One aspect of holistic education that has perhaps suffered a huge blow due to the COVID-19 pandemic is sports or physical education. As schools and colleges shut down to prevent contagion, students were forced to stay indoors. This has restricted the physical activity of kids, which also had an impact on their physical and mental well-being. What’s more, schools and educational institutions started conducting live classes online, further reducing physical activity. While most theory-based subjects have adapted quite well to the digital medium, it’s important to assess whether sports education can now take the virtual route and be just as effective? Let’s explore.

The Significance of Live Classes

Firstly and most importantly, live classes are necessary when it comes to sports education. Recorded videos simply can’t guide students in real-time as some activities are trickier than others. In fact, teachers must give proper instructions and guide students to prevent injuries.

Virtual supervision by sports teachers is essential to correct students if they make a mistake and teach them the right way to guide them about their posture and undertake physical tasks. Also, the presence of a mentor overseeing their performance motivates students to perform better.

In fact, this method of teaching through interactive live classes has proven effective in preparing for competitive exams as well. Many aspirants are now increasingly choosing online learning platforms like Unacademy for NEET, UPSC, SSC and online JEE coaching, among others. Recognising the importance of holistic learning, platforms like Unacademy have also started focusing on enhancing their sports education portfolio by imparting online sports and physical education sessions for school students. 

Navigating the Challenges of Virtual Sports Education

Live classes for sports education need proper planning and additional attention to finer details like posture, methodology and execution. There is also a need for a well-defined assessment criteria to evaluate student performance. To break the monotony, students can be asked to post short videos of them playing the sport of their choice. Moreover, teachers can give students assignments and recommend fitness apps to encourage physical activity. To be able to do this, teachers need to be well-versed with the latest technology and digital platforms. This is an area that schools and colleges need to develop by investing in the right infrastructure.

Wrapping Up

With all education turning digital, it is only a matter of time before sports education shifts to online live classes from in-person ones. The virtual path for sports education can even serve parents and teachers in ensuring the physical well-being of the child, while helping students learn better and faster.