Physical activity and fitness are important elements in a student’s life. Yet the contemporary lifestyle has pushed them to phone and TV screens, with gaming consoles in hand instead of with a ball in a green field. Unfavorable factors have led to this, but most leading schools of Chennai and around have taken up a newer and more focused initiative to encourage student participation in school. More and more options have opened up to appeal to students. Here are some ways students can be encouraged by teachers, coaches or parents, to voluntarily sign up for participating in sports in schools:
·   Consider Adding More Innovative Games and Sports
Not every sport will be appealing to all. School Sports is not something that needs to be bound to limits. Adding more fun and games, introducing increased alternatives is a good way to increase student participation. Some enjoy water sports, some enjoy footwork and some mental activity. Encourage a diversity of sports to appeal to a diversity of students.
·   Building Sport Clubs
Adding dedicated sports clubs for students to manage and lead are a great way to increase student interest in sports. This also leads students to take an active role as leaders, develop a sense of responsibility, organize sports festivals, and bring excellent opportunities into schools. Developing a sense of community among students in school, apart from academics, is always an attractive option for students. Top schools of Chennai organize annual sports, competitions, dedicate sport celebratory days to their year routine adopting many other excellent practices.
·   Introduce Healthy Competition
Most students are discouraged from sports due to the lack of incentives and rewards. They need something they wish to achieve, a drive-in them for healthy and active participation. And a great way to add that is introducing healthy competition. Organizing races, intra-school, and inter-school badminton, cricket, and other sports tournaments, are excellent ways to lead to it.
·   Provide Students a Needed Classroom Break
Having to attend physical training classes at the far end of the day is going to turn students off, no matter what. Sports can be the needed relief from the monotony of classes. Encouraging in-class physical activity for a few minutes and keeping the periods dedicated to sports or physical activity by the first half of school promises increased and active participation in school sports.
·   Physical Fitness and Recreation Doesn’t Stop at School
Teachers actively need to communicate to parents about the importance of physical activity and sports. Guardians are someone who students would generally respect more than anyone at school. Moreover, suddenly breaking off from physical activity and sports during school breaks and vacations, is not the healthiest choice. Parents and siblings can arrange fun family days, where together the value of sports is enjoyed in healthy fun and bonding time.
Until and unless, schools themselves and guardians lead by example and show their dedication to sports, students will not show increased interest either. This is the very reason top schools of Chennai have dedicated a significant portion of their program, funds, and infrastructure to the development of their sports curricula. And make sure to appoint the right, professional coaches and physical trainers to not compromise with this essential physical training.
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