line to be in play.
- The player who propels the jack ball also propels their team’s first coloured ball.
- A player from the opposite side then propels their first coloured ball.
- The side furthest from the jack plays until they get closest or run out of balls.
- The end is complete when all balls from both sides have been propelled.
- One point is awarded for every ball of the same colour which is closest to the jack.
- The blue side then starts the second end.
- After both ends have been completed the winning side is the team with the higher accumulative score from both ends. If the scores are equal during group stages a draw is given. If scores are equal during knockout stages a tiebreak end is played.
- A tie break end – Each team has a maximum of 3 balls (1 per person max) playoff with the jack being placed on the ‘replaced jack cross’ in the middle of the court. Played out as normal game. A coin toss again decides who plays the first jack ball.
Competition Format
- Points awarded are: 3 for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss.
- Group placing determined by: points accrued, score difference, points scored, head to head result (if 2 teams).
Draw Format
- First stage is round robin groups. Final group standings will be determined from results. Winners of the groups will take top seed of their group, 2nd take 2nd seed of their group, etc.
- All teams will progress to a second stage of competition according to their placement in the first round, with the format to be determined by the number of schools entered.
Awards
- Winners: GOLD medal, certificates and Trophy.
- Runners Up: SILVER medal and certificates.
- 3rd Place: BRONZE medal and certificates.
- REFSPECT winners – Certificate.
- Participation certificates will be presented to all participants.
Results
- Results and event report will be available on the news webpage within 24 hours of the event ending.
Winner’s Pathway
- The winner (or highest placed eligible team) will represent Merton at the London Youth Games. All details TBC.
- To progress to the London Youth Games: ‘Young people that fall into any of the Boccia England Classifications (BC 1-8) are eligible to participate in this competition.’
MSSP Duty of Care
MSSP have a duty to take all measures that are reasonable in the circumstances to ensure the health, safety, wellbeing and welfare of all participants and any other attendees involved in the relevant event. MSSP have tried to ensure that all reasonable steps have been taken in its duty of care being discharged, and to the requisite standard of care, MSSP have ensured the following guidance and actions have been adhered to and carried out:
- That the advice of the UK Government and public health authorities has been followed
- That the bespoke guidance and protocols issued by the relevant NGB, federation and/or umbrella organisation (if applicable) have been followed.
Safeguarding and DBS
MSSP acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and the requirements of the Partnership’s host organisation, the Harris Federation.
We recognise that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. We aim to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, all children and young leaders:
- have a positive and enjoyable experience of sport or physical activity at MSSP events in a safe and child centred environment
- are protected from abuse whilst participating or officiating at MSSP events
All MSSP staff at the event are fully vetted and enhanced DBS checked. It is the schools’ responsibility to ensure any staff and volunteers who attend the event comply with the host venue safeguarding and welfare policy and can provide documentation to support this on request.
Spectators will not be permitted entry to school/private sports facilities and should be informed of this when letters are sent to parents. In order to safeguard children at our events, we will only allow entry to parents if they have been DBS checked and vetted through safer recruitment procedures and authorised to attend by your school. The school will maintain responsible for them at all times. At public sites such as parks we will section off an area for the public where parents that are not with the school party may spectate from.
For more information regarding MSSP’s safeguarding, please click here
If you have any concerns about a child at our event please make sure you say something. The MSSP safeguarding team contact details will be on display at all events or for more information on who to speak to please click here
Please see attached Risk Assessment in the ‘Resources’ sections for event specific planning and considerations.
REFSPECT
MSSP values the contributions by all those involved in making our events a FUN, safe and enjoyable environment for children to take part in sport. To ensure our events continue to be successful we promote our REFSPECT campaign. We expect everyone attending our events to maintain respect for the rules, officials, opponents, teammates and themselves. Only designated staff and volunteers will be allowed on the side-lines. All spectators are to remain behind the barriers, providing positive support and encouraging a fun and fair event.
For more information about REFSPECT and codes of conduct for attendance at our events, please click here
If any staff, adults or children are deemed to be in breach of our REFSPECT codes of conduct they will be asked to leave the event and the Head Teacher of the relevant school will be informed immediately.
Photo Consent
Photographs will be taken at this event by staff members from MSSP and may be used for promotional material. If you have any children that do not have permission to be photographed, please inform a member of staff before the start of the event.
Please ensure your school only take photographs of their own students and do not share any photos of other children on social media without consent from that school.
Social Media
For information and updates from our events, please follow and use the platforms below.
Email: info@mertonssp.org.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mertonssp
First Aid
MSSP will have a basic first aid kit and qualified person at all events but will not be available to tend to less urgent first aid, as they will be delivering the event. As part of the school’s risk assessment a qualified first aider should be with the school team at all times (including travel) to tend to their children during the event.
Comments, Compliments and Complaints
MSSP aims to deliver a first-class service to all of its stakeholders. We see all feedback, whether good or bad, as a valuable way for us to learn and improve. Therefore, we welcome all comments, compliments and complaints. For further details, please click here