Sport in Schools – Encouraging Motivation, Self Belief and Health

As far as sporting events go, this summer is set to be a scorcher! With Andy Murray gracing Wimbledon, Roy Hodgson taking the England football team to Brazil and the Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow, the upcoming months are proving to be filled with British sporting promise. Global sporting events can captivate the attention of children across the world, exposing them to new sports they had never heard of and giving them the opportunity to start following healthy role models. As we are currently in the athletics season, many schools will be holding sports day events and PE lessons outside on the field, so there is no better time than now to highlight the significant benefits of pupils taking part in exercise.

Benefits of Exercise for Children

The benefits of exercise for children to improve their general health and wellbeing are well-documented. Physical advantages include: – Healthier body weight – Reduced risk of weight-related conditions, such as diabetes and joint pain – Stronger bones and muscles Children who take part in organised sports also receive many other social, mental and psychological benefits too: – Social skills and teamwork – Self discipline – Healthy habits – Sportsmanship – Establish positive role models

Promoting sport in schools

The triumphs at the London 2012 Olympics paved the way for a collection of healthy and successful British role models, including Tom Daley, Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah. Their achievements inspired children across the country to take part in sporting clubs to emulate the accomplishments of their heroes. To publicise this healthy, active attitude, Olympic champion Jessica Ennis has been appointed the Ambassador of Sky Sports Living for Sport. This is a free UK-wide initiative using professional athletes and sports skills to improve the lives of thousands of young people across the country. Running in partnership with the charity ‘Youth Sport Trust’, this scheme aims to instil a positive and healthy mind-set into pupils of secondary schools throughout the UK. As part of this initiative, Jessica Ennis spoke to 300 pupils from 15 secondary schools at the English Institute of Sport in March of this year in hopes of inspiring young people into leading a healthier lifestyle. The focus of such events is to motivate students in schools to be more engaged in what they are doing, learn new skills and enjoy team work. The initial premise was to improve the behaviour of students but as it grew in popularity and success, it also motivates and inspires, improves life skills and increases accomplishment through participation. Projects such as this are an extremely beneficial way of encouraging young people to participate in activities they wouldn’t have otherwise known about. Not only does this significantly improve their physical health, it also encourages general positive wellbeing: – Gives pupils a sense of achievement – Demonstrates the importance of teamwork – Boosts confidence and self-esteem – Changes behaviours – Develops life skills – Exposure to role models For pupils to reach their full sporting potential it is essential to provide quality, well maintained equipment and athletics tracks. This will encourage young people to participate in a selection of sporting activities and give their best performance.

Charles Lawrence Sports Surfaces

Here at Charles Lawrence we understand the importance of first class sporting conditions and the positive effects this can have on its participants. Our team of experts specialise in providing construction, resurfacing and maintenance services for an extensive range of sporting activities. From tennis courts and multi-use game areas, we have the knowledge and experience to guarantee ideal playing conditions which cater to your requirements. Whether you are searching for brand new modern surfaces for track and field sports, or are looking for restoration services to upgrade your current sports pitches, we have the expertise to successfully complete any job. For further information or advice about any of the services we provide, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today!