7 April, 2025
Bharat Sachdeva
In a world that often emphasises differences, sports serve as a powerful unifier. As the Head of Physical Education, I have witnessed firsthand how sports can bridge gaps in education, gender equality, and even workplace culture. When children from different backgrounds, abilities, and experiences step onto the field, they don’t just play, they connect, grow, and learn invaluable life lessons.
At SBS, we believe that sports are for everyone. Whether it’s a child struggling with confidence, a student overcoming physical challenges, or a budding athlete refining their skills, physical education plays a crucial role in shaping a well-rounded individual.
Stories of Transformation Confidence Beyond the Classroom
A few months ago, a student from Grade 6, hesitantly joined a PE session. He had always been conscious of his posture and body language, often slouching and avoiding eye contact. Through regular breath-work exercises and mobility drills, he started to regain control over his posture. Gradually, his confidence grew not just on the field but in the classroom as well. Today, he stands taller, speaks with clarity, and has even taken on leadership roles in team activities.
The Power of Movement for Mind and Body
One of our bright Grade 9 student, struggled with energy dips and poor gut health. Long hours of study and a sedentary lifestyle left her fatigued and disengaged. Through PE lessons that emphasised the importance of mindful movement, breath-work, and simple nutrition guidelines, she started making small but significant lifestyle changes. She noticed improvements in her digestion, sleep, and overall energy levels. The biggest win? She now feels more in control of her body and mind, setting an example for her peers.
Breaking Barriers, Building Camaraderie
Our recently concluded Inter-House Basketball, Soccer, and Racquet Sports Tournament for Junior and Middle School students was a celebration of participation, camaraderie, teamwork, and resilience. The event was filled with thrilling moments, nail-biting finishes, unexpected upsets, and inspiring displays of athleticism. Teams showed incredible spirit, supporting one another and pushing beyond their limits. A particularly heartwarming moment was seeing a team rally around their least experienced player, encouraging them to take a crucial shot that ultimately secured the win. These experiences teach students that sportsmanship is about respect, inclusion, and valuing every contribution on and off the field.
The Power of Regular Assessments: Raising the Bar for Growth
One of the most effective ways to inspire students to push their limits is through regular assessments. These are not about competition with others but rather about self-improvement raising one’s own benchmark, challenging personal boundaries, and testing physical and mental endurance in a supportive and encouraging environment. By tracking progress in fundamental movement skills like squats, lunges, sit ups, plank hold, burpees, push-ups, jumping jacks, animal flow movements, surya namaskar and agility drills, students gain a deeper understanding of their physiological makeup and mental strength. They begin to see how these basic movements help build resilience, sustain energy, and counter the physical and emotional stresses of daily life. More importantly, they realise that just 20-30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise everyday, practiced with proper technique, can significantly enhance their fitness, strength, and overall well-being.
To further instill this mindset, our bi-annual fitness challenge provides students with an opportunity to showcase and test themselves. For Junior School (Grades III-V), the challenge incorporates four fundamental movements: squats, burpees, jumping jacks, and a plank hold each performed for a minimum of 30 seconds with correct technique and awareness. As students progress into Middle and Senior School, the challenge evolves, demanding a minimum of 1 minute per exercise, with pull-ups or passive hanging for grip strength replacing jumping jacks. These challenges are designed not just to assess fitness levels but to build a culture of perseverance, self-discipline, and confidence. The ability to move well, breathe efficiently, and stay physically active isn’t just about excelling in sports, it’s about preparing for life’s challenges with strength, resilience, and a growth mindset.
Physical Education: Shaping the Future of Society
Sports teach life lessons that go far beyond the playground. The discipline of training, the resilience to keep going despite setbacks, and the camaraderie built in team sports shape individuals who grow up to be better professionals, leaders, and community members.
At our school, PE is not just about fitness – it’s about building a culture of inclusion, respect, and human performance. Whether it’s teaching students about mindful movement, the importance of breath control, or the value of sportsmanship, we are preparing them for life beyond school.
The Role of Parents: Partners in the Journey
A child’s growth in sports and fitness is not limited to the school playground – it extends to their home environment, where parents play a pivotal role. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible efforts parents are making in supporting their children’s physical and emotional development. Your encouragement, lifestyle choices, and active participation shape the way your child perceives health, discipline, and resilience. Many parents have shared with me how their child’s engagement in sports has led to noticeable improvements – not just in fitness, but in overall well-being. They have observed greater discipline in daily routines, improved focus in academics, and a healthier approach to managing emotions. Some have even mentioned how breath-work and mindfulness exercises learned in PE have helped their children navigate stress, sleep better, and build emotional resilience. It is truly heartening to see this collaborative effort between home and school shaping confident, mindful, and well-rounded individuals. Together, we are building a future where sports and fitness become a lifelong foundation for success and happiness.
A Future Where Sports Are for All
As educators, parents, and students, we must work together to create a culture where every child, regardless of ability or background, feels empowered through sports. Because when we play together, we learn together – and when we learn together, we grow as individuals and as a society.
Let’s continue to celebrate sports for all, ensuring that every child finds their place, their strength, and their confidence through movement, play, and teamwork.
Because in the end, sports aren’t just about winning or losing – they’re about belonging.
