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.
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...)
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!
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!
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:
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.
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.
I'm the logo and mascot of the Gloucestershire KickStart 5-a-side football men's health and parenting initiative. Take a glance through the blog to find out what it's all about...
A regular supervised dads and kids club runs at Bartongate Children's Centre in Gloucester every Saturday morning. For further details contact Ismail Ginwalla on 01452 417593.
Childcare may be available for KickStart players children at the Dads and Kids club on matchdays - if you give enough notice. The carers are registered childcare professionals. You can score KickStart points by attending the dads and kids club. More detail here: Kick off! ( information about childcare)
Free Chlamydia testing and treatment in Gloucestershire!
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection - it's estimated that as many as 1 in 10 young people carry this infection; the real downside is that it often has no symptoms - especially in men, and that it can do a lot of damage to your fertility - and that of any female partners if it is left untreated. The good news is that it is easily treated and that the test for it is free, simple and painless - usually nothing more than peeing into a plastic bottle, followed by a course of antibiotics if your test is positive. For further info go here : Free Chlamydia testing and treatment Remember - it's 'Best 2 Test!'
Gloucestershire Stop Smoking Advice Service
Support and advice for people who are motivated to quit smoking.
If you want to make some comments about the match, add a bit of banter - or if you have any questions about your health, or questions about where you can get help for yourself, your child, and your family and you live in Gloucestershire, post them here and we'll try to answer them.
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.
