Vabiz Bio

develop sports facilities. Recreation clubs are good example of this. However this should be properly coordinated by the government.

Every individual in the community always look up to government to do everything for them especially things that are meant for public consumption. Unfortunately, government can not do everything but in a situation where it can set a good example for its citizens to follow, such move may be in the right direction. What matters most is for such government to play its part and encourage individuals in the community to assist. Our government should enforce and maintain good town planning in our cities including the so called rural areas and set an example to be set by providing a model sports facilities at least for each community.

A situation where government provides sports facilities (e.g. sports stadium and centers); there is need for proper maintenance and sustenance. The  cost of maintenance may force the government to commercialese such facilities and if care is not taken the  bill may be too  much for the public to bear, eventually the public may be discouraged  and such facilities may not be put to its maximum use. Local government could help in establishing recreational parks and centre, however where hiring fees would be taken it should be very   minimal.

In the course of sports promotion, clubs and societies of various classes could be of help in the development of sports facilities. A club may decide to build its own sports centre(s) as its contribution to sports development. This is now happening in Nigeria with recognition given to professionalism in sports. The only problem with this type of contribution is that such facilities may never be open to the public for use but restricted to members only.

In the same vain there are other institutions such as corporations, industries, firms and companies that can assist greatly in the development of sports facilities. The health of employees should be the concern of any company that wants maximum workers, output. Many commercial and government institutions are now conscious of the importance of physical fitness and health programmes for their employees.

However there are guidelines for the use of sports facilities provided by these institutions. Guidelines such as specific hours of operations of the facilities, a written set of operational procedure and objectives and training for participants and so on may reduce the accessibility of these facilities to the public. In Nigeria we have many companies and corporations establishing and funding sports clubs that are making their marks at national and international competitions. Tax relief may be given to such companies or industries on the amount spend on facilities for sports.

Apart from the establishment of sports clubs, these institutions also involve themselves in the promotion of recreation programs. Many of them have staff clubs or staff recreation centers. Although their sports facilities may not be open to the general public, the fact still remains that they are contributing to the development of sports facilities in their various communities. All that need to be done is for government to establish a working alliance between them and their communities.

A joint industry and government sponsored sports programs will in no small way help in the development of sports facilities in our communities. A joint programme like this will be more viable and be less a burden for the community to maintain. This type of venture may be in form of recreation parks or centers. The local government can easily look for a co-sponsor(s) to develop sports facilities.

There may be a joint programme(s) between the community and the government to develop sports facilities. A lot could be borrowed from the ‘’ Better life for Rural women” where the community was expected to show its interest in establishing or embarking on a project before the local or state or national body could come to assist them. If through a community effort a special facility is established but uncompleted, such community may call for assistance from the government or even private individuals.

A community could even lunch an appeal fund for development of sports facilities. In a situation like this, the goals and the specific plan for the kind of sports facilities the community intends to develop must be clearly defined. This will involve many individuals, corporations, companies, associations, government and various national and international bodies as joint sponsors.

As aforementioned, the facilities available in our communities are limited in number and very few and even most of them are not open to the entire public but for special groups of people because they are owned privately. Therefore, both school and community sports facilities should be planned and used to supplement and complement each other in meeting the needs of students and community.  This demands that government should take more than passive interest in the development of sports facilities in schools. There should also be a reciprocal opportunity between schools and community for the use of the facilities. This will promote cooperation and support between the school and the community where it exists.

Both students and staff of our academic institutions should be encouraged to participate in sports either as intramural or extramural program. There have been cases where alumnus single handedly sponsor big projects in schools. If alumni of various schools are encouraged they can contribute in this regard.

If schools show enough commitment, it will bring awareness to individual member of the community to know that sporting activities are not for academic institution teams or club alone, but all member of the community. This type of awareness may spur such community into developing sports facilities in the community and the academic institutions through either individual efforts or community effort or both.

A community may go beyond the immediate local for assistance. Assistance may be sought from national and international bodies for sponsorship or co-sponsorship to develop sports facilities.

The existing sports facilities in our communities may be developed, maintained and expanded by all the bodies stated above in such communities. Local materials may be adapted or used to improvise some sports materials to reduce cost. Thus weather urban or rural the rule of adaptation should be adopted.

Government should embark upon thorough campaign and publicity for more public awareness to the importance of participation in sporting activities and the prospects it can bring to a community. This may be done through mass media, posters, seminars and clinics for both seniors and juniors staff of various work of life and the public in general  the local, state and federal levels.

Community based sports competitions within and outside localities should be frequently organized to reflect the usefulness of these facilities among various age grades, sex, institutions and clubs to be sponsored by various organizations. Such competition should be intra and extra local.

There should be organization of a community based sports programmes in our various communities. Community service organization programmes should be made used of by government for development of sports facilities. For example, Boys scouts, philanthropic club, charity organizations, religion and social associations who are voluntary association can be appealed to and encouraged to assist in the development of sports facilities. However if religion associations would be involved a distinction should be made between religion interest and sports interest.

All these suggestions would work provided the following precautions are taken:

The local climate and the geographical location of the community should be given adequate consideration while developing sports facilities. This may help in developing the natural facilities in the community.

There should be adequate provision of experts such as coaches, trainers and other technical personnel to make the best use of the available facilities and equipment in such a way that public would see and appreciate the benefits to be derived from them and the importance of having them in the community. Willing community members can be trained as coaches or recreation officials to assist in managing and training other members of the community.

There should be emphasis on formation and sustenance of maintenance culture. The facilities available should be regularly serviced and maintained by all the bodies concerned.

Due to the prevalence pf social vices in our society, adequate provision should be made for supervision, security and safety of the easily removable facilities and equipment.

Local talents should be tapped and recognized in the community and used for their individual and societal progress.

REFERENCES

Bucher, C. A, and Koenig C.R. (1974), Methods and Material for Secondary Schools physical Education; St. Louis: The C. V. Mosby Co.

Bucher, C.A. (1979), Foundation of physical Education; London: The C. A. Mosby Co.

Bucher, C.A. (1983), Administration of physical Education and Athletic Programme; St., Louis: C.V. Mosby Co.

Hall, J. T., Cooper, J .M. Frost, R. B. Shenk, H., Warren, N. and Wiley, R. C. (1973), Administration Principles, Theory and practice with Application to physical Education; Pacific Palisades, California: Goodyear publishing Co.

Nixon, J. E. and Jewett, A. E. (1980), An Introduction to physical Education; Philadelphia: Saunders College press.

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