KickStart - Postponement Notice

You may have noticed the lack of information, results, and table updates since the last posting.

A combination of colleagues leaving, people having to give time to other work issues, and volunteer issues around recruitment and retention of teams ( some of which we think were phantom teams!) has meant that we have decided to bring the current KickStart programme to a halt - hopefully only a temporary one.

In the meantime, if you are a KickStart dad or player the GL1 sportshall is available for you to play 5-a-side football in up until the end of March on most Saturdays between 11.00 and 12.00. Please make use of this facility.

We are exploring how KickStart can be sustained and developed along with another project - the Men's Health Cafe - this will be dependent on available finance and an agreement with a community group to continue with this. If successful we'll make a posting on this blog and get back in touch with people.

KickStart has not only been a fun project - it has also enabled us to get across health information on a variety of subjects to a large group of men/fathers - information which will hopefully be retained as people go through life ( if one bloke remembers any of the information we've given out and visits their doctor, and receives treatment it will have been worth it; difficult to evaluate at this stage!)

Happy Christmas and New Year to all people who've been involved in KickStart!

Best wishes all

The KickStart Team

KickStart - False start? KickStart!

If you're wondering about results and the whereabouts of the KickStart league table, and the original fixture list in the previous post- then wonder no further!

As has been the experience of starting off a KickStart league, one team - Pro Team - had to drop out of the league at the last moment, which meant that the match scheduled orginally for 26th Sept had to be cancelled and the fixture list reconfigured to include a new team - Linden Lads - who were recruited thanks to Lloyd's efforts. The original fixtures list has been removed to avoid any confusion and a new one posted at the bottom of this post.

The 2009/2010 league thus kicked off on 10th October with a fiery ( behave yourselves guys!) see-saw match between Old Guns and Eurostars that eventually ended in a 21 -15 win for Old Guns. Both teams took away the Smoking Cessation activity to complete.

Remember - this activity carries a very large number of points - if one or more team members agree to give up smoking for at least a month and contact's the telephone number on the activity form and follows the instructions ( give your name and KickStart team). This is to ensure you are assisted in giving up smoking ( and so we can make sure you're not telling any fibs just to score extra points - no cheating!)

Eurostars have a chance to redeem themselves in the match tomorrow against against last season's Champions - All Whites . All Whites will be given the Smoking Cessation activity - Eurostars the Male Cancers activity.

Remember - the more activities you do, the more points you score for your team!

We will be adding further health and parenting activities to the website throughout the course of the season. You can download these and complete them as you wish.

Score: Old Guns 21 Eurostars 15

Week 1.



Revised KickStart fixtures - 2009 - 2010

10th Oct Eurostars v Old Guns

17th Oct All Whites v Eurostars

24th Oct Linden Lads v Prophecy Professionals

31 Oct Old Guns v Prophecy Professionals

21 Nov Linden Lads v Eurostars

28th Nov Prophecy Professionals v All Whites

5th Dec All Whites v Old Guns

12th Dec Eurostars v Prophecy Professionals

19th Dec Linden Lads v Prophecy Professionals

9th Jan Eurostars v Old Guns

16th Jan All Whites v Eurostars

23rd Jan Old Guns v Linden Lads

30th Jan Old Guns v Prophecy Professionals

13th Feb All Whites v Linden Lads

20th Feb Linden Lads v Eurostars

27th Feb Prophecy Professionals v All Whites

6th March All Whites v Old Guns

13th March Eurostars v Prophecy Professionals

20th March All Whites v Linden Lads

27th March Old Guns v Linden Lads

KickStart Fixtures 2009 - 2010

The KickStart men's health and parenting 5-a-side league is back. We welcome two new teams this season - Eurostars and Prophecy Professionals. First game up is on Saturday 26th of September - Old Guns v Pro Team. KickStart commences at 11.00 at GL1 on all Saturdays noted below. Remember the more health and parenting activities you do, the more points you'll score!

A registration reminder!

Just a reminder that registration for KickStart is at GL1 Sportshall at 11.00 on Saturday 19th September. You'll need 5 players minimum - 7 maximum ( for use as substitutes or in case players can't make it every game, injury etc).

The new league will run through until the end of March - or longer if we have more teams. Due to constraints on the use of the sportshall - i.e. we only have it for an hour on Saturday mornings, and can only fit so many fixtures in, we can only accept a maximum of 6 teams - who will play each other twice ( not once as per last season). First match takes place the following weekend on the 26th. All matches will begin at 11.00. Lloyd and Louise will be refereeing - and encouraging you to do the health and parenting activities. Remember - you'll score more points for the activities than for the football, and you can also score points for attending the dads and kids club at Bartongate Children's Centre on Saturday mornings - even if your team isn't playing.

See you all on the 19th!

The KickStart Team

Think Fathers...KickStart

The Think Fathers Campaign campaign is aimed at making the world a more father friendly place. The campaign is aimed at encouraging public, health and family services to be more ‘dad-friendly’ and inclusive of fathers. What a good idea! For further information take a look at www.think-fathers.org

And whilst we're at it - KickStart will be kicking off again on Saturday 19th September at GL1. Six potential teams have been identified as wanting to participate. If you're interested please contact the KickStart email address at kickstart@topmail.co.uk. Thanks!

Kick off...September

For people wondering what happened to the good intention of a KickStart summer league, a volunteer issue has prevented this running... however, the intention is to kick off again in September. We'll keep people posted and will be in touch just as soon as details are finalised.

All Stars V Team Brown - plus All Whites Champions!

For people wondering about the result of the final league encounter of the season - and the revelation of which team won the KickStart dads men's health and parenting 5-a-side league, it's ironic that a health issue prevented posting the information; but wait no more!

The final match on March 21st saw the prolific footballing skills of All Stars see off Team Brown. Whilst All Stars have won all of their matches it's a shame that they could only score 18 points from the final round of health activities - not enough to lift them off bottom position in the table. Better luck next time...Whilst Team Brown scored no points for football - a paltry 6 health activity points was just enough to lift them above Pro Team in the final table.

All Whites - CHAMPIONS!

Therefore, All Whites, despite winning only one match, by dint of their active involvement in the health and parenting activities, are this season's Champions, scoring almost 60 more points than second placed Old Guns - congratulations to All Whites! Commiserations to the rest of the teams involved - it's worth taking note that All Whites have shown that the more activities you do - the more you learn - and the more points you'll score!

All Whites will be presented with the KickStart shield at the start of the next season at the first match registration event.

Next season

The court is booked - and finance secured to continue running KickStart for the next year. We'll be in touch ASAP as we want to kick-off the new season as soon as possible.

Score: All Stars 19 Team Brown 9

Week 10

Pro Team V All Whites

The penultimate game of the season - and one that had been eagerly awaited by both teams involved (well, that's as polite as we can be!). Given that this is possibly the nearest thing KickStart has to a derby match ( although others may disagree) it was played in good spirits and only marred by the restricted time available at GL1 - something we will need to resolve prior to next season. A close fought match ended up with All Whites narrowly beating Pro Team, although given the limited time, further time may have seen a different result. But there's always next season...

In terms of activity points scored on the day, All Whites were the clear victors, scoring 6 parenting activity points - and 54 health activity points using the Mental Health and Stress and Sexual Health activities.

A glance at the league table shows All Whites taking what appears to be an unassailable lead - but figures can be deceptive - there is still a chance for other teams, but only if activities are downloaded from the blog, completed and handed in either next weekend to Lloyd or Lou - or sent to/handed in at Bartongate Children's Centre marked for the attention of Mr Ismail Ginwalla. You can also score extra points by attending the Dads and Kids Club at Bartongate Children's Centre. The cut-off date/time for all activities is 12.00 on 21st March.

The final table will appear after this date once we've had a chance to get all the relevant information together; the KickStart shield will be inscribed with the name of the winning team and presented to the winners at the registration event at the start of the new season.

Score: Pro Team 13 All Whites 15

Week 9

Final Whistle - activity forms!

The final game of the KickStart winter league will take place between All Stars and Team Brown on March 21st.

All teams still have a chance to add to their points total by undertaking further health and parenting activites - and by attending Bartongate Children's Centre's Dads and Kids Club on a Saturday morning.

12.00 on March 21st is the cut-off date for acceptance for completed activity forms.

These may be handed to one of the KickStart facilitators present on a Saturday morning ( Lloyd or Lou) - or sent to/handed in at Bartongate Children's Centre. Please mark these for the attention of Mr Ismail Ginwalla. Thank you.

The KickStart Team

Old Guns V All Stars

A triumph of 'young guns' over tired old legs? Old Guns met their first football defeat in their last game of the winter league - being overrun and soundly beaten by All Stars; in terms of the health activites Old Guns demolished All Stars, scoring over 4 times as many points - a haul of 52 points from the Smoking Cessation Activity and the Mental Health and Stress Activity. All Stars could only manage 12 points from the Sexual Health and Smoking Cessation Activities by way of reply. We are aware that team members did take home activity forms - so the points haul may well change for - both teams.

The result leaves Old Guns at the top of the table by virtue of the points scored from their activites - 4 points clear of All Whites who are due to play Pro Team on Saturday. Old Guns have played their last game however, meaning that if other teams can overtake them in the remaining games - Old Guns will need to score more points from activities (available to download) to stay on top of the table. All Whites have been the only team to get involved in the Parenting Activities, and score extra points - a lesson that other teams may be wise to heed...

Score: Old Guns 5 All Stars 16
Week 8

Mental Health and Stress - activity

We understand that there may be an issue regarding the 'MEN-tal' posting and the new Mental Health and Stress activity; this has affected both the Boxnet account we use to host files, and posts on this blog.

Whilst we are aware anyone may view this blog, it has been created to support a group of fathers involved in the Gloucester KickStart men's health and parenting initiative.If anyone has an issue with any of the postings, or the activities provided for participants involved in KickStart, we would be grateful if instead of anonymously attempting to interfere with our material - and hence disrupt the running of the KickStart programme, that they could contact us using the KickStart email address at kickstart@topmail.co.uk . We are happy to listen and address genuine issues.

Thank you.

The KickStart Team

End of one season - and the start of another!

We're getting close to the end of the KickStart winter league season; it looks as if All Whites may have the title sewn up - but there are still last Saturday's results and activity scores to post, which will be done ASAP - and two more matches left to play,so it's not over yet! There's still time to catch up on completing health and parenting activities you haven't attempted. The dads and kids club at Bartongate Children's Centre will also be open this weekend if you want to pop along with your child - and score extra points.

Following the end of the winter league, a summer league will kick off - hopefully in April; the facility is booked - we'll need to ascertain how many dads/teams will be taking part before we publish a fixture list. Once we're aware we'll let people know.

It's looking very likely that a new hosted website will also be provided to support KickStart - and potentially other work with fathers; this should hopefully overcome any problems we have recently experienced using the free blogging platform we currently use. We'll let dads know as soon as it becomes available.

MEN-tal

MEN-tal

A new health activity has been added to the blog - all teams will get a chance to undertake the activity on a match day - but you can also download this from the blog and complete it beforehand if you wish!

The activity is Mental Health and Stress and looks at coping with stress and overcoming or managing this. We all experience mental or emotional distress at sometime during our lives.

One in four of your friends or relations will have some sort of mental health problem over the next year. It may be feeling worthless or hopeless, anxious, stressed, or panicking so much that they get no happiness or pleasure from life. Just like the lottery - it could be you.

And as the strapline on the new activity states: 'Just because you're a man doesn't mean you have to cope on your own!'

There are lots of places where help can be found to sort out problems – on the net, by telephone, from community groups and especially from friends.

Sadly, half of men with a mental health problem wouldn’t want anyone, not even their mates, to know about it. Your GP or organisations such as Samaritans aren’t there to judge you – they’re confidential - they’ll listen to you and try to help you.

Other activities? Keep an eye on the blog - we just might add a few more health and/or parenting activities to catch you out before the end of the season.

The KickStart Team

All Whites V Old Guns

A match that almost didn't take place due to injuries ( sustained elsewhere...) went ahead to avoid fixture congestion. All Whites didn't succumb easily, but were overcome eventually by Old Guns.

On the health activities front, All Whites were clear winners - but only because they had downloaded and completed their Smoking Activity forms prior to the match - their completion of the Sexual Health Activity is still outstanding. Old Guns have yet to complete the Smoking Activity ( one Old Guns player did hand in a Sexual Health Activity form from a previous game...)

Due to the 5-a-side court not being available at the agreed time - and hence having a limited amount of time available to play football, players therefore took their forms away with them to complete. We await the results with interest...

Score: All Whites 10 Old Guns 22

Week 7

Team Brown V Pro Team

An initial see-saw football encounter which at times saw Pro Team ahead of Team Brown eventually found Pro Team wanting - and shipping goals, with a result that saw Team Brown double the number of goals scored by their opponents.

On the health and parenting activities front, both teams scored a respectable 21 points each from the new Smoking Activity - however, we are informed that some team members have taken their forms home with them. We are not sure if this means that some players will get in touch with the Smoking Cessation Service - and thus pile up 25 points for each ( smoking) player who takes part...that is if they manage to achieve 4 weeks as a non-smoker. We live in hope! If your team contains a smoker willing to give up - that's a lot of points! This may appear punitive to teams containing all non-smokers - but we feel justified with this one - smoking is something that can have a serious affect on your health - and that of any friends and family.

All Whites still head the table - just - having played less games than some and having undertaken less health activities ( although far more parenting activities than any other team). Pro Team and Team Brown are not too far off the pace.

Other news this week - a posse of University of Gloucestershire student referees turned up on Saturday to find out what it was all about. Hopefully they'll return and take charge of a few games - in the meantime thanks go to Lloyd and Louise for their continued commitment and voluntary support of the project.

Score: Team Brown 14 Pro Team 7

Week 6

The match, the striker...erm...the smoker? ( A new activity)

A new health activity has been added to the roster of activities - an activity around smoking. As per the format of the other health activities you've been used to doing, there's info re the affect of smoking and where to seek assistance if you want to give up, and as usual you'll get to score a few points...but this activity also offers a chance to add more than a few extra points. Interested?

Smoking is a major cause of serious ill-health; you may not be fully aware of the affect of smoking - on yourself, or your family and friends - or you may not want to know and bury your head in the sand. You may not even care - if you're a young man you're invincible - right?

If you're involved in KickStart we can hazard a guess that one of the reasons you're involved is because you enjoy playing football and want to keep fit - but as a smoker you'll most probably end up degrading your fitness levels; ask yourself - which would you rather give up - smoking or football?

If you would really like to try to give up smoking, save yourself a few pounds, and do your health and the health of those around you a favour - and earn 25 KickStart points, all you need to do is contact the telephone number of the Gloucestershire Stop Smoking Support Service (GSAS) which is listed on the Smoking Activity available to download from the blog sidebar.

Give the GSAS advisor your name and the name of your team - they'll contact the KickStart organisers - and offer you support and advice re giving up smoking. If you manage to stop smoking for 4 weeks we'll give your team 25 points - which could be enough to win the league!

You need to do this at least 4 weeks before the end of the season ( there are 4 - 5 weeks left to play!); if you do this after this date we'll carry any points scored over to the following season - so your team will get a head-start next time around. You can of course still score points via the other points raised in the Smoking Activity if you're a non-smoker ( the information is useful for family and friends - or if you're a smoker and you're still dwelling on giving up...)

Old Guns V Team Brown

A hard-fought encounter eventually saw Old Guns defeat a frustrated Team Brown 24 goals to 11 - a result mirrored in the results of the Sexual Health Activity which saw Old Guns scoring 44 points to Team Brown's 24.

Away from the field of play All Whites have undertaken all of the Dads Activities so far available to download from the blog sidebar, scoring a very credible 44 extra points - which means that All Whites now top the table with Old Guns in 2nd and Pro Team and Team Brown in close pursuit. All Stars prop up the table - but in fairness All Stars have been unfortunate in that they haven't been able to undertake some health activities due to a postponed match and an absent adjudicator - but there will be an opportunity for them to undertake the missed health activities at their next match - as is the case for any other team who have missed out - we're taking note!

Score: Old Guns 24 Team Brown 11

Week 5

Kerry

For those people who have been involved in the KickStart project over the past couple of years you may - or may not have been aware of the input of Kerry Whitcombe, from Gloucestershire PCT into making KickStart work!

Kerry's enthusiasm and energy has been tremendous - unfortunately for the KickStart team Kerry has moved on to take up a new post - so on behalf of the KickStart crew and all the dads involved we'd just like to say a big thank you to Kerry - and to wish her well in her new job!

KickStart dads - poetry points

As well as attending the Dads and Kids Club - dads can also download dads parenting activities from the blog sidebar - and score extra points. Some of the activities involve pictures and poems - here are a few examples of pictures from younger children and poems from their KickStart dads:

All Stars V All Whites

Given the snowy conditions outside, if All Whites were hoping for a goal blizzard inside GL1 they found it coming at them in the shape of All Stars and an 18 goals to 2 defeat. Unfortunately this time around neither team were able to undertake the health activity as the health and parenting activities adjudicator was involved in a health activity of her own - assisting someone involved in an accident. However, there will be a chance to undertake the activity again - it's the Sexual Health Activity - at the teams next games; it will just mean having to undertake 2 activities on a matchday rather than one. Alternatively, you can download the activity from the sidebar, complete it and hand it in at your next match.

Whilst no health activities were completed, we're aware that All Whites have handed in completed dads activities downloaded from the blog sidebar. Points from these will be added to All Whites points tally as soon as we have them; a lesson for other teams to take note perhaps!

In terms of the table - positions remain as per the previous week, with All Stars points scored from football not being enough to catch up with All Whites.

Score: All Stars 18 All Whites 2

Week 4

Winter League - wintery weather

Despite the wintery weather we have been informed that the GL1 leisure centre will remain open on Saturday morning - 7th February. Therefore the match between All Stars and All Whites will go ahead. Should this situation change we'll update people via this blog and by telephone and email.

Match postponed - due to fatherhood!

This morning's match - January 31st - between All Stars and Team Brown has been postponed due to an All Stars player becoming a dad. Congratulations from the KickStart team! Not sure if we should be awarding extra points for this! As a project for dads, it's probably the most appropriate excuse we've ever had! However, we will endeavour to rearrange the fixture - most likely at the end of March.

Old Guns V Pro Team

A close fought football encounter saw a much improved Pro Team narrowly beaten by last season's champions - Old Guns. As it was their first match, Old Guns undertook the male cancers health activity scoring a healthy 16 points. Match number 2 for Pro Team meant they undertook the potentially high scoring men's sexual health activity - adding an impressive 32 points to their total - but they could have scored more. All teams will get a chance to undertake this activity - so make sure you read the questions and have your pens poised to write down the answers! ( Don't worry - there won't be any requests for a personal condom application demonstration!)

Remember - both the Dads Activities and the Health Activities are available to download from the right-hand sidebar. You will get the chance to do the Health Activities on matchdays ( or you can download and complete them at home to bring in on matchdays).

The Dads Activities will not be available on matchdays as they need to be undertaken with your children! You can download and undertake these simple activities at home and score extra points - or why not undertake them at Bartongate Children's Centre's Dads and Kids Club with your child - you'll also score points for going along to the Dads and Kids Club which runs at the Centre on a Saturday morning.

Whilst they have not been involved in any matches over the past 2 weeks, All Whites team members have attended the Dads and Kids Club - scoring 6 points for attendance.

Despite losing their matches, by virtue of having scored high points in the Health Activities, Pro Team and All Whites are in first and second places respectively - the 3 teams that have won their football matches occupy the other berths - all on 19 points each; Old Guns - unusually for them - propping up the table due to their inferior goal difference. The more activities you undertake - the more you'll find out about men's health and parenting - the more points you'll get...and points mean prizes lads.

Score: Old Guns 17 Pro Team 12

Week 3

It's a goal!

We're aware that some KickStart dads and their children have been attending the Dads and Kids Club at Bartongate Children's Centre on a Saturday morning - but that we haven't yet got around to adding the points for this to the league table. No worries - we will! If you've attended and your name has been noted we'll tally up your points and add them to your team's points haul.

Extra Points!

A reminder to teams that they can score extra points by downloading some of the activities from the blog ( in the right hand sidebar) - completing them - and handing them in on matchdays. The activities in the sidebar will either be those already given out on matchdays (for those players to complete if they haven't done so already), or extra activities that due to the length of the season we won't have time to give out - hence you can score more points if you complete them.

In the case of the Dads Activity currently available, you'll need to bring a copy of the picture, poem or story as evidence that you - or your child has completed this. We may post this on the blog - but we'll keep it anonymous if you wish.

Pro Team V All Stars

A lean All Stars demolished Pro Team on the football field - final score Pro Team 4 All Stars 25. Both teams were equally matched on the male cancers activity managing 16 points each. All Whites still top the table due to the number of Health Activities completed, but All Stars overtake Team Brown to move into second place due to a superior goal difference. Never mind Pro Team - you've got Old Guns next weekend; remember - it's not just about the football - you can score more points by completing the Health Activities!

Score: Pro Team 4 All Stars 25

Week 2

Winter League 09 kicks off; Team Brown v All Whites

The KickStart Winter League finally got underway today. Thanks to players from All Stars and Pro Team who turned out to register but who didn't get a game ( but are playing next week - Old Guns have all previously registered) .

Following an explanation of how KickStart works and distribution of fixtures, action commenced with the two teams playing, Team Brown and All Whites looking at the 'male cancers' activity; All Whites scored more points than their opponents for this activity. The football then took over, with Team Brown winning the match with 18 goals to 6 in reply from All Whites - who nevertheless gave a credible performance on the field, and with a higher Health Activity score of 23 to Team Brown's 16, means that All Whites are top of the league for week 1.

Score:

Team Brown 18 All Whites 6


Week 1.




Practising a defensive wall? Writing down instructions on team tactics? No - it's All Whites undertaking the male cancers information activity





Gaps in the wall lads? You'll lose points if not enough players do the health activities. Three players from Team Brown undertake the male cancers information activity





Action from Team Brown v All Whites; Mikel Medley rounds Keeper Simon Wall-Coles to score for Team Brown

KickStart Activities

Experience has taught us that most of the players involved in KickStart prefer to undertake - where possible - the health and parenting activities on matchdays. However, given that we allow for up to 7 players per team due to illness, holidays etc, not all players turn up and get a chance to do the activities, even if they want to. So...the activities will now be posted on the blog in the sidebar for people to download and complete if they so wish. You'll still need to hand them in on matchdays - and we'll check for names, forms being filled in more than once etc - no cheating or we'll dock points!

We'll add the activities slowly - remember that over the course of the league season there will not be enough time to do all 10 of the activities we have prepared, so if you download them from the blog you may have a chance to undertake more activities than just those undertaken on match days! Remember that it's not just about the football and physical fitness - it's also about other health and parenting issues - and that you can win the league by completing the activities; ie you don't have to be Johan Cruyff or Ronaldo...( but it might help!)

The KickStart Team

KickStart Kicks off!!! January 10th 10.30am @ GL1

The new KickStart Winter League kicks off on January 10th. All players and teams are requested to turn up on Saturday morning at 10.30 in order to ensure EVERYONE is registered and to find out what it's all about. You won't get a game if you're not registered! Also some players will not have been allocated to teams so it will be useful for players to meet each other - and to receive fixture lists - especially for those people who don't read this blog!

Unlike the previous KickStart Summer League, we only have one 5-a-side pitch available to us this time round - hopefully we'll get both pitches back in time for the Summer League - but in the meantime 5 teams will compete in the league. Matches will normally start at 11.00 - but for this Saturday please turn up at 10.30!

For those of you who can't see the flash player fixtures on the sidebar - below are the forthcoming Winter League fixtures. They're also available for anyone to download from the link on the sidebar.

Look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday and the coming weeks...

The KickStart Team

KickStart Winter League Fixtures

Team Brown V All Whites January 10th

Pro Team V All Stars January 17th

Old Guns V Pro Team January 24th

All Stars V Team Brown January 31st

All Stars V All Whites February 7th

Old Guns V Team Brown February 14th

Team Brown V Pro Team February 21st

All Whites V Old Guns February 28th

Old Guns V All Stars March 7th

Pro Team V All Whites March 14th