How This Small Group of Sports Leaders Turned Their Playground from Inactive to Active in One Single Term
Data Collection Start of Term: Average playground in-activity equalled 55%. End of Term: Average playground in-activity down to 11% (44% Improvement)
By Imtiaz Jamil
In a short span of one school term, a group of primary school students radically transformed their playground from a quiet, inactive space into a vibrant and active environment.
This remarkable change was driven by a structured sports leadership award delivered by Young Leaders Academy.
The Reach for the Stars program offers schools the tools and training to turn young students into confident sports leaders, and its impact on this particular playground was nothing short of transformative.
The Beginning: Inactivity and Challenges
The playground was initially characterized by low levels of engagement, with students often sitting idle or engaging in unsupervised, uncoordinated play.
Without a structured program or leaders to guide activities, the playground remained a chaotic or inactive space.
The school recognized the need for change and enlisted a small group of sports leaders through the Young Leaders Academy’s program to spearhead that transformation.
“The program emphasizes teamwork, communication, and responsibility, with an array of modules that teach essential skills such as session planning, event management, and behavioural guidance.”
Enter the Reach for the Stars Program
The Reach for the Stars program focuses on equipping students with the necessary leadership and organizational skills to foster active, healthy environments in their schools.
Students selected as sports leaders received a series of training sessions that honed their abilities to plan, communicate, and lead physical activities.
The program emphasizes teamwork, communication, and responsibility, with an array of modules that teach essential skills such as session planning, event management, and behavioural guidance.
This comprehensive approach ensured that the sports leaders did not merely learn how to organize a few activities, but they became ambassadors of health and wellbeing.
By understanding the broader significance of their role, they were able to encourage widespread participation from their peers, delivering high-quality, structured playtime activities and events.
The Transformation: From Chaos to Coordination
Once the training was complete, the impact was almost immediate.
The sports leaders, now confident in their roles, began organizing a wide variety of games and activities during playtimes.
Their knowledge of session planning allowed them to introduce activities that were not only fun but also safe, inclusive, and engaging for all students.
The playground became a lively space where all children had the opportunity to be active.
The sports leaders also took on the role of behaviour managers, using the skills learned to foster a positive atmosphere. This was a crucial factor in ensuring the playground remained orderly and conducive to physical and social development.
Ms. Emma PerkinsDeputy Head, St Barnabas Primary School, UK
“The children are able to develop their confidence, self esteem, communication, problem solving skills, creativity skills, teamwork skills and conflict resolution skills”
The Ripple Effect: School-Wide and Beyond
What made this single-term transformation even more remarkable was its reach beyond just physical activity.
By leading these activities, the sports leaders became role models for their peers, embodying qualities such as confidence, problem-solving, and effective communication.
This leadership was not confined to the playground; it permeated the school, with sports leaders taking charge of school-wide events and even contributing to community activities.
In some cases, they organized events in local care homes or nurseries, broadening their impact and enhancing the school’s profile within the local community.
The structured leadership program also boosted the overall school ethos, helping to instil a culture of health, fitness, and proactive engagement.
The playground, once characterized by inactivity, now became a dynamic space filled with structured games, organized by students who had developed an impressive range of life skills.
Sustainable Change Through a Comprehensive Program
One of the reasons for the program’s success was its focus on sustainability.
The Young Leaders Academy provides ongoing support to schools, with tools for monitoring the progress of sports leaders and a system for tracking their development through quizzes, gamification, and rewards.
This keeps the leaders engaged and ensures the program’s long-term success.
Additionally, the inclusion of teacher resources meant that the initiative could easily be maintained beyond the initial term.
Teachers and staff were trained to oversee and support the sports leaders, ensuring that their impact would continue in the following terms, thereby creating a self-sustaining model of active leadership within the school.
Conclusion: A Lasting Impact
In just one term, the playground was transformed from a space of inactivity to one of vibrant energy, led by a group of highly trained and motivated sports leaders.
The Reach for the Stars Sports Leaders Award from Young Leaders Academy provided these young leaders with the skills, confidence, and tools to take charge and create positive, lasting change within their school community.
The success of this initiative not only brought immediate benefits in terms of increased physical activity but also nurtured leadership skills that would serve the students in many aspects of their lives.
This case demonstrates the powerful impact that focused, well-structured leadership training can have, even in a short period.
By investing in the development of their students, schools can cultivate environments that promote both physical activity and personal growth, ensuring that their playgrounds—and their students—remain active, healthy, and engaged for years to come.