Establishment of Sports Leaders 2024

Department/Committee/Team: PE

Leader(s): Lim Ting Fang

Member(s): Lance Teo and James Ong (2IC), PE Dept supporting

1.  What was the current need/gap that you were addressing?

There is a growing pool of students who wish to engage in active living (e.g., sports) during school breaks such as common recess periods. These students have previously approached the Physical Education (PE) department, expressing interest in having regular, organized activities accessible to the school population. Many of these activities, being team-based sports, require a sufficient number of participants to be viable. In the past, such activities occur on an incidental and ad-hoc basis, lacking a consistent framework to sustain student interest and participation.

2. How had it been experimented and enacted?

In the past, students keen on physical activity during common breaks have independently utilized playing venues to engage in sports individually or within small groups of friends. However, these efforts rarely extend beyond their immediate social circles or levels. In response to this gap, the leadership role of Sports Leaders was introduced at the beginning of this academic year (i.e. 2024). Upper Secondary students were invited to apply during the PE briefing at the start of the year, and a selection process ensued, including interviews and consultation with the PE Department. From this, a dedicated group of 20 students was chosen and divided into three functional portfolios: 1) Outreach Team Focused on publicizing information about physical activities and health education within the school. 2) Pop-Up Events Team Responsible for organizing special events such as Just Dance sessions, Ninja Warrior Week, and Frisbee Clinics. 3) Unstructured Play Team Tasked with planning and supervising scheduled, unstructured Play sessions during common recess periods to promote inclusivity and active engagement among students. 4) Overall support of PE events Additionally, the Sports Leaders supported major school-wide PE events, including the Secondary 1 Nanyang Sports Meet and the school's Cross Country Run.

3.  Which group(s) had benefited?

Students (Selected Groups), Students (Entire Cohort)

4.  What was the positive impact?

The establishment of the Sports Leaders initiative has yielded significant benefits: 1) Increased Student Ownership: Sports Leaders actively propose activities and provide feedback on the organization of school sports events. 2) Peer-Led Engagement: Activities planned and led by students for their peers have resulted in higher participation rates and stronger buy-in from the student body. 3) Community Building: Through structured and inclusive events, students from various levels and social groups have had opportunities to interact and bond, fostering a greater sense of school community. This initiative not only addresses the need for regular, organized sports activities but also cultivates leadership, teamwork, and a culture of active living among students.

5. What is a future need that this IdEas@work could meet?

With the positive outcomes observed and the identified areas for improvement, the following actions are recommended: With the positive outcomes observed and the identified areas for improvement, the following actions are recommended: With the positive outcomes observed and the identified areas for improvement, the following actions are recommended: 1) Programme Deconfliction Ensure that activities organized during common recesses do not conflict with other school programmes or events. Coordination between departments or committees is necessary to streamline schedules and prevent overlaps. 2) Integration with Existing Leadership Roles Currently, there are various student leadership groups conducting similar activities (e.g. SC involved in CSM). Existing student bodies could be engaged to support and enhance sports-related activities, thereby streamlining resources and creating a more robust leadership structure. 3) Inclusion in Leadership Training Programmes The Sports Leaders are not currently included in the school's overall leadership training and development framework. Integrating them into this programme could provide opportunities for skill development, alignment with broader school goals, and improved collaboration with other student leaders. 3) Redefining Roles and Scope To optimize efficiency, the scope of Sports Leaders’ responsibilities could be integrated into existing leadership roles. This approach would consolidate efforts across student leadership bodies, making roles more comprehensive and impactful while reducing overlap.