Covering different types of school sports in your PE classes

We know that not all children have access to the same sport and activity opportunities, which is why making sure pupils have two hours of high-quality PE lessons a week is crucial.

Physical activity brings such a range of benefits to children that it’s no wonder that more and more schools are treating PE as a core subject. But as with all subjects, bringing variety into PE isn’t always easy. Schools have limitations, and it’s unrealistic to expect school sports to include specific facilities such as watersports and climbing.

So how can teachers ensure they include different types of sports within their PE lessons? And why is experiencing a range of sports so important?

Let’s start by looking at why participating in various sports is beneficial.

The benefits of doing different types of sports for kids

Physical benefits

Physical exertion helps to build strong muscles but practicing a range of sports helps to develop different muscle groups necessary for overall health. As well as cardiovascular health, being involved in a variety of sports also helps to develop skills such as balance, strength and coordination.

Psychological benefits

Mental health and wellbeing is often associated with sport and for good reason. It’s a fantastic stress reliever, and participating in numerous sports provides multiple outlets for easing anxiety and stress. Experiencing different types of sports can be a confidence boost too — it allows both boys and girls to find what they are good at.

Alongside this, taking part in a variety of school sports can enhance cognitive abilities, as many sports need some strategic thinking and fast reactions.

Social benefits

Sport bring opportunities to build social skills and make friends, but particularly team sports, where communication, cooperation and teamwork is needed.

Even individual sports are great learning opportunities, especially when it comes to sportsmanship — children need to learn to respect coaches and officials, and also be able to win or lose.

Exposure

As mentioned previously, participating in different types of school sports means children have the opportunity to find a sport they love. We’re all different, and have different preferences. Finding a sport that you enjoy can help to create a lifelong passion, in turn ensuring a healthy long-term lifestyle.

Eight different sports to teach

For some inspiration, we’re going to explore eight ‘swaps’ you can make in your PE lessons to help you ensure greater variety. Don’t worry, we won’t suggest anything complicated or with excessive equipment requirements!

Team sports

Of course, teaching team sport at school is easily suited to a PE lesson as the class can easily be split into two teams. As mentioned earlier, working as a team can develop a wealth of skills in kids, and they often enjoy the camaradarie of working together to defeat the opposite team!

Team sports can be broken down further into: invasion games, net games, fielding and striking games and target games

Invasion games

Swap 1: if you normally teach handball, why not try touch rugby?

Speed and agility are required in this team sport, which is a fun and accessible adaptation of the classic sport.

Start by setting out a pitch with two halves, and a try zone at either end. The game involves two teams who are attempting to score tries at the try zone in the opposite end, with every player wearing a ‘tag’. The attacking team start by passing the ball backwards and then between their teammates — making sure the ball isn’t passed forwards

The attacking team has five chances to score. If they are tagged, they lose an attempt to score. The ball must be played from wherever the tag happens. After five tags, the other team win possession.

After a tag, the defending team must retreat five paces and the attacking team re-start play by passing the ball backwards.

Swap 2: if you normally teach football, why not try speedball?

This fast-paced game combines elements of football (or soccer) and basketball with plenty of opportunities for scoring points!

A rectangular playing area is set up with two basketball nets at either end and four hockey goals (or similar) at each corner. Divide the class into two teams — their main objective is to score goals at the opposite end to where they begin.

Using a foam ball, play begins with players passing the ball within their team using passes and throws to try and score a goal. If the ball is dropped, it is played as a football, with players able to flick it back up using their feet to be played in their hands once again.

Defending players can attempt to intercept the ball but must remain at an arm’s length distance from attacking players.

Teams score one point for scoring in a hocky goal and two for scoring in a basketball net. After points are scored, the defensive team re-starts play from the centre.

Net games

Swap 3: if you normally teach tennis or table tennis, why not try volleyball?

Volleyball is a fun team game and popular Olympic sport which can be easily adapted for all ages and abilities. All you need is a net — which can be set at any height deemed appropriate for your class — and a light, soft ball. You can even start by using a balloon to get children used to the actions.

Ultimately, the aim is to try and return the ball over the net inside the court, while preventing it from touching the ground on your side.

We’d recommend starting by putting the class into pairs, one either side of the net, and letting them practice using their hands — in that two handed fist — to get the ball over the net. From here, you can progress to bigger games.

It’s tempting for kids to try and catch the ball as it comes towards them, so encourage them to practice pushing it back up!

Swap 4: if you normally teach badminton, why not try battleships?

With the fun element of ‘throwing blind’ this game is great for teamwork and ideal for all abilities. Start by dividing the play area using mats, parachutes, or anything that creates a visual barrier, so the opposing team’s half can’t be seen.

Ask pupils to set up their ‘battleships’ (bowling pins or similar) which the opposing team will try to knock over using soft balls, from the other side of the barrier.

The first team to knock down all of the battleships on the other side, wins.

Fielding and striking games

Swap 5: if you normally teach rounders, why not try kick rounders?

Field-based games are lots of fun and get kids outside! As you’ve probably guessed, this sport is very similar to traditional rounders, but instead of using a bat to hit a ball, players are thrown a football underarm, and have to kick it as far as they can.

Set up the game as you normally would, split your class and have one team fielding and the other kicking. Four posts are positioned as bases in a playing area, and the player’s aim is to run around as many bases as possible before the football is returned to the ‘bowler’. If the player makes it around all four bases, they score a full rounder.

This is a great twist on rounders and tests kicking skills as well as speed.

Individual sports

In addition to team sports, children will often be doing a mixture of competitive and non competitive individual sports during their PE lessons. From gymnastics and cross country running to archery and swimming, there is a comprehensive list of sports that are done independently.

Swap 6: if you normally teach gymnastics, why not try yoga?

A great chance to encourage the class to slow down, check in with their mind and body and stretch those muscles, yoga requires some patience, but can be picked up quickly.

Don’t worry about getting poses spot on, and don’t expect them to practice it for long periods, rather focus on the children being present.

Why not try these simple poses to start with. Each pose should be held for 3-5 breaths.

• Mountain pose
• Warrior pose
• Cobra pose
• Bridge pose
• Cat-cow pose

Swap 7: If you normally teach dance, why not try fitness circuits?

Fast and fun, circuits will mean your lesson goes by in a flash and the kids have fun and get their heart pumping.

Depending on the age of the class, set up approximately five to seven stations each with a different challenge. You’ll need to divide your class so a few children are at each station.

You can keep it simple with no equipment, for example, jumping jacks and running on the spot, or you can bring in some equipment such as skipping rope, and cones to jump over.

See if the kids can do ten repetitions of each movement before moving on.