Beyond the scoreboard: Why sports belong in the school curriculum
By Jacques Le Roux, Head of College Boys Sport and Head of Senior Boys’ Boarding at Bridge House School
“Sport has the power to change the world.
It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that
little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand.“ — Nelson
Mandela
These words by the late former president of South Africa speak to the country’s rich sporting heritage, from the electrifying energy of a Springbok victory to the awe-inspiring grace of a Proteas batsman.
Many of our top national sporting stars have graduated from schools prioritising sports. Yet, in today’s fast-paced world, education often focuses on academic achievement, forgetting that a well-rounded education goes far beyond test scores. There is immense value in incorporating sports into the school curriculum, creating a holistic experience that benefits students throughout their lives.
While fostering the development of future athletic talent is a valuable objective, it is not the sole purpose of incorporating sports into the school curriculum. At Bridge House, we believe that just as strong academic foundations are crucial for intellectual development, a commitment to physical education cultivates multifaceted individuals equipped with the physical, mental and social skills to thrive. After all, at its core, education is about preparing students for life’s challenges.
As an educator with a sporting background, I can attest to the profound effect that physical activity has on a student’s mental health. Participating in sports provides a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety, which are common struggles faced by students today. Getting active releases endorphins that elevate mood, boost energy levels and promote feelings of happiness. This improved mental state translates to a more focused and engaged student in the classroom.
The sports field also offers a unique training ground for essential life skills. Teamwork is a cornerstone of success for the majority of sporting codes. Students learn to collaborate, communicate effectively and resolve conflicts constructively.
Facing competition teaches valuable lessons in perseverance and resilience, while athletes learn to prioritise and manage their time effectively as they balance their academic commitments with sports schedules. When faced with setbacks or losses, athletes gain the mental toughness to bounce back and try again. With the unemployment rate for youth in South Africa cited at a staggering 45.5% by Statistics South Africa, the determination and grit learnt by participating in sports are crucial for navigating life challenges such as choosing a career path, finding employment, building relationships and managing personal finances.
The demands of academics can take a toll on young minds too. At campuses such as ours, which offers diverse sporting options that cater to a wide range of interests and abilities, students can get away from the textbook and excel outside of the classroom, whether through traditional team sports such as hockey, soccer and netball or adventurous activities like mountain biking, trail running and hiking. This approach ensures every student can find a sporting activity they enjoy, regardless of skill level, and encourages a life-long love of physical activity that will stand them in good stead as they get older.
In addition to offering a much-needed escape, sports in South Africa have played a pivotal role in bringing students together from an array of cultures, languages and socio-economic backgrounds and uniting them behind a common goal. At the classroom level, sports provide a platform where individuals from different backgrounds can work towards a common goal, breaking down stereotypes and cultivating a sense of camaraderie. The challenges faced by athletes also create a sense of shared adversity, helping to build empathy and understanding.
One of the biggest challenges in school sports for educators and parents is maintaining student engagement, particularly during the last few years of secondary education. Although younger students are typically enthusiastic about trying new activities, schools must be strategic and focus on making sports fun and engaging to entice students of all ages and capabilities to participate.
To address this challenge, schools can consider offering a variety of sporting codes that also cater to recreational interests, create a positive and supportive environment that encourages a culture of sportsmanship and inclusivity both on the playing field and in the classroom, involve students in decision-making by allowing them to contribute to the planning and organisation of sporting activities and events, emphasise the importance of effort, participation and personal growth and not just celebrating wins, and connecting sporting activities to academic subjects to make them more relevant and engaging.
Incorporating sports into the school curriculum as
a core component and not as an afterthought is essential for nurturing
well-rounded individuals. Sports are a vital part of learning. A student’s
energy, stamina and vitality are powerful determinants of the educational
environment. Investing time and effort into students’ physical health enhances
cognitive function and emotional resilience. Schools that embrace a holistic
approach to sports and education serve as a model for how sports can be
leveraged to cultivate self-esteem, resilience, teamwork, leadership and a
long-lasting love for physical activity. It’s time for us as educators to get
on the same team and embrace the power of play in shaping the future of our
youth.
About Jacques
Jacques Le
Roux is a former South African International sportsman who participated in the
2012 Olympic Games as a reserve goalkeeper for the South African men’s hockey
team and the 2024 Olympic Games as the goalkeeper coach for the South African
men’s and ladies’ field hockey teams. He is the only South African hockey
goalkeeper to have played in the coveted Dutch Hoofdklasse for HC Den Bosch. Le
Roux’s skill and passion for developing hockey goalkeepers led him to be Head
of College Boys Sport at Bridge House, where he is also the Head of Senior
Boys’ Boarding.
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