Non-profit organization “Disabled Hockey Fеderation”
Hockey unites
CSS contribution, rubles
Total budget, rubles
Implementation period, months
Project idea
The project is aimed at integrating sledge hockey into physical education classes at specialized
boarding schools.
Sledge hockey is a type of sports game that aids in the rehabilitation of children with locomotor system disorders.
Over the past 5 years, children’s sledge hockey has established itself as an effective method for developing motor skills and facilitating the social adaptation of children with special health needs. However, the majority of participants in these groups are children raised in traditional family environments.
For residents of closed corrective educational institutions, this type of sport is inaccessible due to the lack of ice rinks on the premises and the inability to organize regular transportation for training sessions outside of the institution. In conjunction with Russian manufacturers, foundation specialists have developed a special roller platform that is fitted onto the sledges in place of blades. This innovation enables the organization of sledge hockey sessions in any sports hall, many of which are readily available in educational institutions. The use of such a platform has already been tested in open master classes. Within the pilot project, three institutions (in Kostroma, Novosibirsk, and Astrakhan) will be furnished with equipment for organizing roller sledge hockey sessions. Physical education instructors will undergo introductory training in the game rules and individual equipment setup for each child. Regular sessions will take place within the framework of club activities or physical education lessons.
By the end of the academic year and the hockey season, teams will be assembled from the students of these institutions. These teams will participate in a roller sledge hockey tournament, enabling players to engage with children from other cities, gain practical gameplay experience, and showcase their progress in mastering this new sport. The experience gained from the pilot project will be compiled and presented at the All-Russian conference on adaptive hockey in August 2023. The event will be attended by specialists from 25 regions of the country.
Relevance
In Russia, approximately 680,000 children live with disabilities (according to the Federal Register of Disabled Persons), a portion of whom are educated in specialized boarding schools. For all children with special health needs, sport is an essential necessity, but in most institutions, sports activities within the scope of leisure activities or physical education lessons are replaced by therapeutic exercises, or a limited selection of sports activities are offered. This implies that children with disabilities either cannot participate in sports, or they can only do so in a very restricted manner - board games, darts, table tennis, boccia, and athletics.
For this category, besides participating in official Spartakiads aimed at achieving sporting results, no amateur tournaments are held in Russia for sports that interest the children themselves. It’s precisely participation in such sports events that allows children to break free from the confines of the place where they spend most of their time. It is crucial to broaden the social circle for these children, offer them the chance to make new friends, and establish contacts. After all, sport is not only about physical rehabilitation but also serves as a tool for interaction and communication.
According to the analytical report of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation “Assessment of accessibility in 2019-2020 and the current period of 2021 of physical education, health improvement and sports services” at the beginning of 2021, only 27.5% of sports facilities (out of 322.8 thousand) were adapted for the needs of children with special health needs and disabilities.
Therefore, the Federation of Adaptive Hockey sees the way out of the situation in adapting the game itself to the existing infrastructure. Together with Russian manufacturers, the Federation has developed a special roller platform that is installed on sleds instead of blades - its use has already been tested in master classes in Moscow boarding schools and on open street areas.
This makes it possible to organize sledge hockey activities in any sports hall that is available in most educational institutions.
Social effect
Promoting the popularity of year-round roller sledge hockey and enhancing its accessibility for children with special health needs living in orphanages.
KPI
KPI
Project Results
Due to roller sledge hockey, children with musculoskeletal disorders have seen a notable improvement in their locomotive functions.
By participating in the project, children from closed corrective facilities have made new acquaintances in their own cities, and thanks to the interregional tournament, in other cities too.
The project facilitated the enlargement of the material resources for physical education lessons for children with special health needs and disabilities. Within the project, essential equipment and inventory for lessons were procured. Coaches received specialized training and acquired the necessary experience, and will subsequently train other children.
An informative and methodological manual was composed and published within the project for further application in other cities and establishments. The compilation is accessible on the federation’s website under the “Resource Center” section. It encompasses methodological materials, advice for coaches, and a description of equipment for use in specialized boarding schools during sledge hockey lessons.
Project progress after CSS funding
The project allowed for the creation of methodological guidelines and the incorporation of roller sledge hockey lessons into the teaching process.
The guidelines will be forwarded to the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Education and regional governing bodies for implementation in similar institutions.
The roller sledge hockey tournament will become a yearly event, inviting children and youth teams from the regions participating in the project. Within the framework of the All-Russian Conference, discussions were held with NGOs that promote adaptive hockey in the regions of the Russian Federation regarding the joint advancement of the new discipline: roller sledge hockey. At present, efforts are being made to identify a financial partner from the commercial sector for further expansion of the project.
