Medway has been named a centre of excellence for one of Britain's lesser know but growing sports.

Korfball is a fast, dynamic sport similar to netball and basketball, uniquely played by mixed-sex teams.

Kwiek Korfball Club has become the second korfball club in Medway to achieve the Clubmark - the national mark of excellence for youth sports provision. The national league club's success takes the total number of Clubmark clubs in Medway to 28.

Medway Park will host a day of national korfball league fixtures featurtng the country's leading teams on Saturday, March 12.

Kwiek will be one of the teams taking to the courts on the day as the England Korfball Association holds its day of national premier league fixtures in Gillingham.

The 10 top teams in England, including a number of top international players, will take part in a day of fiercely contested games. Other well-established Kent teams including Invicta and Kingfisher will be playing teams from London and Nottingham, while the newest and youngest club to the premier league - the Tornadoes from Gillingham - will be taking on the top team in the country, the Trojans.

Matches run all day, with the first beginning at 10.30am and the last at 4.30pm.

Kwiek have competed at the highest senior and junior level in England, providing players for the national and county teams. The club has an enviable reputation of winning at least one competition a year since its formation in 1976.

The club, whose juniors train at Strood Sports Centre and seniors at Woodlands Primary School in Gillingham, have qualified and experienced coaches for all standards of play from new starters to national level.

Jane Baldwin, former chairman and now vice chairman, said: "Working towards Clubmark enabled us to review and adapt existing policies to ensure high standards and improved qualities for all our junior members. Clubmark is an ongoing development to ensure growth, progression and structure for the future of our korfball club. It is a fantastic achievement."

Kent Korfball Development Officer Jackie Hubbard said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about this fast, exciting, mixed-team sport now being played in schools in the Medway, Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling areas."

Clubmark is Sport England's accreditation for excellence in sports provision for young people. Successful clubs must demonstrate good management and a commitment to equality, diversity and safeguarding children, as well as delivering an excellent playing programme.

A Korfball team consists of eight players; four female and four male. A team also includes a coach. It was founded in the Netherlands in 1902 by Nico Broekhuysen. In the Netherlands there are around 580 clubs, and over a 100,000 people playing korfball. The sport is also very popular in Belgium and Taiwan, and is played in 54 other countries.

Sport is not only physically challenging, but it can also be mentally challenging. Criticism from coaches, parents, and other teammates, as well as pressure to win can create an excessive amount of anxiety or stress for young athletes. Stress can be physical, emotional, or psychological, and research has indicated that it can lead to burnout. Burnout has been described as dropping/quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable.

The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to cooperate with others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware, at all times, that their feedback to youngsters can greatly effect their children. Youngsters may take their parents' and coaches' criticisms to heart and find a flaw in themselves.

Coaches and parents should also be cautious that youth sport participation does not become work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today's youth sport setting, young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game, many parents and coaches focus on the outcome and find fault with youngsters' performances. Positive reinforcement should be provided regardless of the outcome. Research indicates that positive reinforcement motivates and has a greater effect on learning than criticism. Again, criticism can create high levels of stress, which can lead to burnout.

Coaches should know more about their sport than teaching skills, conditioning, or basic first aid. Knowledge concerning the psychological aspect of coaching, especially the prevention of burnout, is also needed. Some basic suggestions from researchers (Gould, Udry, Tuffey, Loehr, 1996) include:

Teach young athletes and parents how to manage stress.
Keep travel time down.
Do not overuse "playing up" (younger athletes competing against older athletes).
Players should have some input in training.
Use positive reinforcement instead of criticism.
Set goals that are realistic.

It is difficult for parents to let go and allow a coach to do her/his job. The coaches are there, however, to help and guide youngsters through the sport. Done right, coaches can help build self-respect in the youth on a team. Martens and Seefeldt (1979) gave these suggestions for parents:

During the game, stay seated in the bleachers.
Do not yell to the children about how to play or about what they are doing wrong.
Comments to young athletes, parents of opposing team, officials, or league administrators should not be derogatory.
During the game, do not interrupt what the coach is telling the athletes. Parents must be willing to give up the responsibility of their children to the coach during the game.

Coaches and parents can prevent burnout by working together in youth sport. Youngsters will be able to develop self-respect in a positive sport environment.