We have just started delivering our 2011 Sports Catalogue to Schools & Sports Clubs around Ireland. We have increased our sports equipment range and where possible lowered our pricing in regards to last years sports catalogue.
If your sports catalogue hasn’t arrived yet, please email niall@fitnessfunctions.ie It usually takes 3-4 days to arrive.
Our Sports Catalogue 2011 is also now online ( www.fitnessfunctionscatalogue.ie ). So, in addition to traditionally ordering by email, fax and phone you can now submit your orders directly online if that’s more convenient. More details, information & offers to follow.
The Physcial Education Association of Ireland (PEAI) have issued guidelines for post primary teachers regarding the PE grants announced by the Department of Education & Skills. An Tanaiste, Mary Coughlan, TD announced €7.8m distributed to post primary schools throughtout the country. Below, please see the PEAI suggestions on how post primary PE teachers could best spend their PE grants.
PEAI Guidelines in relation to use of Physical Education Grant (Nov 2010)
PE teachers should consult with senior management with regards to the allocation of funds for various items of equipment and resources to support teaching and learning in Physical Education, as they may be required to account for the appropriate use of these grants in the future.
It would be preferable for PE departments to invest in equipment and resources that will be available for several years. The purpose of the grant is to ensure PE departments are better placed to deliver quality programmes. Some suggestions include:
Activity specific equipment (e.g. orienteering controls; mapping of the school grounds, tents etc)
Physiological Equipment for integration in classes
Heart-rate monitors
Pedometers
Fitness testing equipment;
Educational Software
Reference & Resource Textbooks (posters, activity specific taskcards)
Schools should avoid using this grant to offset expenses in the areas of repairs and refurbishments, which should be applied for under the summer works scheme or through the school’s general maintenance budget.
Schools will also be receiving a significant ICT grant to upgrade the availability of equipment and infrastructure in this area. This provides an opportunity for Physical Education departments to also avail of discounted ICT equipment specifically to promote the integration of ICT into teaching and learning.
ICT equipment such as the following may be purchased through the ICT grant
HD Digital Video Cameras
Data-Projectors;
Laptops/netbooks with video editing software,
Use of this ICT grant for such items will provide an even larger allocation of funds to the PE department overall. Please consult with your principal or school ICT coordinator regarding the ICT grant.
Primary & Post Primary schools will be issued with Playground and PE equipment grants. Primary schools have been allocated €8m for playground and PE equipment while Post primary schools have been allocated €7.8m to renew their PE equipment. The breadown and details can be found by clicking the Department of Education’s Press Release or by viewing it below.
22 November, 2010 – Tánaiste announces €44m in grants for primary and post-primary schools – €36m for minor works in primary schools which includes €8m for playground and PE equipment €7.8m package for post-primary schools to renew PE equipment.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, today announced details of €44 million in grants for primary and post-primary schools.
A €28 million minor works grant and a PE funding package of €8 million for 3,246 primary schools was announced along with a €7.8 million PE funding package for over 700 post-primary schools throughout the country.
Announcing the minor works grant for 2010/2011, the Tánaiste said that the rates payable are €5,500 per school plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil.
The grant for primary schools allows schools to carry out minor works without needing to deal directly with the Department.
The funds must be spent on the physical infrastructure of the school or on items of furniture and equipment for educational use including IT related equipment.
In addition, the Tánaiste announced details of the playground and PE equipment grant under which each primary school will receive a basic grant of €1,000 plus €10 per pupil.
The grant in the case of a 50-pupil primary school will be worth €1,500 and in the case of a 300-pupil primary school the grant will be €4,000.
Post-primary schools will receive a basic grant of €2,000 plus €20 per pupil in respect of PE equipment.
The grant in the case of a 200-student post-primary school will be worth €6,000 and in the case of a 500-student school the grant will be €12,000.
Announcing the details the Tánaiste said: “Schools will have the opportunity to purchase modern new equipment and to replace older equipment no longer suitable for use.”
Referring to the PE element of the grants package for primary and post-primary schools, the Tánaiste said: “Physical exercise and sport are vital elements of a balanced lifestyle and develop character, teamwork and leadership.
“Participation in sport is a central part of the education of all pupils and the positive attitudes to physical well-being nurtured in schools can continue to flourish through regular participation all during life,” said the Tánaiste.
The Department will issue the grant to schools over the next number of days.
Fitness Functions offer a number discount schemes and incentives for schools with PE equipment grants. For more information please contact, marketing, niall clancy; niall@fitnessfunctions.ie
Gymnastic Equipment Manufacturer ‘Marty Sports’ comes to Ireland… Fitness Functions have recently added the Marty Sports brand to our gymnastics range featuring spring boards, trampolines, balance beams, gymnastic runways and asymmetric & horizontal bars. Marty Sports were founded in 1979 some 300km from Paris and have supplied to over 40 premier track & field facilities throughout France. Premier gymnastic sites such as Salle de la Meilleraie de Cholet, Gymnase des Maillettes a Vendome & Gymnase du Lycee Amiral a Grasse are good examples of reference sites.
Once our Online Sports Shop goes live we will add Marty’s Sports competition gymnastics apparatus to facilitate our online shoppers. One of the main queries we deal with from our customers is gymnastic spare parts or small repairs to gymnastic equipment. Fitness Functions have access to a wide range of gymnastic accessories.
Fitness Functions are delighted to have teamed up with SnapSports Inc to bring their highly accredited range of indoor and outdoor sports surfaces to the Irish market. SnapSports Inc were founded in Salt Lake City, Utah over 3 decades ago which means their experience is now second to none in the field of modular sports surfacing.
12 Year Guarantee.
The SnapSports modular sports surface can be installed indoor and outdoors and is applicable to both commercial and residential markets. With a 12 year full guarantee every customer can make the decision to purchase SnapSports products with complete confidence. SnapSports surfaces are suitable for – Basketball, Volleyball, Futsal, Tennis and net games, Hockey and Handball. The multi-purpose sports surfaces range ensure that you will get the maximum performance from your floor regardless of your sport.
Sports Surface Accreditation.
SnapSports surfaces have been accredited by and are approved for use by the following sports organisations; FIBA (basketball), USFF (Unites States Futsal Federation), USA Team Handball, Special Olympics and the ITF (International Tennis Federation). SnapSports is the ideal multi-purpose sports floor for your hall. With minimum preparation work and a fast and clean installation the cost of the surface is kept to a minimum– couple that with a range of surface options, a wide range of vibrant colours and a full 12 year guarantee you know you’re on to a winner.
Fitness Functions call-out service.
If you require additional information or if you would like Fitness Functions to visit your sports hall and demonstrate the SnapSports product please do not hesitate to contact us.
Click images below for more information on our main website.
A series of practical workshops are being held by the Volleyball Association of Ireland around the country to give Primary & Secondary teachers and leaders the ability to teach this Volleyball game to their students.
Spikeball is an adapted Volleyball game that gives students a fun introduction to the sport.
Details on locations, dates and applications forms can be found by clicking on Spikeball Workshops. The next three workshops are scheduled for early November; South Tipperary, Limerick and Kerry.
Fitness Functions are the official equipment supplier to the Volleyball Association of Ireland.
To celebrate the upcoming launch of our Online Sports Catalogue we ran a competition during the summer. To enter the competition we asked the question “How many figures are in the Fitness Functions logo”? The answer was four, most entrants got it right.
Thank you to everybody who entered. The 10 winners details are listed below and each will receive a T90 Catalyst Nike football. As a thank you, all entrants were posted a sports catalogue voucher & some branded PE whistles.
1. Gavin Fleet (Dublin)
2. Luke Hedderman (Dublin)
3. Paul Gillen (Galway)
4. Tony Heinz (Clare)
5. Rebecca Daly (Wexford)
6. Tom Brosnan (Kerry).
7. Joe Brennan (Tipperary)
8. Marleen Mcgrane (Limerick)
9. Niall Feeny (Sligo)
10. Geraldine Kinane (Kildare)
Our online sports shop service will be ‘open’ very shortly which will make life that much easier for all our customers.
Give us a call to get your hands on our 400 page mail order catalogue, we’ll post it to you free of charge. You’ll be able to find everything you need to get your school, play school, leisure centre or community centre sports store room fully equiped
Recently Fitness Functions were awarded the contract to install our equipment in the newly built sports hall in Davitt College, Castlebar for Co. Mayo V.E.C.
Included in this installation will be ceiling mounted basketball goals, cross court basketball goals, gymnastics equipment including vaulting apparatus and landing modules, along with a divisional curtain, table tennis equipment to name some sports items.
We are now looking forward to completing the project for the school and the VEC.
If your school is getting a new sports hall in the future why not give us a call and we can talk to you and take you through some of the key factor involved in such a large project. As with all of our advice and site vists there is no cost involved for you or your school.
Fitness Functions have recent been involved in the renovation of a timber sports floor in Colaiste Bhride, Enniscorthy.
The old timber floor was dull, marked and in need of a refurb, after a thorough sanding and application of 2 coats of sports specific lacquer we applied a complete set of new games lines and then a final top coat of lacquer was applied to finish. The line marking was applied to: 4 Badminton courts, a Five a Side court, a Basketball court and a Volleyball court.
The floor has been given a completely new lease of life and is good to go for many more years — at a fraction of the price of a new sport floor.
Please feel free to contact us for more information and costs of renovating your existing sports floor.
