Category: News

In the next part of our ‘Meet the Team’ series the time has come for me to answer the questions! You can see my answers below.

Other news from the last week has been that I have been recruiting for a new assistant coach to join us (more details on that soon) have been asked to run some sessions in a school holiday club over the summer, which I’m really excited about and we are starting to get party bookings! If you haven’t seen or heard yet we are now offering parties (http://www.leapfrogsports.co.uk/parties) and look our for our brand new flyers in the classes soon.

Right, on with the questions…

1) What is your favourite sport?

I don’t really have a favourite sport, which is probably why I started a multi-sports class! I do quite like to watch American Football and am a Seattle Seahawks fan, although I did start to support them when they weren’t doing so well.

2) What makes you laugh the most?

This is a difficult one but probably my children, the funny things they say and do, faces they pull and even the tantrums over the most ridiculous things!

3) What is your favourite and your worst food?

My favourite food is probably curry (what’s wrong with you Amanda?!) and my least is Peas.

4) What song would you sing at karaoke?

I am such a bad singer that I would NEVER sing in public but if I had to I’d probably choose something like Grease Megamix so everyone would sing along too and you couldn’t hear how bad I was.

5) If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?

I’d love to be able to do things at an exceptional speed as I find that there are just not enough hours in the day and I’d also like to be able to read minds, handy for my hubby who just expects me to know things!

6) What do you like to do in your spare time?

As you can imagine, I don’t get a lot of spare time but when I do, I like to spend time with my family, walk my dog and go out with friends to eat and drink wine and cocktails!

7) What 3 people, living or dead, would you invite to dinner?

Robbie Williams, he is a bit of an idiot but I have loved him since I was 11 and he was in Take That – he is amazing live. Alan Carr as he is just hilarious and Karren Brady to discuss business

8) Tell us a bit about yourself…

I have 2 boys aged 3.5 years and 16 months old and married to David who often helps out in the classes (and with the accounts, website other business admin stuff etc too). I work for a bank part time and do Leapfrog in the evenings and weekends, so at the moment most of my time is taken up with working. I love getting away, to a cottage somewhere in the UK or somewhere more exotic ( I also love Ibiza!)

9) Why did you want to work for Leapfrog Sports and what do you enjoy the most about working for Leapfrog Sports?

I began Leapfrog Sports when I was on maternity leave and was looking for something for my eldest son to do as he is extremely active and the only thing I could find was football, I didn’t want him to focus on one sport from a young age and knew it wasn’t recommended to and I wanted the emphasis to be on fun and so decided to start something myself and I did! I do wonder sometimes if I’m mad when I’m working until late in the evening but I love it and am so proud of how we have and are continuing to grow and how far the children have developed since the start and I’ve also loved to get to know all the parents too!

I hope you are having a lovely half term week and I’ll look forward to seeing you all after the break!

Jo

In our ‘Meet the Team’ series, this week we get to know David better. He has worked at both our Solihull and Wythall classes lending a hand when we have needed additional help. Here are his answers…

1) What is your favourite sport?

Football. I’ve been playing for nearly 30 years, most recently for Solihull Football Club where I am also the Chairman. I’m a big Leeds United fan.

2) What makes you laugh the most?

Seeing Manchester United lose and the comedian Tom Stade (especially the meat van stand-up routine!)

3) What is your favourite and your worst food?

Favourite- Fish and Chips. Worst- Baked Beans or Tuna.

4) What song would you sing at karaoke?

Moving On by Chris Helme of the Seahorses.

5) If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?

Mind reading powers!

6) What do you like to do in your spare time?

Football – both playing and watching, and computer games.

7) What 3 people, living or dead, would you invite to dinner?

Lucas Radebe (LUFC legend), Winston Churchill and of course my lovely wife!

8) Tell us a bit about yourself…

I often help out with coaching at my football club and have also managed teams there in the past. This year I captained my side to win the league!

9) Why did you want to work for Leapfrog Sports and what do you enjoy the most about working for Leapfrog Sports?

To help my wife out with her business. What I enjoy the most is giving the children tips and guidance which then helps them to improve.

Thank you David, we appreciate your help!

Next week it is my turn!

See you in the classes

Jo

Continuing with our ‘Meet the Team’ blogs, this week it is time to get to know Dexter better. He has been with us for nearly 2 months now and works on Sunday mornings at our Solihull Classes. Here are his answers…

1) What is your favourite sport?

Football. I support Arsenal.

2) What makes you laugh the most?

Kevin Hart (the comedian)

3) What is your favourite and your worst food?

My favourite food is pasta with tomato and mascarpone sauce and my worst is Irish beans on toast- which my friend cooked for me but it made me sick!

4) What song would you sing at karaoke?

Olly Murs – Troublemaker

5) If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?

I’d like to be like Spiderman, to be able to climb walls and hear other people’s thoughts.

6) What do you like to do in your spare time?

Spend time with family, Watch and play football, read Harry Potter books.

7) What 3 people, living or dead, would you invite to dinner?

Thierry Henry, Martin Luther King and Floyd Mayweather

8) Tell us a bit about yourself…

I am studying a BTEC Level 3 at Birmingham Metropolitan College in Sporting Performance and Excellence and am in my second year. I also enjoy coaching tennis and play football for Sutton Town under 18s. My ambition is to play at a high level of football and own my own coaching business.

9) Why did you want to work for Leapfrog Sports and what do you enjoy the most about working for Leapfrog Sports?

I love to help develop and engage young individuals to develop in a sport and because Leapfrog Sports offers a range of sports the children can find and pursuit a sport they love.

Thank you Dexter, it’s great to have you on the team! Next week, look out for David’s answers,

See you in the classes

Jo

It has been a great start to the new term, the new Wythall classes have been a great success with nearly everyone signing straight up meaning we only have a handful of spaces left in the classes already (don’t worry though as we have room to add additional classes!) and Amanda and Dexter doing a great job with the Solihull classes. It has been great to welcome Dexter to the Leapfrog team and we are hoping to have another addition very soon!

It has also been great to be back and I have some exciting plans for the new term, firstly with the launch of our parties so check out our new website page… and let me know if you want more info. You can choose up to 3 different sports during the party and so it is unlikely any 2 parties will be the same and there should always be something to appeal to everyone that attends!

I am at the moment in the process of trying to make more spaces available on our Friday afternoon classes. They were originally the quietest class but over the last term they have gone crazy and we are now completely booked, it is difficult though as people don’t want a class too close to lunch but also need to be able to pick up children from school at 3 so I’m not sure what to do – any suggestions please send them my way!

Look forward to seeing you all in the classes this week, Hockey for Solihull and Rugby for Wythall!

Jo

The first full term of Leapfrog has finished and it is amazing that it was our first full term as it seems like we have been around for much longer. I’m now in full swing planning the summer term classes and also about to start properly publicising our new Wythall classes.

It’s exciting that we have now expanded to 2 classes on Thusdays, looking like we may have to also add an additional class on Friday afternoons and are starting our new Sunday morning classes and we’ve only been going for around 6 months.

Thanks to everyone for their support and have a lovely Easter weekend,

Jo

Hi Everyone,

Well, what a busy time it has been for me recently. I am currently in full swing, planning the classes for next term which is coming round fast. Amanda and I can’t believe this term is nearly over already – where has the time gone. It is true that time flies when you are having fun!

Over the next week, you should receive the details of the classes and payment amounts for the new term. I have also been in contact with some parents regarding changes to the time of classes due to moving age groups and we are expanding the number of classes on a Thursday morning that we offer to make more spaces as we were full and to be able to tailor the classes more to the different age groups.

In other exciting news, I have been recruiting and we have 2 new members of staff who are due to start on Sunday. I will introduce them properly in our next blog and in the classes but we are very pleased to welcome Adeel and Dexter to the Leapfrog Sports growing family!

When you are signing up for the new classes this term, let us know if you would like one of our Leapfrog Sports team t-shirts and don’t forget we are still offering our refer a friend promotion – for every friend you refer that signs up you both get a free week of classes!

Football this week!

See you there…

Jo

This week my main focus has been on finding a new venue for some more Leapfrog classes on a Sunday morning due to the popularity and not to keep people waiting on the waiting list for too long. You would think this was easy with all the halls and schools around but no. I have contacted hundreds (well not quite – but it feels like it!) of places and those that are open are booked and nearly all of the schools don’t let out halls on weekends. If anyone does know of somewhere that would be suitable please let me know, I’d be very grateful!

The other thing that has been on my mind this week is how popular our older age group classes are with boys but not girls. In our 3.5 – 5 year old class on Sundays, we currently have no girls attending. Not one.
Our other classes have around a third girls to compared to two thirds of boys and it has me wondering… is it just that sport is more appealing to little boys? Is it that sport is more associated with boys and dancing with girls? Is it that Leapfrog Sports classes don’t appeal to girls as much and if so why and what can we do to change this? Studies have shown that getting involved in sport at a young age helps them to achieve a lifelong love of sport and all the benefits that being active brings, so what can I do to help more girls discover just how fun sport is and encourage them to come to our classes?

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I’d love to hear them. If you would prefer, you can email them to me or speak to me in class.

Cricket this week – we’ll see you there!

Jo

Leapfrog Sports offers fun and energetic multi-sports classes to pre-school children (ages 2-5 years) and requires a Children’s Multi-Sports Class Assistant.

Based in Solihull, term-time.

For around 3 hours on a Sunday morning, and adhoc hours to cover parties/ cover for other classes.

Duties include signing in attendees, equipment management, simple activity demonstrations, interacting with children and parents and occasional Class Leader cover.

Ideal candidates are experienced with young children, working towards a coaching/sports qualification and First Aid qualified.

Own car essential.

Please email CV and covering letter to apply.

Call 07914808998 for more details

It’s currently half term and so we haven’t got any classes running this week but there is still loads of Leapfrog Sports work that I’m getting on with! Amanda and I have been busily researching new games and activities that we will be using in the classes, I’ve also been ordering new equipment and putting together our party package, which we are really excited about!

We have already had a couple of party enquiries and can’t wait to get started. Look out over the next couple of weeks as we will be updating our website/ Facebook page and have leaflets to hand out in the class with all the details but of course, if you can’t wait until then just get in touch and we are also offering our Leapfrog Sports customers a special discount off the total party price as a way to thank you for your support.

I hope everyone is having a great week and I’ll look forward to seeing you all soon in our first class back for Dodgeball!

Jo

I haven’t written this blog for a while as I wanted to give people a chance to read and respond to the feedback requests that I had sent out. Thank you to everyone who has completed the forms, it really does help us but if you still haven’t yet then please do! We will be keeping the form live for you to respond with anything that you think of in the future and if you don’t want to stay anonymous them please feel free to email or speak to us in class.

Amanda and I have gone through all the responses and discussed all the feedback and based on these we will be implementing some suggestions after half term. I have to say that I have been so proud of the feedback and responses we have received and am truly happy that people are enjoying Leapfrog Sports classes as much as we do!

In other news, we are soon going to be starting to offer Leapfrog Sports parties! We are just putting the party package together now and we will let you have more details very soon – so watch out!

Also, due to our Sunday classes being completely full and a waiting list in operation, I am looking at starting a second set of classes at an alternative venue on a Sunday, again look out for details!

Rounders this week before the half term break, we’ll look forward to seeing you in the class!

Jo