We all know how great sports can be for young people’s physical health, keeping their hearts, bones and muscles strong, whilst improving cardiovascular fitness and maintaining a healthy weight. The Youth Sport Trust have carried out new research that lays out that “sports participation in schools is associated with higher levels of wellbeing for young people” proving sport doesn’t only have physical benefits, but it has meaningful mental health and wellbeing benefits as well. So, why do pupils get bored of PE?
It’s known that schools often rely on traditional sports, such as football and netball, to reach curriculum requirements. But doing these traditional sports over and over for years can understandably become rather boring. Imagine eating the same food for every meal, every day (I know I’d get bored!) Which brings me on to the importance of introducing new sports in schools to keep motivation and enthusiasm high.
There is a novelty factor around introducing something new to children, a curiosity and excitement to encounter something unfamiliar, whilst being inclusive for the whole class (non-traditional sports often emphasise teamwork, creativity, or fun over competition.)
Introducing a new sport doesn’t need to be expensive, using the facilities you already have and tailoring it to a new sport is easier than you think. Try partnering with an external provider/coach that can supply the equipment for you. This saves the cost of equipment, plus allows you to open doors for your pupils into the world of sport.
Some new sports you can introduce to spark enthusiasm in pupils are
- Padel
- Pickleball
- Boccia
- Tag Rugby
- Dodge Ball
- Baseball
- Climbing
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Archery
This all sounds great, but what are the true long-term benefits of introducing new sports to young people?
- Inclusivity – Some pupils may not thrive in traditional team sports but excel in alternatives like archery, climbing or ultimate frisbee.
- Skill Development – New sports often emphasise different skills such as balance, coordination, strategy or creativity.
- Increase confidence – Success in a new activity can transform a pupil’s self-image.
- Community Spirit – Trying something new together fosters camaraderie and shared discovery.
Why not run a “sports week” in summer where you can focus on a new, non-traditional sport each day. This will ensure all pupils have the same opportunities to try new sports and will enhance their friendships with one another. You could even let them vote on there favourite new sport and include this in your weekly PE lessons in the future.
Introducing new sports truly can spark enthusiasm in your pupils, not only in PE, but in every lesson. It allows PE to go from routine to a new adventure every lesson. Encourage healthy life-styles, stronger social bonds and renewed enthusiasms of your pupils and incorporate a new sport into your timetable today.
