Edge Hill Rounds Up the Sports Stars of Tomorrow

Edge Hill University is hoping to spot the next generation of English rounders champions when it opens a new Centre of Excellence at its Ormskirk campus.

The University has joined forces with the National Rounders Association to develop and deliver high-quality, grass-roots coaching in schools and community groups across the North West and aims to identify the rising stars of the game.

Sports students from Edge Hill will develop and run training sessions and set up competitive leagues which will not only get people active and promote the sport of rounders, but also give the students practical opportunities to develop their skills and work towards their degrees.

Players who show promise will be 'hothoused' at the university's Centre for Excellence where they will get the benefit of high level coaching and the opportunity to be considered for the National Rounders Centre and, ultimately, the England team.

Tony Charlton, Associate Head for Sports Development and Sports Studies Programmes at Edge Hill, said: "Almost everyone remembers the fun of playing rounders in the park as a child, but very few people continue playing a game which is so accessible to everyone, regardless of ability.

"Rounders is the perfect sport to encourage people, particularly women and children, to take up physical activity. It requires no special skills, it is fun and can be played by both sexes and all ages. You also don't need expensive equipment or even a proper pitch - you can just grab a bat and go!"

On 22 May representatives from local sporting, educational and other relevant bodies are meeting at Edge Hill to devise an action plan to develop rounders in the North West.

Tony Charlton added: "Once we can show this approach works with rounders, we can use it as a model for encouraging take up of other sports, such as volleyball, and get more people participating in sport in the region."

Rounders has been played in England since Tudor times and is even mentioned in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Although it is generally considered a school game, rounders is played at international level. The 2008 Rounders World Cup will be held in Sheffield.