In addition to the compulsory academic subjects of mathematics, grammar, music, and art, there have always been sporting events for students, many of which later developed into well-known competitions.
It is worth remembering the popular regatta between Cambridge and Oxford students, which attracts more and more spectators each year. On 12 March 1829 Cambridge students challenged the Oxford team for the first time, and in this way a tradition was born which continues to this day. Year after year, the losers of the race challenge the winning team to a rematch. In 2010 the victory went to the athletes from Cambridge. On Saturday the 26th of March 2011 250 thousand spectators watched the 157th rowing competition between two famous universities, which was won by the students of Oxford.
It is worth mentioning that the reverent attitude of the British to sport is well known outside the Foggy Albion. Many people know who the English soccer fans are, but not everyone knows that there are more than 600 sports associations in the United Kingdom, from the British Golf Federation to the Kite Association.
In modern Britain it is difficult to find a county which does not have a large number of amateur sports clubs and societies. Many of today’s popular sports, such as soccer, tennis, cricket, golf and rugby, have their origins in the British Isles.
You only have to look at the achievements of the United Kingdom’s Olympic team at the last Olympics to understand how important sports play a part in the country’s social life. For a relatively small island nation, the U.K. provides high-level funding for sports projects, from elementary school to national teams.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and promoting sports are constant priorities for the British government, regardless of which party currently wins the election. In light of the upcoming 2012 Olympics, more and more sports projects are being initiated, and specialized portals have been launched.
Today for all British school students from age 5 to 16 years old sports are compulsory. From the age of 11-13 years pupils can choose themselves which sport they want to take part in at school, and they usually try their hand at a variety of sports.
It is no secret that to sit through a few hours of classes for a little person is not easy, and for some it is just excruciating. That is why teachers tried to create a balanced program. At first intuitively, later – arguing their approach with the results of many years of observation and scientific research.
On the one hand, it is necessary to relieve mental stress, to give an outlet for adolescent energy, which has not become less in today’s children. On the other hand – has already proved more than once, that a constant change of activity and a variety of physical activity is the best way to help learn new material through the activation of associative series, the development of dynamics of classes and maintain a constant interest in students.
After all, in the process of learning a foreign language is especially important lack of monotony and monotony. Especially if this learning process takes place during the summer vacations! That is why the summer camps, many of which operate on the basis of private boarding schools, always include in their program sports classes. A number of schools also offer specialized courses that allow children to practice a certain sport more intensively.
“A good example is the project of the famous Arsenal soccer club, which is implemented in conjunction with a group of Stafford House English language schools. The program takes place on the basis of two British colleges: Queen Ethelburga’s College and Hartpury College. The 2-week course is designed for boys aged 10-17, who have a variety of soccer skills. The course gives an opportunity for completely ordinary boys, who are not engaged in specialized soccer sections, to touch the world of big sports and improve their skills under the guidance of qualified coaches of Arsenal club. The aim of the project is to promote healthy lifestyles, sports, team spirit and a positive attitude!” – says Svetlana Timoshenko, director of Concept Education Center.
Other schools have equally interesting sports programs. Ardmore School Group offers children aged 10 to 17 the special Football Academy and Rugby Academy, Harrow House School offers the opportunity to participate in a specialized course that includes additional training in tennis (with a mandatory participation in the school tournament!), horseback riding, golf and water sports. Shrewsbury School offers an English + Sport summer course, which includes 3 hours of English lessons and 3 hours of sports training every day! Students can choose their own sport: soccer, tennis, golf and equestrian.
It is worth mentioning about the Sports Academy Exsportise – a famous network of sports camps, founded 20 years ago by the athlete and coach Bram van Asselt. The sports camp programs are based on three boarding schools and are accredited by the British Activity Holiday Association.
There is a long list of sports, which you can do during the summer vacations. These include soccer, swimming, horse riding, tennis, squash, volleyball, cricket, athletics, basketball, badminton, golf and gymnastics.
The variety of sports offered, both individual training and team games, will fill your time at the language school with fun and good mood. Maybe once your child has tried out a sport he or she may want to take it up regularly. And even if he or she does not become a champion, a healthy lifestyle, self-organization and the will to win are just some of the good qualities he or she will need in life.
