The Mayor of Bexley, Councillor Sue Gower MBE JP, presented Bexley Dodgers Boccia team with a cheque for £1,000, as team players demonstrated their skills and techniques by playing the game on the floor of the Council Chambers at Civic Offices.
The Mayor said ’It was a pleasure hosting the Bexley Dodgers team and I really enjoyed meeting at the players and the chance to play as well. I was very impressed by their all round skills and determination and not surprised that they have achieved success at regional and national level.’
There was plenty of friendly advice and tips from team members and coaches as passing council workers also joined the Mayor and her consort in trying their hand at playing the game.
Sam has been playing for seven years now and acted as the referee for some of the practice games. Indeed, he’s studying for his level 2 refereeing qualifications. He says that the role of the referee in boccia is important as you have to be a good communicator and have a thorough knowledge of how the game works to keep the play flowing at all times.
Another team player, Charlotte, has been playing even longer – for over eleven years. She was part of the Dodgers team that came first in the national finals back in 2015. Charlotte enjoys the social aspect of playing and likes travelling to different venues across Kent. ‘Boccia’s brilliant for improving your co-ordination skills,’ she says, adding ‘you need plenty of patience and self control in order to know when to play the right shot,’ to be a good player.
Outside of boccia, Charlotte is a green belt in karate and has been exercising in the gym as part of a steps for life programme.
Several players of the Dodgers team are also Bexley Mencap members and take part in a range of Healthy Lifestyle activities such as Tennis, Keep Kit and now Walking Football as well as social and key life skills groups.
Janet Swan, who manages, the Bexley Dodgers team said: ‘It was a great experience to be invited to play boccia in front of the Mayor and I know all the players enjoyed their visit to the Civic Offices. The donation from the Mayor’s office will help fund travel costs and kit and equipment in the forthcoming year.’
Boccia is also a Paralympic and a Special Olympic Sport. Special Olympics is the world wide Olympic organisation for those with a learning disability. It takes place every 4 years like the Olympics itself.
