Why school sports matter...
Universities, colleges and employers are all looking to recruit young people who are active and healthy, good team players, disciplined and focussed. So where do students acquire these skills and hone these talents? In their sports lessons of course.
In today’s world, obsessed with celebrity and body image, parents are concerned that their daughters acquire skills for leading a healthy life and interests which are both enjoyable and promote fitness.
Every school in the UK places great emphasis on sport, whether it is highly competitive, designed to promote health and fitness or simply for enjoyment and girls’ schools in particular work to provide a girl-centred sports programme that is accessible to all.
School sport has moved on from the days when the only choices were netball or hockey. While team sports encourage individuals to learn to work together for the success of the team some girls will always be individualists. Schools are now able to offer an amazing array from the traditional and well-known team sports to activities as diverse as sailing, horse riding, scuba diving, table tennis, Pilates and kick boxing. In schools where a wide variety of activities are available, girls are free to enjoy themselves and find their niche. Girls are emotional and relational beings so do better when they enjoy the activity and when there is a social element. It is key that every individual works to improve their own personal standards and that schools identify and nurture any talent or skills.
Recent research undertaken at Kilgraston School polled all senior girls on what motivates them to take part in sport and which activities they most enjoyed.
Nearly half of the girls said that they simply liked exercising and games, or enjoyed taking part in those activities with their friends. Over a third saw sport as a way to keep fit and healthy while only a small percentage participated “because they have to”!
The Kilgraston survey found that 80% of girls did more sport during the week than at the weekend – facilitated perhaps by the wide range of activities available to them at school. The girls listed a variety of sporting aspirations from keeping fit and ‘to be healthy when I’m 50’ through to ambitions to compete at the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics!
Success in sports brings benefits to every area of school life because the discipline, focus and commitment necessary for success are transferrable skills – one reason why sports prowess is valued outside the confines of the school playing fields. The sense of pride in achievement aids self confidence and of course teamwork is critical in all areas of sport – even in individual sports, there is a team behind the scenes. Working together and trying hard for the team brings great personal satisfaction, helps to develop life-long bonds and friendships and lays down healthy habits for the future.
This article was written by Mike Farmer on 11/11/2009
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Where's the social and/or emotional benefit of sport for the girl who is always picked last for teams?
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I understand the problem of the girl always picked last for the team but intelligent teaching and options can make sport attractive to all if it is focussed on health for those less able or less competitve. For this the right options have to be offered. Many years ago, in one of three schools I attended, some young sports staff unusually saw the torture sports could be for some. During sports sessions, individual fitness sports were offered such as swimming (lengths, not racing), going out cycling and even a brisk walk. Much better than hanging on to the sidelines in a beefy hockey match and not moving while humiliated and frozen. This while the beefy ones battled it out on the lacrosse field. They also NEVER allowed girls to pick teams, this is a barbaric practice. Sadly, I have not seen this replicated elsewhere.
A greater problem to me is how LITTLE time is offered to sport in the senior timetable. Our school (GDST) has only 2 periods a week! And it's a double, so essentially its one session which doesn't constitute regular exercise. Of course there are many teams and clubs in lunchtime and after school but with these you will never catch the large number who would rather not exercise. Furthermore these clubs compete with choir, academic clinics, and many other things offered at lunchtime and after school. This is poor physical and health education. And our school is by no means alone. I often hear parents of girls in academic schools expressing similar concerns.
We are surprised that young people can be aggressive and obese but this is not very surprising when you consider how much less sport they do than was done in previous eras. We had 'Games' EVERY afternoon. The school day went on a little longer (4pm-4.30pm) but we did sport daily. Many people remember this. Thankfully, my son's prep school extends the school day from y3 onwards to 4pm- and keeps up with physical exercise. But they are an exception.
Schools and especially academic schools should review the amount of timetabled sport. Children work better when fit. Famous schools like Hill House and its offshoot the Wimbledon Hall School do a 20 minute exercise routine first thing everyday from age 7 (or certainly used to).
It is possible to make it fun for all by focussing on non-competitive sport for health for those less keen/able whilst also providing team and competitive sport for the more able. But schools need to make this part of the curriculum, not just an extra-curricular.