SportsNation

ICYMI: Football is experiencing a boom period. SportsNation looks at how the football associations of the four home nations plan to grow participation even further. adidas Amorim Sports The Football Association Football Association of Wales Irish Football Association Mark Harrod Limited Scottish Football Association SIS Pitches Stormzy TigerTurf UK Ltd Read more: https://bit.ly/3YfP4Ta

ICYMI: In the coming months, SAPCA The Sports and Play Construction Association hopes to create tools to help capture and demonstrate the work that their members do around social value. Read more from SAPCA CEO, Richard Shaw, here: https://bit.ly/4eGZOzR

Any plans to use weight loss drugs as part of a preventative healthcare model – or using the jabs to get people living with obesity back into work – needs to be accompanied with a strategy to get people more physically active. That is the message from industry bodies ukactive and CIMSPA, following the Government’s announcement that it was looking at investing in weight-loss drug GLP-1. Speaking on BBC Breakfast on 15 October, Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said new weight-loss jabs could get people “back into work” to boost the economy. He added that injections could also help reduce pressure on the NHS. Following the PM’s interview, ukactive and CIMSPA issued a statement highlighting that weight-loss drugs alone weren’t a “magic bullet” – and any strategy to use them to help population health should be accompanied with exercise. In a statement, the bodies said: “Advances in medicine have a vital role to play for people suffering from the severest forms of obesity but the national adoption of weight-loss drugs is no substitute for a strategy that encompasses physical activity and diet too." Read more: https://lnkd.in/ee48kzxH The Labour Party, Huw Edwards, Tara Dillon FCIMSPA (Ch), Mike Farrar, #HealthCare #Health #Wellness #Fitness #PhysicalActivity

ICYMI: Read our interview with Forbes Dunlop, CEO of sportscotland, as he outlines how the agency plans to use a systems-based approach to get more Scots taking part in sport. https://bit.ly/4exVQtl

ICYMI: The latest issue of SportsNation is now out! Packed full of industry news, interviews and articles from across the sector. And, this issue includes the first edition of PlayNationMag, dedicated to play & physical activity for children and young people. Read more: https://bit.ly/3TYAtJr

Briefing: The demand for raw materials is increasing worldwide and with it the need to use raw materials more efficiently and smartly. Schmitz Foam talk about the role that the company plays in a fully circular economy, with their shock pads able to be reused or recycled. #sustainablesport #sustainability #artificialturf #play https://bit.ly/4f3Mtl8

Mark Harrod Limited - SAPCA The Sports and Play Construction Association member and Football Foundation approved supplier - is now offering FA-affiliated clubs discounts of up to 20% on selected goals. They have a wide range of products – from target goals and stadium goals to training equipment and team shelters – tailored to meet the needs of any club, from grassroots to the Premier League. Read more: https://bit.ly/4dzQXyE

Haverfordwest County AFC has revealed plans to develop a women's football hub and artificial football pitch at its Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium in Pembrokeshire. The club has secured funding from the Cymru Football Foundation and Sport Wales to install a third generation (3G) playing surface. The work will be carried out by SAPCA The Sports and Play Construction Association member, South Wales Sports Grounds, and the 3G pitch will be accompanied by the creation of a specific female football hub, designed to support the development of female football in Pembrokeshire. According to Mikey Loveridge, head of women’s and girls’ football at Haverfordwest County AFC, the arrival of the new pitch “opens doors for exciting possibilities”, including the establishment of a Haverfordwest County AFC women’s team. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e3kXbY_8 #WomensFootball #Football #Equality

This year’s SALTEX | Turf Management Show will take place from 30th to 31st October at the NEC Birmingham, marking another milestone in the grounds care industry. Organised by the Grounds Management Association, the exhibition will bring together industry-leading grounds professionals, volunteers, and exhibitors from across the globe, showcasing the latest innovations, trends and practices in grounds management. SportsNation and SAPCA The Sports and Play Construction Association will be among the 400+ brands exhibiting and, with thousands of visitors expected, SALTEX 2024 promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Read more: https://bit.ly/405JfJp

Software specialist, Fitronics, has set the stage for an unforgettable experience with its top-tier lineup of speakers at the upcoming Sports Course Summit - Powered by CoursePro and ConnectCX event (in partnership with Proinsight Mystery Shopping). Taking place in November and free to attend, these events promise unparalleled insights and inspiration for industry professionals. Read more: https://bit.ly/3YhzKWd