World adopts ball of 'education' (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

World adopts ball of 'education'

A CIRENCESTER teacher who has developed an innovative way of improving coordination skills in children and the disabled is seeing his initiative take off around the world.

Roger Stroud's Plusballs are being adopted all over the country and across the world.

After trials in schools around the area, Roger began supplying the ultra-light Plusballs nationwide and now interest has spread as far as Australia, Germany and Finland.

Roger explained why the Plusballs are so good for co-ordination.

He said: "Because they move so slowly and - unlike rubber balloons- evenly, I began using them with an adult group with disabilities who I took for racket skills.

They were extremely successful so I went on to using them in infants and primary schools to improve pupils' hitting an co-ordination skills."

Since the first tests the Plusballs have been used by teachers, physiotherapists and coaches.

They have even been praised for helping with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, conditions which seriously impair the sufferers' balance and co-ordination.

The key to the Plusballs is the fact that they move slowly so children stay in one place and can concentrate on hitting them gently rather than whacking fast moving balls and rushing around sports halls.

As a badminton coach, Roger still uses the Plusballs to improve technical racket skills and stance.

The balls are the ideal training for budding tennis and badminton stars because they focus the player more closely than with conventional balls and shuttlecocks.

Roger believes that the Plusballs are a good way of tackling childhood obesity because they make physical activity fun and accessible and encourage more children to get involved in sport.

To find out more about Plusballs including details on a demonstration workshop to be held in Cricklade on April 28 visit www.plusballs.com or call 01285 659133.