DADS and mums are being encouraged to get their skates on to coach enthusiastic youngsters playing street hockey.

Bolton Council is running courses for adults over the age of 16 aimed at giving them the skills to teach the kids. It is also training up some of its own staff so that coaching sessions in the popular sport will be available in leisure centres.

The sport is growing fast but as the BEN recently highlighted, youngsters are using the streets and car parks to rollerblade.

It is a nuisance for residents, and the youngsters are putting themselves in danger.

Ian Hepplewhite, sports development officer, said: "We are trying to respond to the problems. I'm getting letters everyday from both sides about people skating.

"We are aware of the demand and are trying to get youngsters into the sports centres.

"However at the moment, there aren't enough people trained to coach the sport. Sports centre staff will be going on this course so they can run their own classes."

He said council officers were also looking at creating rollerblading rinks in Bolton's parks, complete with ramps.

The course at Withins Leisure Centre runs on May 16th from 9am to 6.30pm.

It will teach roller hockey skills, the rules of the game and how to ensure safety, as well as demonstrating how to teach the sport in a fun way.

The cost is £40 - the council is allowing free use of the room. For an application form contact Ian on 522311 ext 4096.

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