01 May, 2026 – Ludhiana : Annual athletics meets are a common feature in schools and colleges, and intended to promote physical fitness, sportsmanship and teamwork among students. However, in practice, these events in the current format often fail to achieve their intended purpose, which reduces them to one-off events that disrupt students’ academic routines without fostering lasting benefits, raising concerns among educators and parents alike.
One of the primary concerns is the lack of consistent preparation. In most institutions, students begin practising for athletic events only a few days before the meet. This short-term effort neither builds endurance, nor develops sporting skills. Instead of encouraging a culture of regular exercise, it promotes a last-minute approach, which defeats the core objective of promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Thus, participation becomes more of a formality than genuine engagement.
Equally troubling is the absence of continuity. In the days leading up to the meet, students often skip classes for rehearsals and preparations, resulting in distraction due to practice sessions and event preparations. This leads to loss of valuable study time, affecting their academic performance.
Teachers also face pressure to complete the syllabus within the stipulated timeframes, which can eventually affect academic performance and undermines the institution’s primary educational goals. As a result, the meet only becomes symbolic.
Experts in education and sports management believe that these shortcomings can be addressed through systematic reforms. According to them, the key lies in integrating sports into the daily routine, rather than confining it to a single annual event.
“Physical education must be a continuous process,” say academic planners. “Schools should introduce regular sports periods, structured training schedules and fitness assessments throughout the year. This ensures that students remain active and well prepared in advance for any competition,” said Kulwant Singh Sekhon, a senior physical education teacher from a nearby village school.
Sports coaches emphasize the importance of early introduction to a sport and consistent training. They recommend organising inter-house or inter-class competitions at regular intervals to keep students engaged and motivated. Such activities not only improve performance, but also build confidence and teamwork over time.
Another suggested method is to align athletic events with the academic calendar in a more thoughtful way. Experts advise that meets should be scheduled in a way that minimises disruption to studies, with clear planning to balance both academics and extra-curricular activities. Incorporating shorter, phased competitions instead of a single, large-scale event can also help reduce pressure on students.
Inclusivity is another area that requires attention. Educationists recommend designing events that encourage mass participation, rather than focussing solely on elite performers. Fun races, fitness challenges and non-competitive activities can ensure that students of all abilities feel involved and benefit from the experience.
Furthermore, experts advocate the integration of modern training techniques and awareness programmes. “Workshops on nutrition, fitness and mental well-being can complement athletic events, making them more educational and impactful. Proper planning can ensure that such events complement and not disrupt the academic calendar. Educational institutions can chalk out plans to conduct sports activities during the weekends or once in a fortnight,” suggested ex-Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal.
“Most schools don’t have a 200m track. So athletic meet means 60m dash on uneven ground and it feels like a formality. Instead of one day, hold two-hour meets every three months, use weekly PE classes for heats and hold finals only on sports day. Invite qualified coaches for one hour, turning their presence into a ritual for scouting talent,” Grewal added.
Teja Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary, Punjab Basketball Association, said that the athletic meets were just an annual ritual. Many schools finish the entire “annual sports day” in three hours. No heats, no training, no follow-up. Students who never ran get pushed into races, so that the event sheet looks full.
For private schools, it’s an item for the prospectus photo. For government schools, it’s an item to use the sports grant before March 31. Annual sports day over in three hours, photos clicked, medals given and ground becomes parking lot again, rued Dhaliwal.
“An athletic meet becomes a ritual when we run it to complete formalities. It becomes useful when we run it to build futures. The difference is 364 days of what happens before and after,” said Dhaliwal.
Since annual athletic meets have the potential to contribute significantly to students’ overall development, their current execution often limits their effectiveness. A shift towards consistent engagement and thoughtful organisation is necessary to transform these events into meaningful and productive experience for all students.
With expert-driven reforms — such as year-round engagement, better planning, inclusivity and integration with academics — these events can be transformed into meaningful platforms that truly enhance both physical and educational growth.
Experts opine that most of the institutions treat sports as a one or two day event. March-past, 100m race, tug-of-war, medals and photos. Playgrounds go back to being locked all year. Students who aren’t naturally athletic get no platform. No skill building happens. Turn annual meets into ones for daily growth, by year-round engagement through regular PE (physical education) and inter-house matches, better planning with trained staff and upkeep, inclusivity for all children and integration with academics — linking sports to science and math. “The meet is just the scoreboard. Daily sports builds physical and educational growth,” an expert notes.
The Tribune