Inclusive sports products: three designs showcased at a Special Olympics event

The video presents three new inclusive sports products: A low-cost sustainable Boccia ramp, Low-cost sustainable Golf game, and a floor standing basketball frame that can be made in a garden shed.

All three designs were showcased during a Special Olympics event at Ruston Sports Centre in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK.

DIY Basketball frame.

A request for an accessible floor standing basketball frame, led to a 'design hack' open-source product design. The Special Olympics athletes showed how it could be used for many activities.

Inclusive Sport coaches Angela Morley and Clare Pattinson, Special Olympics wanted a floor standing basketball frame that could be used for other activities within their Special Olympics Motor Activities Training Programme (MATP) initiative. I produced a prototype design within two weeks for evaluation with the athletes at Special Olympics.

Following successful review, I produced another frame to record a basic 'how to make' YouTube video, along with basic plans to help someone make the design in their back garden shed with only a saw, hacksaw, powered screwdriver, drill, some clamps and sanding paper. All the parts could be purchased through a hardware shop and online store. A link to the resources will be accessible via Loughborough University repository.

Although not the cheapest version of a floor standing frame, it satisfied the need for it to be portable, compact, and to have the freedom to alter the design to specific set of needs. The design shown is 80cm high x 72cm Square base, with a total weight of 5kg. The design also includes a plan to make a carry bag for all the disassembled parts using an old curtain and a low-cost skipping rope. The disassembled push-fit parts in the bag can be fitted into a conventional sized car boot (90cmx50cm). The main frame is made of domestic water waste pipe and connector parts. The main subassemblies are made of the same polymer, wood, and metal which make it easy to replace parts and recycle at the end of its life.

The open-source design example was produced to encourage other designers to make simple, safe designs available to anyone with basic crafts skills and everyday domestic tools. The result being more inclusive sports products being available for use in schools, clubs and group homes in their community.

Low-cost sustainable Boccia ramp.

The Low-cost sustainable Boccia ramp was co-designed with Greg Burton, Design Manager at Lesters Packaging. The design concept originated in 2006, from a discussion with Ken Black, Inclusive Sports coach, and Boccia teams from Boccia England, who wanted better ramp designs. From conversations with another Inclusive Sports Coach, Mark Beeby, the concept of a low-cost sustainable solution was formed. Since that time myself and Greg have produced many variations that have been tested with inclusive sports clubs, Schools, and through the Youth Sport Trust Schools Leadership initiative. The current design can be batch produced for as little as £4 + P&P and sent-flatpack through the post. The new design is effectively fully recyclable, with the opportunity for sponsors to add their logo in panels on the ramp. The design is produced by Lesters Packaging, a packaging business based in the West Midlands, UK, at-cost as part of their philanthropic work.

Low-cost sustainable Inclusive Golf Game.

The low-cost sustainable Inclusive Golf game was requested by Inclusive sports coaches Angela Morley and Clare Pattinson of Special Olympics Lincoln. The design allows Special Olympics athletes with impaired coordination to play golf and practice techniques together with family on an equal par no matter their capability.

Within two weeks of the request by Clare and Angela, Greg Burton, Design Manager at Lesters packaging, and myself had co-designed a prototype, with Greg producing it using flexible rapid manufacturing techniques in structural cardboard. Following a number of cycles of refinement, Greg and his team had produced a flat-pack, ready-to-use inclusive golf game in less than three months. One of the modifications was to ensure Boccia balls could be used as advised by Will Evans at Boccia England and bean bags, as an improvement from Angela and Clare, which would match with their needs for the Special Olympics Motor Activities Training Programme (MATP) initiative.

The Inclusive Golf game design is effectively fully recyclable, with the opportunity for sponsors to add their logo in panels on the panels. It is currently being costed for sale and direct mail from purchase. The design is being produced by Lesters Packaging, a packaging business based in the West Midlands, UK, at-cost as part of their philanthropic work.

The video was produced by Keith Allot, BadShoes Films, who is an experienced community videographer.