Playball South Bucks
Local mum Joanne Forrest-Smith is passionate about teaching children sport, so set up Playball South Bucks, where little ones learn the foundation phase skills for tennis, football, cricket, rugby and hockey, basketball, netball and volleyball…
Tell me about you and your family/where you live…
I live with my husband, two children and two dogs in Beaconsfield. We moved from London seven years ago, where my children did playball classes, so I knew that I wanted to set up my own franchise in Beaconsfield.
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Tell me about your business...
Playball South Bucks teaches the foundation phase skills for tennis, football, cricket, rugby and hockey, basketball, netball and volleyball in small, age-specific structured classes for 2-3s, 3-4s,
4-5s and 6-8s taught by coaches passionate about teaching children. We also do parties and
holiday camps.
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Have you always been interested in doing this? How did you get involved?
My background is publishing and photography, so no. I've always been sporty and love children, having been a registered childminder in London. When we moved, I wanted a new challenge. Always having been my own boss, I wasn't scared of a new challenge and a new business.
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What do you like about it the most? What did you do before?
I love teaching children sport and seeing their competence and confidence grow. Children are incredibly creative, energetic and love learning new skills, so it's an incredibly rewarding job.
I wouldn't change it for anything.
What are your goals for the future?
To grow my business, offering playball to more children in Bucks.
Who is your idol?
I don't have a particular idol but admire all bold, sassy, loud women!
What's in your handbag right now?
I don't use a handbag. In my rucksack, my essential items are my whistle, first-aid kit
and playball stamp.
What was your best-ever game/sporting memory?
Swing ball.
Anything else we don’t know about you and should?
I am very passionate about and committed to teaching children sport. My business runs on mums' word of mouth, which is the best accolade. Lots of mums praise my patience!
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