Leading with Confidence: Creating a Space to Belong Through Sport

I knew I wanted to bring something new to my school - something I would have loved as a younger pupil, something I could belong to.  For me, that something was a junior cross country club.

My goal was simple; to create a space where young people could enjoy exercise, challenge themselves, and feel part of a team, without needing to be super talented or highly competitive.  Cross country should be about effort, enjoyment, and community, not pressure.

When I shared my idea with a teacher, I found out that she had the exact same idea -what are the odds?!  We picked a date, set up a Google Classroom, and very soon it was official – Banbridge Academy had its very own Junior Cross Country Club.

So far, we’ve had ten practices.  I’ve planned and led warm-ups, workouts, and cool-downs, and even in such a short space of time I’ve felt a huge boost in confidence.  Communicating with teachers, organising sessions, planning ahead, speaking in front of large groups, and getting to know younger pupils have all pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way.

This project has helped me develop my leadership skills, discover my potential, and realise that I’m capable of much more than I often give myself credit for.  As young women, it can sometimes be difficult to follow our passions or step outside of our comfort zones because of fear of judgement or getting things wrong. SistersIN has shown me that the most rewarding experiences usually happen when you feel uncomfortable and that real growth comes from doing things that scare you a little.

My biggest highlight has been watching the runners improve week by week and seeing pride on their faces after completing tough sessions.  That said, motivating them when the weather is cold and wet or when I’ve just shown them the big hill they’re about to run up, has definitely been a challenge! 

I’m so excited to cheer them on at the Ulster Schools Cross Country Districts as they compete in teams against other schools.  While medals would be amazing (who doesn’t love a bit of bling!?), this project hasn’t been about competition.  It’s been about creating a space where young people can enjoy exercise, feel comfortable together, and be themselves without pressure.

The feedback from pupils has been incredibly rewarding.  One shared that “The club has shown me that I can keep going when I feel tired, and finishing each run makes me feel really proud of myself!” Others said, “I love the feeling of getting out into the fresh air,” and “I’ve enjoyed meeting new friends,” and “The coaches are always supportive, kind, smiley and encouraging which makes all the difference.”  A supporting teacher commented that “Each week she arrives with a smile on her face which has been contagious to the junior pupils, and as a result there has been a warm, supportive atmosphere in the group.  She has also grown in confidence in terms of interacting with and encouraging the juniors.”

Overall, this project has pushed me outside my comfort zone, helped me grow in confidence and leadership, and created an inclusive and supportive space for others to grow – which to me, is a real empowerment and the biggest win of all.