This is more than just constructing a playground or adding a couple of court of one type or another to the school site. Schools must satisfy their requirements of sports facilities on a site appropriate to their space, budget, students’ interests, and strategic vision for the future. The correct mix supports students learning in a relaxed way to encourage team working and explore their sporting strengths and talents whilst delivering an acceptable budget for the school.

A large football field, swimming pool and an indoor sports complex are not essential in all schools. Several activities can take place in a small space using a well-planned multi-sport school ground. The critical point is to get an idea of which games will be played most often, the types of facilities needed for these games and how that equipment can be kept at the school indefinitely.

This Guide offers guidelines to school principals’/management teams for the selection of the most suitable Sports Facilities at school site according to space, budget, the needs of students and their future development potential.

Why Sport Diversity in School?

Sports help students to become physically fit, have confidence, are disciplined and have good social development. They also promote teamwork, rule abiding, problem solving and consideration for others amongst the children.

Providing a variety of activities will afford additional opportunity for participation for more students. Some might love football or cricket, others sport like badminton or athletics, basketball or yoga, chess.

A well-designed school sports programme can benefit schools when it comes to helping schools:

• Improve on fitness and co-ordination in students
• Encourage group participation, discipline and leadership
• Recognise students who are interested in developing into competitive sports
• To support PE classes and school competition
• Effectively utilize campus facilities
• Raising standards of engagement by all students with varying interests and abilities

The aim is to promote the maximum numbers of sports cannot be the aim. It is for choice to be made of activities available regularly and enjoyed safely by the student.

What sports should a school have?

The appropriate list of school sports in India will change from one campus to the other based on the infrastructure, weather, age and size of the campus. For some sports, they can play on the smaller size Sports courts, multi-purpose space, indoor halls, etc.

. Football

Because of its development of cardiovascular fitness, its improvement of coordination and teamwork abilities, and improvement of the rapid decision-making skill, football is popular. Full-size football fields may be impractical, though, in all schools.

For schools with limited land there are smaller football practice areas or a 5 a side turf. Using an appropriately sized artificial turf with adequate playing surfaces and safety zones, it is possible to conduct PE lessons, coaching sessions and play friendly games.

Suitable for: Moderate to large outdoor spaces or similar in schools with significant player enthusiasm for football.

. Cricket

Cricket is another great choice of game for schools in India but it does need a full-sized ground. It could also require facilities for pitch preparation, protection, equipment storage and more practice areas.

Smaller schools can set up a cricket practice net or a batting / hitting and bowling space. This allows the student to get some practice without having to use a full-size cricket field.

Ideally for schools with open grounds, teams or demand for the development of cricket coaching.

. Basketball

If you’re a school looking for a court sport without having to take up a lot of room, then basketball is great. Enhances agility, balance, coordination and teamwork of the students.

An Outdoor Basketball Court may be used by multiple classes during the day. Playing area dimensions, surface quality, lighting and space around the playing area should be taken into account by schools.

Good for: schools with low to moderate space for outdoor activities.

. Badminton

Badminton is suitable for schools that have an indoor hall or area that can be covered. Grows reflexes and footwork, concentration and coordination.

Inside it can provide students the ability to play in less interrupted conditions by rain or intense sunshine. Schools should be aware of the heights of their Roofs, Ventilation, Lighting, Careers and Floor Height before installation.

Ideal for: Urban schools, small campuses, schools with multipurpose buildings.

. Volleyball

Volleyball helps players to communicate, coordinate and collaborate. Can be used in a school where there is the need for a team sport that will not require a lot of equipment.

The decision to construct an outdoor court or a covered court should be based on type of budget and weather conditions in the school. Combination of activities can be conducted in a well-planned court as long as size and safety factors are observed.

Schools appropriate to: Team sport suitable for schools with limited infrastructure and/or where it would otherwise be difficult to play a team sport.

. Athletics and Running

Sport needs to be cultured in almost all schools as part of their sport programme development. Focusing on developing stamina, pace and overall Fitness, student activities are comprised of running, jumping, throwing and relay.

School does not have to have an extensive 400m track. Plan for use of running lanes, or provide a lane or area for sprint, relay, fitness activities at smaller campuses. On larger sites additional field areas may be warranted and a separate running track may also be warranted.

Recommended for: Schools of any size, depending on the land size.

. Kho-Kho and Kabaddi

The traditional Indian sports should be part of the planning of school sports. In Kho-Kho and Kabaddi, agility, speed, body control, strategy and the team work develop.

These can be viable options for schools looking to promote participation without a large expenditure on specialist set-up. Play surface is still important, basic equipment, court markings and supervision continue to be important.

Most appropriate for: Considering this school environment offers an opportunity to make an attractive use of open space in a cost-effective way.

. Table Tennis, Chess, and Yoga

Not all sports are played on an outdoor ground. Table tennis, chess, yoga are good techniques for the schools to have in place where students enjoy playing indoors, strategically and in a non-contact manner.

These programs can be developed and facilitate these activities in a class room, activity room or multipurpose hall if the proper time frame is established. There is strategic thinking with playing chess and flexibility and balance with doing yoga and awareness of body with playing yoga; all together thinking and planning.

Ideal for: Schools where outdoor sporting facilities are limited or when a diversity of activities is desired beyond field sports.

Choosing a sport depends on space available

Schools will be provided with an opportunity to measure the space available and identify potential activities which can be accommodated within the sports. This does not affect the area available for a sport depending solely on the plot size.

Final layout will be influenced by the various sub-assemblies, building, access paths, assembly areas, parking, drainage, and existing playgrounds.

Small campuses: Emphasize small facilities

The conditions of outdoor space in my school are limited, especially in the city. Rather than attempting to cover multiple separate grounds on the same ground, the management can focus on those activities that require least ground space or can use shared ground space.

You can use any of the following along with being suitable:

• Badminton is played in an existing covered hall
• Indoor activity rooms: Table tennis, chess
• A reasonably sized court to play basketball or volleyball
• Two teams playing Kho Kho and kabaddi in marked open ground
• Short distance running and fitness drills

A common court may be a sensible approach, but needs to be assessed in relation to size, surface, markings and safety clearances for the activities that are to be conducted.

Medium sized schools: Create Multi Sport School Ground

Schools with some outdoor area offer the possibility of creating a multipurpose court and a separate sports area. This will add some variation without the need for individual blocks for each activity.

For example, a school could consider:

• A small football or futsal field
• An outdoor basketball/ volleyball court
• Cricket practice nets
• Short running/athletics field
• A hall for indoor badminton and other activities

The final combination needs to take into account the number of students and the PE timetable. A good-looking facility that cannot allow for classes to be efficiently accommodated may not offer value for money.

In large campuses: Create specific areas for sports activities

If land space is available, an extra space may be used for field sport, court sport, athletics and indoor sports. This makes it possible to have more than one class practising at the same time and easier to organise competitions.

A bigger campus is not necessarily the same as building every facility, however. When there is a reasonable amount of student interest, coaching support and a maintenance programme there is a necessity for dedicated grounds.

Where Do You Get Sports Based on Budget?

The money spent on the sport should be more than enough for the construction. The total cost of ownership has a number of factors including site preparation, drainage, fencing, lighting, equipment, installation, repairs and regular maintenance.

The first step must be undertaken by dividing the proposed new facilities into three categories by schools.

• Low-investment activities

Schools with limited money can begin with activities that require basic equipment and relatively simple playing areas.

Examples include:

• Chess and yoga
• Kho-Kho and kabaddi
• Running, relay and fitness exercises
• Basic volleyball facilities
• Where space allows, for cricket practice

Don’t compromise on safety because of low investment. A variety of playing areas, appropriate equipment, supervision and defined activity areas are to be provided by schools.

• Mid-range infrastructure

If the school has a larger self-evaluation arena budget, they may be able to invest in facilities that enable them to have more frequent PE lessons and a range of sports.

Options may include:

• An outdoor basketball or volleyball court
• A multipurpose court with suitable markers
• Special practice grounds for cricket
• A mini-football field or futsal field
• Improvements to an existing indoor hall

Don’t just choose the contractor based on the cost; compare quotations with the tests for surface specifications, civil work, warranties, and maintenance requirements.

• Higher-investment facilities

Large, schools with a known sports programme and large budget might want to consider:

• A specially prepared artificial football playing surface
• An indoor badminton court with size 2
• Artificial athletics track construction
• A swimming pool
• Larger Cricket Pitch and practice nets

These facilities may need to be more broadly designed and subjected to greater operating costs. Constant water hygiene, filtration, safety monitoring and routine upkeep is required in a swimming pool, for instance.

Please note: Quantities, dimensions, site conditions, materials and civil work and equipment are all variables and will affect the actual costs of this job. Quotes from the site should be requested prior to approval of a project in school.

Which Sports Facilities Offer the Best Value?

The most helpful sports facilities are those whose use is possible throughout the school year as well as those which allow significant number of pupils to use.

School management should consider 4 questions prior to investment:

• What is the week’s occupancy for the facility?

• How many activities is it able to accommodate safely?

• For the next 5-10 years how much will it cost to keep?

• Does it contribute to the education and competitive objectives of a school?

The table below is a good basic guide to comparing options.

Sports facility	Space requirement	Relative investment	Main consideration
Chess and yoga	Low	Low	Indoor room and basic equipment
Kho-Kho and kabaddi	Low to moderate	Low	Safe, marked playing area
Table tennis	Low	Low to moderate	Indoor space and tables
Badminton	Moderate	Moderate	Appropriate hall, height, lighting, flooring
Basketball	Moderate	Moderate	Court dimensions and safety clearance
Volleyball	Moderate	Low to moderate	Court layout and net system
Cricket practice nets	Moderate	Moderate	Enclosure and protective netting
Football or futsal turf	Moderate to high	Moderate to high	Base preparation, drainage, turf, fencing
Athletics track	High for a full track	High	Land, surface, drainage, markings
Swimming pool	High	High	Construction, filtration, staffing, upkeep

The categories that follow are not necessarily provided with corresponding costs. The actual investment can vary greatly, depending on the investment infrastructure and the level of specification.

Why A Multi-Sport School Ground Makes Good Choice?

For schools with limited land, a multi-sport school ground can help to maximize the land. A school can schedule compatible uses of the various facilities and provide well planned activities around the common facilities rather than attempting to construct multiple facilities.

For instance, a basketball and volleyball court can be supported by a well-designed outdoor court. Athletics drills, warm-ups and physical education can take place in an open fitness area.

Schools should however not attempt to “mix” all of the sports on one surface. The demands for the construction and performance of football turf, badminton flooring, athletics tracks and swimming pools are different.

Assess prior to approving a multipurpose design

• Whether the surface is appropriate for all the activities that are proposed
• Whether or not it is easy to tell when there are markings and what they are
• If equipment can be safely stored
• If there is a possibility of collisions arising from simultaneous activities
• The amount of playing time that is provided for each class

A goal is to design a facility that functions during the day versus just being the largest facility with the longest list of sports.

Take account of other factors before building

Key categories of student ages and interests

Primary school requires additional room for movement games, introduction to sport, fundamental athletics. Structured coaching, competitive courts and training spaces may be beneficial to secondary school students.

Surveys should be held at the school, with the PE teacher and the coach involved, of student and sport activity preferences, as determined by the students. This feedback can help not invest in facilities where little is being used.

Climate and local conditions

The climate varies from region to region in Indian subcontinent. Humidity, monsoon rains and heat are weather and seasonal conditions that can impact outdoor facilities. 

Drainage, surface performance and cover/sun protection, ventilation and weather protection should all be planned for in schools. A well-designed base and drainage system may be as vital to playability as the sporting surface itself, in high rain fall locations.

Safety and accessibility

A safe access routes; appropriate equipment and supervision arrangements should be in place on all sports areas. Students with different physical ability should also be considered when determining access and participation issues to school activities. 

Regularly do inspections to detect damaged equipment before it becomes a problem, and even surfaces, loose fittings and drainage problems.

Providing maintenance and long-term use

A sports facility is not a capital expenditure; it’s an on-going obligation. The schedules for cleaning, inspection, repair and replacement vary based on the type of surface being processed.

Schools should ask the contractor about service life, material to be replaced information, warranties, maintenance procedure etc. It is very important to establish a maintenance budget to ensure that the original investment is protected.

Essential steps to school management

To make it easier, here are the steps that staff at the schools can take.

Step 1: Evaluate campus. Do survey of usable land, check existing facilities, and determine areas unfit for sports.

Step 2: Understand student demand. Understand enrolment and age groups, PE requirements, student inclination and available teams.

Step 3: Set priorities. Select 2-3 sports priorities to provide and not attempt to offer or do everything at once.

Step 4: Do a cost comparison of whole project. Include civil works, surfacing, drainage, fencing, lighting, equipment, future maintenance and installation.

Step 5: Plan for future expansion. Define the most beneficial facilities first and keep space or budget for extra sports in order to accomplish increased attendance.

This approach provides principals and management teams a solid foundation to assess proposals and justify investments.

FAQs

Q1. What sports should be offered if there is not enough space to run all the components of the sport?

Ans. Badminton, TT, chess, yoga, basketball and some multipurpose court sports are suitable in schools with limited space. This will depend on the dimensions available; the condition of an existing room; the number of students; and the safety specifications required.

Q2. What number of sports should be made available in a school?

Ans. There’s a definite number that works for every school – but there’s not one number. The number of activities can be three to five well-planned activities for a small campus or a larger programme for a larger institution. The number of sports is less important than regular participation, safety of facilities and the quality of coaching.

Q3. Which is the cheapest sport for the schools in India?

Ans. Some of the activities which require little amount of specialisation of infrastructure can make economic beginning such as Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, Chess, Yoga and Running Race etc. Final cost will depend on the playing area, equipment, safety requirements and if there is space that is appropriate within the school.

Q4. Is there the space in one school ground for more than one sport?

Ans. Yes, provided dimensions, surface, markings, equipment and safe clearances are conducive to the planned activities. For instance, the basketball court can be the same court that is used for volleyball. Facilities for sports requiring different construction/surface requirements may be necessary.

Q5. Which to choose, artificial turf or Natural Grass?

Ans. This will depend on the sport, how often you use it, the weather, the amount of land you have, maintenance ability, and budget. There may be a place for artificial turf to meet fields that are utilized regularly for football practice, and there may also be a place for natural grass to satisfy fields that have land and drainage resources, and maintenance resources. The test for making a decision should be considering school’s long-term costs.

Conclusion

Selecting appropriate sports for school involves a delicate balance among student preference, school size, equipment expenses, and upkeep. Building all this is not essential to a school developing a good sports programme. It requires activities which students can access regularly and safely.

For smaller size campuses, they can start with select, mini turn equal indoor activities and effectively designed multipurpose courts. There are options for small football grounds and dedicated infrastructure for larger campuses and both options can be integrated with court sports sessions or even with a small cricket session for medium sized schools.

Planning around actual student needs and comparing the total cost of each facility and selecting options based on the needs and slowly adding as demand increases are the best ways to do it. Schools can help to develop a sports culture that encourages fitness, confidence, team play and a lifelong interest in activity with thoughtfully planned activities.

You might be installing new sporting equipment in your school! Gallant Sports will guide you to find the right sports surfaces and facilities for your campus, planned events, and budget. Discuss your project with Gallant Sports.