The organisation format of sports at the schools and college level in Goa/India must bring about systemic changes in coaching and tournament participation with weekly dual games with close neighbouring schools and colleges. This would minimise travel times, transportation costs and funding. Obviously, it will require a great deal of planning to implement this scheme successfully.
This allows for much-needed competition for student-athletes which is lacking in the current format of sports offerings in Goa/India. Logistics for transporting student-athletes will have to be worked out. In Goa, the Kadamba Transport Corporation and other various sponsorship can be gardened to help students from rural and suburban areas to participate in dual meets/games with schools/colleges within their own villages or talukas, thus avoiding travelling long distances. This would provide much-needed time for students to complete their homework and other school assignments.
This arrangement of participation will provide opportunities to compete more often and keep them motivated to train and perform well. And just not wait for the only one knockout tournament at state-level in team sports and one district or state-level athletic inter-school/collegiate meets. Such opportunities discussed above are prevalent in the Western world to identify talent for additional training and coaching. Thus, enhancing the frequent participation of students in the weekend sports competition. This must form an integral part of the extra-curriculum in schools/colleges.
Education is very important to progress in one’s professional life. But there is also more to life than just focusing only on academics. In fact, it is detrimental to the “total development of personality” of students who only focus on academics and neglect the health and wellness components.
LIFE-LONG BENEFITS
The health and wellness components of these students are also paramount in their life which will assist them to navigate their life’s pathways without compromising their mental health, social health, and physiological health and learn to reduce or remove stressors of life.
Participating in sports or exercising regularly increases “dopamine” which plays a vital role in maintaining optimal levels for overall wellness to have a productive and positive lifestyle. Even just a brisk 30-minute walk which can be paired with spending time outdoors in the sunlight can lead to healthier levels of dopamine.
Students will enhance their functions like focus and concentration, memory, and enthusiasm in their academics and professional life. There are numerous scientific studies that have illustrated that participating regularly in sports/exercising increased the number of dopamine receptors compared to those who refrained or had limited participation in sports/exercising.
Basic infrastructure must be provided for people to participate safely. I am sure there are state/national schemes to provide grants to develop playing fields or even recreational parks for children. While working as Assistant Secretary of the Goa State Council of Sports, I had sanctioned approval for developing grounds, building clubhouses, and even acquiring land for sports complexes across Goa.
There is still room to improve sports infrastructure in rural and most suburban areas in Goa, which is much to be desired. For example, Goa would greatly benefit from small astroturf pitches in several villages across Goa. There is a lot of hidden talent in rural and suburban areas of Goa. We need to tap into these populations for better scientific training and coaching.
SPORTS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
This academy must have a vision, a platform with a mandated curriculum for “sports-specific skills” (tactical/technical training) taught across the state/national level, consistently. Concentrating on the Middle and High Schools age groups would yield the best results to accelerate the development of talent. The programme may include 2-3 days of coaching after school and weekend competitions. This would reshape their day-to-day environments and keep them atop the sport through training sessions that are conducive to learning and growth. It is equally important to train and educate athletic trainers and coaches to teach the mandated curriculum. These professionals can be trained by foreign established reputable executives/coaches to assimilate an advanced knowledge base of the sports. A strong technical leadership team is required.
Soon, I will propose how to incorporate educational components into sports coaching camps that will win favour and facilitate parent support. The configuration of the after-school educational program can be worked out in concert with the schools. This is a must for the success of the academy, without parents’ support it will fail. Such programming will be a win-win situation for all.
[The writer presently based in Ohio-US has won awards in multiple sports in his youth and served in Higher Education as a faculty member, administrator, and innovator in sports in the US for 32 years]
