1 Planning in Sports

Learning Outcomes
Meaning and Objectives of Planning
Various Committees and their Responsibilities (Pre, During and Post)
Tournaments-Knockout, League or Round Robin, Combination and Challenge
Procedure to Draw Fixtures: Knockout (Bye and Seeding) and League (Cyclic and Staircase)
Intramural and Extramural: Meaning, Objectives and their Significance
Specific Sports Programmes (Sports Day, Health Run, Run for Fun, Run for a Specific Cause and Run
for Unity)

1.1 Introduction
Planning is vital to success in any human endeavour. If we prepare, know how things will work out
and predict potential challenges, the chances of success dramatically increase. Physical Education
and participation in sports is vital to the success and well-being of modern humans. Lack of
adequate planning prevents possible success. Focus on planned sports programmes, early selection
of potential champions, grooming from an
early age coupled with training
planning needs and
timely execution if the programme has to be successful. Schools need to plan and prepare from an
early age if more world-class athletes and sportspersons have to be produced. And this has to be
an ongoing process.

1.2 Meaning and Objectives of Planning

Once we know what our desired
goal is, we need to put things and action together to attain the said
goal. This is what is called
planning. It is said that if we fail to plan, we plan to fail! Also, planning
helps decide the future course of action.
and who-the five W's of
Planning involves being clear on what, why, where, when
planning.
Planning has many definitions. Most dictionaries define
planning as "the process of making plans
for something".

According to another definition, "Planning is the fundamental

involves deciding beforehand what is to be management function which
done, when it is to be done, how it is to be done, and
who is going to do it. It is an intellectual
process which lays down an organisation's objectives and
develops various courses of action by which the organisation can achieve
chalks out exactly how to attain a those objectives. Planning
specific goal."
Merriam Webster
dictionary defines planning as "the act or process of making or carrying out
plans: the establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a unit".
Planning is also defined as "a process that identifies the
goals required
strategies to achieve them, arranges or creates the means or obiectives to be achieved,
and implements, ue formulates
ect ar
nd
monitors all steps in their
proper sequence.
2 Essentials of Physical Education-XI!

Objectives of Planning8
1. Reduces Pressure from Urgency: When we plan an event and forecast the flow of future
events, we, in fact, ward off uncertainties and unanticipated changes like in weather or
climatic conditions. Immediacy creates unnecessary pressures which can be avoided with
planning. Better we plan, less is the pressure.
2. Economic Advantages: Planning leads to streamlined activities and processes. This, in turn,
leads to efficient utilisation of resources. If planning is done in advance, last-minute expenses

can be avoided.
3. Sets up Controls: Planning stops deviations from set procedures and norms. Thus, the
event flows in a determined direction helping the coaches plan well and fix standards of
performance. Also, if need be, corrective actions during an event can be planned well in
advance. This leads to smooth run during the event.
4 Better Coordination: As various committees work in tandem, a planned coordination makes
it easier to organise an event. Lack of coordination occurs if there is no advance planning of
activities and functions of various members.
5. Better Decision-making: Planning in advance ensures better decision-making. It is possible if
adequate care is taken to collect data, identify alternatives, make exigency plans and advance
selection of venues, coaches, sportspersons, etc.
6. Reduces Mistakes and Unnecessary Duplication: Mistakes and unnecessary duplication are
also minimised when we plan in advance. Oversights may exist but they are minimised with
proper planning.
7. Enhanced Performance: Adequate planning increases an athlete's performance. A well-
planned training and competition plan helps get the best out of an athlete.

1.3 Various Committees and their Responsibilities

Organising sports activities at schools, colleges and at state and national levels needs support staff
and skilled people. Many people possessing different skills need to plan and then execute the
events together in harmony, without overlapping each other, and carry out specific tasks to the best
of their abilities. Depending on the level of sports, participation, number of events and available
resources, different committees need to be set up.
These committees are set up before, during and after the tournament.

Planning helps achieve specific goals

Pre-tournament Committees

1, Organising Committee: Derore any Sport

event who has the overall
is
organising organised,
committee ofan
is
set up. This committee is neadea by a Chairman responsibility
organising, running and wrapPIng up the event. All sub-committees report to the organising
committee. All aspects of the event are routed through this committee.
 Planning in Sports 3
2. Finance Committee: All events need budget for their smooth conduct. The finance committee
a
takes care of the
budget, plans spending and prevents wasteful expenditure. Many finance
committees are also tasked with
3.
arranging funds and sponsorships.
Publicity Committee: The dates, venues and
timing of the events need to be brought to the
notice of the
people. Also, prominent participants need to be
audience. This can be done highlighted to attract a large
through media advertising, press meets and publicity through
newspapers, hoardings, etc.
4. Technical Conmmittee: This committee is tasked with the
equipment, playing area, courts and
responsibility to ensure that correct
grounds meet the required specifications.
5. Purchase Committee: Sports equipment and other items that
wil be used in the event
acquired by this committee. are

During-tournament Committees
These committees need to be set
up during the tournaments. They play an
managing the needs of athletes and coaches, arranging for their transportation, important role in
ceremonies as well as awards, medals, etc. opening and closing
1. Reception Committee:
Welcoming the athletes on their arrival in the
putting them up in appropriate accommodations and welcoming thecity
or at the
chief guests venue,
at the
opening and closing ceremonies are some of the functions this committee undertakes.
2. Transportation Committee:
the coaches,
Transporting the sportspersons and the attending staff such as
grournd staff and officials to the venues and stadia on time is the
function of this
committee.
3. Boarding and Lodging Committee: This committee is responsible for boarding and lodging
of the players, teams and officials.
4. Medical Committee: This committee consists of
attend
qualified doctors and paramedical staff to
to any medical
exigencies. Setting up first-aid centres and ensuring
the nearest hospital in case of transport to reach
any serious injury is the primary function of this committee.
5. Tournament Committee: The task of
receiving entries, drawing up fixtures and making
arrangements for standard sporting facilities is handled by members of this committee.
6. Ceremonies Committee:
Large events need to have an opening and closing Such
ceremonies need special attention and preparation. This committee is also ceremony.
tasked with the
job of handing out invitations, etc. Trophies, medals arnd certificates to be given away at the
victory podium are also arranged by this committee.
7. Officials Committee: This commitee is
such as umpires, referees, record
responsible for the selection of various sports officials
keepers, starters, track marshals and time keepers as per the
requirement of the event.
8. Announcement Committee: Members of
this committee are for
responsible setting up
facilities and making announcements during the events. They announce the winners of the
events and arrange for
running commentary, if required.
Post-tournament Committees
Once an event is over, it needs to be wound
up. These committees may consist of members from the
pre-and during-tournament committees. They
to their
are
responsible for the smooth return of sportspersons
respective homes and countries by ensuring proper post-event transport facilities, etc.
1.4
Tournaments-Knockout, League or Round Robin and Combination
Atournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating
aparticular sport or game. Competition amongst human beings has been in existence since
Le
immemorial. In the field of sports, a tournament varies-from school level to international
6 Essentials of Physical Education-XI!
teams twice. So, the number
plays the other
Tournament: Here, every team
(6) Double League
is calculated using the formula
of matches played
N(N-1)
the total number of matches
in a Double League Tournament,
If9teams are takingbelow:
part
to be held is given
=
9(9-1) =
9(8) =
72 matches
N(N-1)
Tournaments
Advantages of League follows:
t o u r n a m e n t s are as
The advantages by league
offered
at least once.
to play every other team
team has an opportunity
i) Every great opportunity
team gets to play multiple
matches, the players have a

(i) Since each

talent.
to showcase their
the tournament.
The overall best team has the highest chance of winning
(i1) their skills as they can be spectators at
(iv) Participants have an opportunity to improve
many other games.
rank the teams in the order of sustained performances.
(o) It is easier to correctly
skill sets till the end of the
tournament.
enthusiasm and
(vi) Everyone maintains times over a short
to watch their stars in action many
(vii) Spectators get an opportunity
period of time.
Tournaments
Disadvantages of League
are played.
as a large number of games
() These are time-consuming
skills are needed to organise these
tournaments.
(i) A lot of organisational
to cost more money to the organisers.
(iii) Such tournaments tend
food, transport and other logistics are necessary.
(iv) Large-scale facilities for accommodation,
tend to suffer from low morale.
(v) Teams that repeatedly display poor performance
method is used to conduct matches on group or
zonal basis.
3. Combination Tournaments: This the number of
determine the suitability of this method include
Among the variables that commute and the games involved. Thus, if any activity
teams, the distance from which they where the
the said area is divided into smaller areas
region,
involves a large country
or
meet at
meet at a place. After the zonal or regional winners are decided, they
central
players combinations are:
a central place to compete
at the national level. Among the possible
(a) Knockout-cum-knockout (6) League-cum-league
(d) League-cum-knockout
(c)Knockout-cum-league zone
(a) Knockout-cum-Knockout: All teams here get divided into four distinct zones. Everyzones
knockout tournaments on a knockout basis. Then the winners of all
organises
meet at a centralplace and play on knockout basis till the winner is established. Look
Tournament on knockout basis:
at the following example for a Zonal
a

Total number of matches (N 1) 7 -1 6= -

= =

1
Fixture
2
4

4
6 Winner
5
6
7 Bye
5)
 Planning in Sports 7

Number of teams in upper half = N+)_7+1_8 = 4 teams

2 2 2
lf=-1)_7-1 6 = 3 teams
Number of teams in lower
2 2
Total number of byes Next power of two Total teams = 8 - 7 =1

(b) League-cum-League: Here also, while the teams are divided into zones across a
geographical area, the teams play in their zones on a league basis. Since one team
from each zone is declared a winner, the four teams meet each other in the final round
where they follow the league method to find out the national winner.

1 2 1 -2
Zone 'A'1 3 2 3 Winner A Zone 'B'1 3 2-3 Winner - B

1 - 4 2 - 4 3 -4 1-4 2 4 3 4

1-2 1 - 2

Zone 'C 1 3 2- 3 Winner C Zone 'D'1-3 2-3 Winner-D

1-4 2- 4 3 -4 1 4 2 - 4 3 -4

A - B

A - C B - C Winner
A -D B -

D C- D

(c) Knockout-cum-League: The teams are divided into four groups and are made to compete
with each other on the basis of Knockout Tournament. The winners from the four
groups are again made to compete on the basis of league tournament arnd the winning
team is declared the winner. Look at the following example:

Group-A Group-B Group-C Group-D

T-1 T-2 T-3 T-4 T-5 T-6 T-7 T-8 T-9 T-10 T-11 T-12 T-13 T-14 T-15 T-16

T-1 T-4 T-6 T-7 T-9 T-11 T-14 T-11

WA WB WC WD

Now, the winners WA, WB, WC and WD from each group move to League Tournament
and each team plays once with the other team. The team winning most matches with
maximum points is declared winner of the tournament as shown below:
Four Teams
WA(1) WA Vs WB - Winner WA - 2 Points
WB(2) WC Vs WD - Winner WC - 2 Points
WC(3) WA Vs WC - Winner WA 2 Points
WD(4) WB Vs WB - Winner WD 2 Points
(5) WA Vs WD - Winner WA - 2 Points
(6) WB Vs WC - Winner WC - 2 Points

Final Points Tally

WA2 +22 6
WB0 0 Points
=

WC 2+2 4 Points
WD 2 2 Points
Here, WA winning 3 matches with 6 points is winner.
8 Essentials of Physical Education-XI
z o n e s a r e played
on league basis
between the four
their respective winner, they
The initial games enter
League-cum-Knockout:
(d) four z o n e s find
the the winner.
zonal winner. Once knockout basis to find
to decide the and compete o n
national level
the next round at the Basis.
or Zonal Tournament on League
Example: Group
1
1 2 1 3 2 -3 Winner- B
Winner A Zone B'
2 -3
Zone 'A'1 3 4
1-4 2-4 3-4
1 4 2 -

4 3 -

1-2
1 2 Winner- D
C Zone ' D ' 1 3 2- 3
Zone 'C 1 3 2-3 Winner
1 - 4 2- 4 3 - 4
1 4 2 -4 3- 4

Basis
Zonal Tournament of Knockout
Inter-group of
Winner - A

Winner - B
- Winner
Winner -C
Winner - D

Tournament: A challenge arises when the holder of a competitive title gets a

4. Challenge The winner
request for amatch between them and the other person called a challenger.
winner wins or it passes ont0
of this challenge gets to either retain the tile if the existing
the challenger if the challenger wins. Sometimes the existing winner may refuse the contest
while in some cases it is mandatory to accept the challenge or forfeit the title. This type of
tournament is mostly undertaken when it is possible to hold one to one contests or there are
two players on each side. Games suited to this type of tournaments include Boxing. Tennis,
Table Tennis, Squash and Badminton.
Challenge tournaments can be carried out by the players independently without a lot of
organisational support.
Fixtures in such tournaments are decided as per three distinct patterns. These are:
(a) Ladder Tournament
(b) Pyramid Tournament
() Cobweb Tournament
(a) Ladder Tournanent: Also known as a ladder competition or
pyramid tournament, it is a form of tournament for games 1.
and sports. Unlike many tournaments, which
usually have
an element of elimination, ladder competitions can be (02. O
ongoing continuously over a lot of time. These can thus
go
on
indefinitely. In
ladder are listed (03.
D)
as if on the
competition,
a
players
rungs of a ladder. The objective for a player is
to reach the highest
rung of the ladder. 04. O)
The competition proceeds a ofusing system
challenges. 5.
Any player can challenge a player above them on the
ladder. These challenges generally have to be
If the lower-placed player wins the accepted. (O6.
match, then the two
players swap places on the ladder. If the lower-placed
player loses, then they may not challenge the same person O)
again without challenging someone else first. There is a
limit as to how many rungs above themselves (O8.
players may
challenge. When first setting up a ladder tournament, the
usual practice is to place the more skilled 9
players at the
bottom of the ladder, so that they have to play to work their
way up.
 PlanninB In 3 P O r s

Ladder Tournament
Advantages of
(i) Easy to organise.
(i) Emphasises maximum participation.
in the tournament.
(ii) Winning not required for staying
interaction.
(iv) Opportunity for social
No need to maintain win-loss record.
(v)
(vi) Participants play when convenient.
(vii) Good for ranking participants.
(vii) No formal schedule.

(ix) No formula required.

Tournament
Disadvantages of Ladder
between participants is required to arrange match.
() Communication
for some
(i1) Lacks challenge
number of entries only.
(ii) Suited for small
to some.
(iv) May appear overly complicated to unequal amount
m o r e often than others leading
(o) Some players may be challenged
of matches played.
Tournament: Similar to the ladder tournament,
the pyramid tournament
(b) Pyramid for m o r e challenges to be
maintains continuous, prolonged competition. It allows
include a larger number of participants than
made and so more participation, and can
the ladder tournament.

Lvl4
Lvl 3
Lvl 3

Lvl 2 Lvl 2
Lvl 2 Lvl 2

Lvl 1 Lvl 1 Lvl 1 Lvl 1

Lvl 1 Lvl 1 Lvl 1 Lvl 1

in the same
original draw is made, any player may challenge any in the player
other
After the
row above them.
horizontal row. If they win, they can challenge any players
with the
When a player loses to someone in the r o w below them, they change places
rules should be
winner. Again, as in the ladder tournament, clear, concise and specific
about challenge matches.
posted with the challenge board in order to avoid disputes
(c)Cobweb Tournament: Here, the players go from outside
to inside web. The winner is the person who
of a
reaches the centre of the web first.
The competition gets its name from the shape of a
spider web. The centre of the web is obviously the top
position of the competition. Players reach the centre Winner
by winning against the players of the outer rungs.
The challenge can be to anyone one ring above the
player but a loser can then only challenge somebody
at their own ring level. This, thus, increases the level
of competition.
10 Essentials of Physical Education-XII

1.5 Procedure to Draw Fixtures: Knockout (Bye and Seeding) and

League (Cyclic and Staircase)
When a tournament is held on a knockout basis, the method of fixing
it is based on creating seedings and byes.
basis
Seedings: This is a method of ranking players and teams on the
of their past performances. The seedings, of course, will change based
on the form and performance but the general idea is to keep the seeds
in separate groups so that they do not meet early in the tournament.
For example, with the top seed and the second seed in any game, the
top seed is placed on top of the upper half of the players, whereas the
second-seeded player goes to the bottom of the lower half.
Byes: When the number of teams or players in any given tournament
is not even, we need to give byes to them because we want to have
1
only top four teams in the semi-finals of the event. This way, the
teams or sportspersons who get a bye, do not have to play in the very
first round, till by elimination an even number of players or teams are
2
left. This is done to ensure that the top players do not have any advantage of extra rest in between
the games over other participants.
So, while drawing up a fixture of the games, we need to consider
1. Total number of teams or sportspersons in the tournament
2. Byes given
3. Number of teams in each half or quarter
4. Number of rounds to be played
5. Number of matches to be played
Preparing Fixtures in a Knockout Tournament
(A) Calculating the total number of participants/teams: The matches to be played are always
one less than the number of participants. Thus, if 11 teams are taking part in a tournament,
we will have 11 - 1 10 matches. The teams are divided into two groups so that they have
to be at the nearest power of two like 2, 4,8, 16, 32, etc. Drawing the schedule is easy in such
cases. However, we can also have the number of teams which are not in the power of 2 like
3, 5,7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, etc. In this example, we have
eleven teams. We have to reduce the number of teams playing in the first round to 10, so one
team is given a bye. Thus, the team that gets a bye will start playing not from the first round
but from the second round.
Example: In case of 21 teams, how many byes can be given?
Total number of teams = 21

The next highest even number =32

Difference between the total number of teams and the highest even number is 32 21 = 11
So, eleven byes will be given.
(B) Calculating the number of teams in each half: If the number of teams taking part in a
tournament is a power of two, then the task of making two groups becomes easy. However,
if the number of teams is odd in strength, we need to use a formula to calculate the number
of teams:
First g r o u p or u p p e r halt = total n u m b e r of t e a m s p l u s o n e d i v i d e d by t w o

Second group or lower half = total number of teams minus one divided by two

Thus, for example, calculating the number of teams in each half, if say 15 teams are taking part
is as follows:
 Planning in Sports 11

Total number of teams = 15

16
*1)_-15+1
leam in upper half= 2 2 2
= 8

eam in lower half= (N-1)-15-1- =7

2 2
calculate the number of byes to be given where the total number of teams is 11.
Also, we can

Total number of teams =

11

Next highest power of 2 16

=

Difference is 16 11= 5 byes

These then have to split between the upper half and lower half.

Number of byes per half (NB-1)

in upper half
2 2 == 2- 2 hv
byes.

Number of byes in lower half - 2 = 3 byes.

Method of Fixing Byes

equally divided between the
is an e v e n number, they are
to be given
In casethe number of byes between the teams starts with writing numbers
to be followed
lower half. The process number in
upper and team picks a number
which represents their team
Then each
1 to 13 on a slip of paper. two lots. Thereafter, the
number of byes to be givenis
tournament. Then they are divided into
the
calculated as:

1. The last team of

lower half gets the first bye.
half gets the second bye.
2. The first team of upper
the third bye.
the lower half gets
3. The first team of
the fourth bye.
the upper half gets is:
4. The last team of the byes and draws
tournament, the method to compute
13 teams in any
For example, if there are

=
13
Total number of teams
Next power of 2 +16 (2*2x2x2) number of teams)
=16-13 =3 byes (n
=

Next power of 2-n

Total number of byes =

calculated as:
Thus, the fixture is 2-12 =4
Number of Byes =

No. of Teams = 12 4
Number of rounds
=

12-1 11
No. ofMatches
Lower half = 6
Upper half
=

l R VR
Teams IR
Bye
IIR
2nd Bye
Winner
Winner
Winner
Upper
Half Winner (6) Winner Winner
4th Bye
3rd Bye Winner
Winner
Lower Winner
10 Winner
Half
11 Winner (10
12 1 Bye
 Essentials of Physical Fducation -XII
12

Knockout Tournament
Number of Rounds in a
number of teams is a power of
knockout tournament is decided if the
The number of rounds in a
x 2x 2 2 x 3 =3 rounds.
we calculate it as 2
two. So, if eight teams are taking part, based
number of rounds is on
is not a power of 2, the
In case the number of teams participating the next power of 2
is So, 16. the number
of 2. When 10 teams are playing, the number of
the nexthighest power In case the
number of teams is, say 19,
x 2x 2x 2 4 rounds.
ofrounds will bex 2 2 x 2 5 rounds as the next highest
power of 2 is
32.
rounds will be 2 2 x2x
LowerHalf= (13-1)/2=6
No. of Teams = 13 3
2- 13
Number of Byes =
No. of Matches= 13-1= 12 Number of rounds 4 =

Upper half =(13+1)/2=7

IIl R IVR
Teams IR IR
-1 2d Bye
W er

Upper 0Winner Winner

Half w Winner (12
Winner
Winner
Winner
8 3rd Bye Winner
Lower OWinner
10 Winner
Half 1 Winner Winner (11)
-13 1st Bye

in Each Quarter
Number of Teams done into upper half
and
in the tournament, the division is
When a few teams are taking part
first
number of teams, we
tournaments where there are a large
lower half only. However,
in big of these halves
into
lower half. Then we further divide each
half and
divide the teams into upper and secona
while the upper half has two quarters, i.e., first quarter
upper half
and lower half. Thus, The number of teams
in
first and a second quarter.
half will also have a quarter
quarter, the lower formula:
calculated as per the given
each quarter is
divided by 2 number of teams in that quarter
=

For first and third quarter (N +1)

=

divided by 2 gives the number of teams

For second and fourth quarter (N 1) =
-
each quarter
Number of teams in
teams are divided into quarters.
I f the number of teams is more,

The procedure is explained

as under

Number of Teams Quarter II Quarter Il

Quarter IV
Quarter
28
7+1 7 7
29
7+1 7+1
30
7+1 7+1 7+1 7
31
8 8 8
32
8+1 8 8 8
33
8+1 8 8+1
34
 Planning in Sports 15
Fixtures in League or Round Robin
Tournament
There are two distinct methods of
creating fixtures in a league tournament. These are:
1. Cyclic Method
2. Staircase Method

Cyclic Method
Here, the process in case of even number of teams is that
placed consecutively downwards in an ascending orderplace
we
team 1 on the top and other
teams are
to move
af thecolumns. The number of rounds here is upside on the other side
(N-1) where N is the number of teams.
hand, if the number of teams is odd, the number of rounds On the other
equals the number of teams.
6 Number of matches=(N-1)
2

66-1)6x5-50 =15
2

1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round 4th Round 5th Round
5
5 4 3 5

4 2 2

Staircase Method
Here, fixtures run
according to a ladder. The teams are assigned a number each. These numbers are
then arranged in a tabular form
using vertical and horizontal columns. The number of columns is
one less than the number of teams in
the tournament. So, if eleven teams are to take part, we draw
ten columns only and
place the numbers as illustrated in the below.diagram
League/Round Robin Tournament Staircase Method
2

1-3
2-3
1-4 2-43-4
1-52-53-545
Round 1 Round -2 Round -

3 Round -4
Deciding the Winner in a League Tournament
Ihe team that gets the maximum points is the winner of the tournament. The winner
gets two
points; the losers get no point and, in case of a draw, the teams get one point each. In case of a tie
at the
top on the basis of points, a rematch is held between the top two teams. If it again results in
a
araw, then the team that has won most matches is declared the winner. Sometimes, the winners
are decided
by tossing a coin. Other methods that are used to determine the winners are:
British Method: Here, the total points won are divided by the maximum possible points. Thus,
any team playing a ten-match tourney wins seven and draws three matches, the percentage of
wins is simply calculated as-
Total points =7 2+3x1 17 points.
x

Fossible maximum points 10 x 2 20

points
Pero
entage points won = Total points won x 100 divided by total possible points.
S0, 17 x 100 1700 divided by 20 = 85%
 16 Essentials of Physical Education-XI

American Method: Here, the number of matches won is divided by the total number of matches
played. In the above example, the team has won seven out of possible ten wins. To calculate the
percentage, we use the following formula: Total matches won x 100 divided by total matches played.
Here, 7x 100divided by 10 70%.
Since this calculation is applied to all the teams, the winner will be the team with the highest percentage.

1.6 Intramural and Extramural: Meaning, Objectives and their Significance

The words intramural and extramural are derived from Latin roots. Mural means wall while
intra refers to inside and extra refers to outside. Thus, intramural means within the walls while
extramural means outside the walls. In terms of tournaments, these terms denote participation.
Thus, intramural tournaments have teams only from the institution or one office while extramural
tournaments involve teams from different schools, colleges, universities and offices, Intramural
tournaments are held to search talent in an institution, whereas extramural tournaments have a
much wider scope of locating and nourishing the talent.

Intramural Tournaments
These are really useful for mass involvement of students of an institution. The aim is to make
the maximum possible students of the institution play and thus locate the talent across the school
or college. Intramural sports activities are organised to meet the physical, social and recreational
needs of all participants-from the beginner to the skilled athlete. The intramural programme promotes
team, league, tournament, individual and dual sport competition and also helps promote camaraderie
and rapport among students, instructors, parents and administration. In other words, sports builds
strong bonds within the community; provides a healthy pastime to students and a variety of athletic
activities in which all students participate regardless of their degree of athletic ability.
can

Children have always been active and indulged in some sort of sport. Developing these activities in
a
systematic way and then making cohorts helped organise these activities. As physical education
and sports activities started getting accepted worldwide, educational
institutions' focus included
development of physical skills. Over the years, these have developed and become popular
and advantageous.

Significance of Intramural Tournaments

Today, most schools worldwide have sports activities as part of the school curriculum. This
every student be enables
to
physically active and expose their talent on the sports field.
of intramural tournaments for A few advantages
students are:
1. These tournaments
help develop the mental, physical and social aspects of the students
2. Teach
competition ethics
3. Encourage
healthy lifestyle
4. Train future
sports stars
5. Develop stamina, coordination
and skills in students
6. Teach and
develop leadership skills
7. Build bonds in the
community
8. Nourish the talent

Objectives of Intramural Tournaments

1. Providing Equal and Uniform
Opportunity: The primary objective of encouraging intramural
sports is providing equal and uniform
opportunity to every student.
of tournament, lesser is the number of Higher the level
people
at an early age allows mass involvement in
that can take part in them.
So, initiating intramurals
sports. Also, since it is possible to
participate in
many sports before settling for one particular sport, intramurals
help locate talent.
 Planning in Sports 17

2. Developing Leadership Qualities: Sports helps develop leadership qualities among students
who have innate leadership skills. Each participant cannot become a leader but they can, for
sure, develop first and second line leadership skills in them. Also, if the organisation of these
intramurals is handled in some way by students themselves, they learn organisational skills.
3. To Develop Cooperation: Sports helps develop working relationship, cooperation and
teamwork. Participants understand the team spirit
well as its need for winning.
as

4. Recreation: Playing sports offers an opportunity for recreation and becomes a source of fun and
joy for the participants. Since most of the players are classmates, it inculcates better bonding
5. Sportsmanship: By participating in sports, students learn to take both victory and defeat in
their stride. Sports inculcates respect and courtesy for the staff as well as for the
opponents,
thus developing good sportsmanship in players.
6. Skill Development: It is also one of the objectives of intramural tournaments, especially in
the current scenario, where skill development has become paramount. Students not only excel
in one game but in many games and activities.
7. Talent Identification: Achieving success at the international level begins at the school level.
Nursing talent after identifying it is also an objective of the intramural tournaments. These
tournaments help find the talent at a very young age.
8. Personality Development: These sports develop physical, mental and social capabilities. This
leads to an overall improvement in one's personality.
Activities in Intramural Sports
While interests of students and facilities available at schools do help in organising intramural
tournaments, some sports are easier to organise. The organisers should encourage indoor
games
in winters and monsoons while outdoor games should be
organised in other seasons. Suggested
possible sports to be included are:
Games & Sports: Badminton, volleyball, kho-kho, football, lawn tennis, cycling, etc.
Rhythmic Sports: These include mainly indoor games like gymnastics, aerobics, yoga as well as
drills and march past.
Combative Sports: Activities like judo, karate and boxing are considered under this head.
Creative Games: Include painting, drawing, Sculpting, model-making, etc.

Extramural Tournaments
These are the sports activities that are held outside the walls of the school or institution. In extramural
tournaments, schools participate outside their institution premises. Schools are encouraged to have
friendly competition between various schools in order to assess their strengths and weaknesses and
to foster talent.
Extramurals are also called inter-school competitions. Today, these are organised
at
regional and national levels by bodies such as School Games Federation of India, CBSE as well
as the Inter-University Boards. Extramural competitions are scheduled well in advance so that all
the interested teams can
participate.
Significance of Extramural Competitions
hysical education is considered incomplete without extramural competitions. Their significance
can be
gauged from the following benefits of extramurals:
nter-school Talent-sharing: Extramural competitions offer the best opportunity for the schools
tO
showcase their talent. Excellence in sports adds to the prestige and standing of the school.
Detter Sports Standards: Regular competitive sports events enhance the standards of sport
fothat lose tend to improve their game and the winners also try to better their standards
to
stay in the competition.
18 Essentials of Physical Education-XI
about new tools and
skill,
tournaments provide the knowledge
. Better Sports Techniques: These to upgrade their skills
leams that not familiar with the new techniques get an opportunity
are
Education Programmes:
This is also
of Physical
4. Better Planning and Implementation
these competitions
broaden the sports base a
tournaments. Besides,
benetit of extramural
the participating teams. motivator for schools
work as a
Extramural competitions
5. Better Opportunity to Participate:
to participate in these competitions.
and offer an enhanced opportunity

Competitions
Advantages of Extramural
benefits of extramural competitions
Standards: This is one of the main
1. Improve Sports excellence in sports. Technical and tactical
so does
As the standards of the game go up,
and ability to perform gets accelerated.
efficiency too goes up. Skills improve
offer an opportunity to students to share their skills
2. Enrich Experience: Such competitions
leads to an enriching experience,
and knowledge with each other. Continuous participation
encourage sportsmanship as well as a
3. Fraternity Development: Extramural competitions
feeling of commonality and brotherhood.
4. Broaden Sports Base: Motivation from participating schools encourages the not-so-active
schools to participate and this can set off a chain reaction where all schools of that area or

locality can get started.

5. Provide Knowledge of New Rules and Techniques: The ability to learn about new rules and
regulations of games and sports is an added advantage of extramurals.

Disadvantages of Extramural Competitions

1. Winning at all costs becomes more important than participating in the competitions.
2. Normal school schedules may get interrupted.
3. Cause extra financial burden on the schools.
4. Students not interested in sports tend to feel sidelined.
5. Star players tend to lose out on studies because of their busy playing schedules.
6. Results may cause emotional upheavals in young students.

1.7 Specific Sports Programmes (Sports Day, Health Run, Run For Fun,
Run For A Specific Cause, Run For Unity)
Non-competitive sports events serve as a social function. Sports acts as a useful tool to enhance*
awareness, bring about a community feeling and encourage mass participation of people of all ages
and backgrounds. These events may be as simple as a 5-km
where the organisers hope to raise funds and
community walk to a fund-raiser event
support charities and promote other noble causes.
Besides serving many purposes, health awareness and
non-competitive sports events.
improvement can also be offered by these

Sports Day
Most educational institutions have specific days assigned
for sports. Almost all the schools have sports periods that
SPORTS DAY!
are daily/weekly events that culminate in Sports Day. The
objective is to encourage mass involvement of students of
the school or institution. This offers a chance to the students
to showcase their sporting skills, learn important lessons
about competition and enjoy a napPY, healthy dose of fresh
of friends and parents.
air in the company
 Planning in Sports 19

The advantages of seheol sports day are that while a large number of players participate, leadership
as well as social skills get an opportunity to develop. It cannot have much impact on increasing the
standards of the game and many a tine the occasion is festive rather than competitive. A specific
day is fixed well in advance in the school calendar. Different sporting activities take place on this
day. This leads to better health, good social environment and a feeling of healthy
competition
among participants
Steps to be taken for conducting annual Sports Day in a school should include the following
1. Plan the best day to conduct the event so that everyone attend and
can
participate.
2. List down all the events.
3. Formulate a timeline to keep track of the events.
4. Make sure that the ground is ready for the event.
5. Purchase all the gifts and honours needed for every event.
6. Prepare invitations.
7. Adequate publicity should be done in the school so that the students are enthusiastic about
taking part in the events.
8. Set up various committees for the smooth conduct of the events like the awards
committee,
ground committee, refreshment committee, etc.

Health Run
Social organisations, business houses
and government departments organise
health-oriented events. The idea is to
generate public awareness about the role
of physical activities in preventing and
moderating health challenges due to poor
lifestyle like heart disease and obesity, etc.
Running is cheap as it needs just a pair
of good running shoes and can be done
anywhere, anytime. No prior preparation
isrequired for this. The only requirement
is advance
registration of the participants so that logistics can be taken care of. The events can
be across all
age groups. The distance is generally fixed but may vary
the run. depending on the aim of
Older people should take medical consultation before taking part in a run for the first time.
the run, the During
atmosphere ought to be relaxed, fun-filled and enjoyable. While taking part, participants
Ought to stay hydrated,
be relaxed and run at an even pace.
Run For Fun
These events are meant for
enjoyment and
promotiorn of physical activity and fitness in a
relaxed and more
enjoyable way.
People that run for fun have a relaxed
attitude
and tend to enjoy being physically active. Besides
helping build up muscle tone over a period of time,
these events are interesting and mentally 50
Kunning here is fun and satistying.
combined with charity and non-competitive
and often
grouped according to agefund-raising.
De These can
and can even have a
specific dress or costume.
20 Essentials of Physical Education-XII

Run For A Specific Cause

of such runs is to improve
events. The purpose
mission-oriented bodies organisee
These are
Many social
a w a r e n e s s and support
particular c a u s e o r purpose.
a
for the underprivileged
research or
funds, e.g., for
cancer
these e v e n t s to raise for mentally challenged
people.
homes or even
to support old people's
offer a
childrern o r
fund-raising for a noble cause, they
for us
Besides offering a n opportunity for a c a u s e helps
Running
to a cause.
about contributing
chance to feel good
and concern for others in society.
our care
express

Run For Unity

and unity
these runs is to foster peace
The idea behind c o m m i t m e n t to
are a symbol of
among people. These different ages, religions and
peace and unity.
People of a cohort
together and aim at creating
backgrounds get r u n s to
celebrate
countries organise unity
group. Many in relays o r aimed at enhancing
may r u n
People
their independernce days. in a city, run for unity is organised
violence breaks out events.
the whole distance. When cause is also served by such
for
a common
brotherhood. Uniting people
peace and