Buntús

Participants recently pictured following the completion of the programme, with mentors Karen Walsh and Lisa O' Dowd.

Buntús is an initative of the Irish Sports Council which is delivered and supported by the Local Sports Partnership network. Buntús programmes are developed to support teachers and childcare practitioners in introducing young people to sport and physical activity.

All Buntús programmes offer:

• A large resource pack of equipment
• Resource cards that offer a range of skill development and fun activities
• Training to assist teachers and childcare practitioners implement the programme

The three key components of the programme are designed to provide easy to understand, and accessible support to give children a fun, but high quality, introduction to sport and physical activity.

The programme has various strands including:

Buntús Start is a comphensive child centred physical activity programme for children aged 2-5 years old. It is designed for use in pre-school settings to provide a wide range of learning opportunities for young children to develop their fundamental motor skills, manipulative skills, co-ordination and balancing skills and develop a positive attitude to physical activity.

Buntús Play and Sport complement the games strand of the Physical Education curriculum in primary schools and is offered to all primary schools and special needs schools.  Buntús Play and Sport are designed to give children a fun, but high quality, introduction to sport and physical activity. The programmes help develop fundamental skills such as sending, receiving and travelling with a ball, to engage in game like situations which include running, dodging, chasing and exploiting space.

The Irish Sports Council has liked with the FAI, IRFU, Badminton Ireland, Junior Golf Ireland and Basketball Ireland to deliver the Buntús Sports Specific Programmes to primary and special needs schools. The training is provided by the regional development officers from the National Governing Bodies and specially trained Buntús tutors. 

Buntus Soccer

The FAI Buntús Soccer programme is a follow on programme for schools that already have the generic Buntús bag in place

The games and activities have been carefully designed so that they:

• Can be used by all children aged 7-12 years old, regardless of their ability
• Offer a variety of progressive activities that are designed to develop an understanding of the game and general motor skills
• Include games that can be set up quickly and easily by the teachers and pupils

Give useful hints to teachers on:

• Safety
• Adapting the games
• How the cards help with activity sessions
• Equipment
• Follow up games (mini-soccer, futsal)

Buntús trainers strive to reinforce appropriate skill development rather than more physical attributes that will come later in the children’s development.