Enhancing School Sports: ISSO Launches PE Educators Upskill Program
Revamping Physical Education in India
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 26: Aakanksha Thapak, the director of the International School Sports Organisation (ISSO), highlighted the importance of improving the skills of physical education trainers in Indian schools to elevate athletic performance. She provided insights into the evolving sports landscape in India over the past decade, which now encompasses more than just on-field activities.
During an interview, Aakanksha announced that ISSO, in partnership with the International School Federation (ISF) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), is initiating a specialized PE Educators Upskill Program. This program, which runs from May 25 to June 2 in the Delhi/NCR region, will be led by Veselin Matic, the former national basketball coach of India. The goal is to tackle the fundamental issue of inadequate coaching frameworks at the grassroots level in Indian sports.
Aakanksha explained that ISSO has dedicated over ten years to enhancing school sports, and this new initiative focuses on 'training the trainers'. She stated, 'ISSO has consistently worked to improve the school sports ecosystem. We realized that our efforts should extend beyond tournaments; it must start with upskilling PE educators to meet international standards, thereby enhancing athlete performance.' This led to discussions with ISF.
She further elaborated, 'ISF expressed interest in developing their programs, and this is one of the pilot initiatives they have been working on for the past six months. The first collaboration was with the Badminton World Federation, and now we are partnering with FIBA. This initiative aims to equip PE educators at the school level, ensuring that children receive the right foundation in sports and do not miss out on international training opportunities. Training the trainer is crucial for the Indian sports ecosystem.'
In India, many children engage in various sports such as basketball, football, hockey, tennis, badminton, and taekwondo in schools, but often lose touch with these activities as they grow older. Aakanksha attributes this to the intense competition among families, where parents prioritize financial success and often focus on cricket, the dominant sport in India.
She remarked, 'The competition is overwhelming. Parents want their children to excel financially, and since not every sport has the same opportunities as cricket, they often discourage pursuing other sports. However, the landscape has shifted in the last decade, with numerous government initiatives boosting parental confidence that their children can pursue sports as a viable career.'
Aakanksha noted that the sports ecosystem has broadened significantly, now encompassing areas like data analytics, psychology, physiology, and sports science. 'People can now engage in various aspects of sports beyond just playing, thanks to the changes over the past decade. The government's efforts and corporate support through CSR initiatives have bolstered parental confidence in sports,' she added.
Reflecting on her evaluation of Indian sporting talent, Aakanksha stated that while India excels in sports requiring mental acuity, there is a need for improvement in stamina-based disciplines. 'Indian athletes perform well in sports like chess, fencing, and shooting, which demand concentration. However, we must intensify our efforts in stamina sports. Racket sports are also showing improvement and are on the rise,' she concluded.