HIGH CLIMBERS

The Director of Sports at St Margaret’s School in Hertfordshire writes about the many benefits of mountain biking in school sports

By DAN PAYNE-COOK

There are few feelings greater than the sense of freedom and connectedness that comes from riding a bike in the open air.

When you are in a state of flow, it can feel almost like time has slowed down, boosting your sense of wellbeing and allowing your mind to wander – it’s probably what keeps us pedalling time and time again. Likewise, the benefits that can come from mountain biking, in particular, can provide pupils with an opportunity to experience new problem-solving challenges. Cycling helps young people to build confidence by engaging in a new physical activity – but one that is outside of the more traditional school sports such as hockey, lacrosse, netball, football and rugby. Not all children enjoy team challenges or the social interactions that are usually associated with the more traditional team sports. In fact, it is often the case that children who don’t naturally veer towards team sports will find themselves feeling anxious in that type of learning environment. Mountain biking gives pupils similar physical and emotional challenges to traditional sports, but allows their personal growth to be explored in a setting where they will feel less pressurised by their peers to perform in a group or ‘team’ scenario.

Escaping Pressure

Of course, the health benefits of regular exercise are numerous, but mountain biking assists by helping children to develop improved posture, a healthier heart spurred by a full body workout, and much less strain physically on joints. There is also the boost in mood and mental wellbeing that comes from cycling, being in the great outdoors, breathing in fresh air and escaping the weight of the pressure of adolescence. Not only does getting out on your bike aid fitness levels, toning and weight loss, but it is also proven to improve your quality of sleep – something that is hugely important for young people with busy lives. Although mountain biking is not o cially part of the UK PE curriculum, it is part of the optional sports enrichment programme at our school, and we hold a dedicated cycling lesson every week for our pupils. This programme is also available via our cocurricular clubs, and it is something we are keen to push as a valid and important sport.

Aside from endurance, stamina and an increased sense of freedom, children will learn various new skills from riding a mountain bike. The building of a jump for one. But it is not all about the tricks, learning bike balance control skills and matching di erent gear changes to di erent terrains is equally significant. Pupils get the opportunity to strengthen their cardiovascular fitness levels, learn balance and cultivate muscular endurance. Equally important to this is the development of resilience as pupils learn to push themselves outside of their comfort zones and grow in confidence as they achieve new levels of competence in the saddle, remodelling those self-made performance limiters.

Risk And Reward

As with any sporting activity there is an element of risk, and so risk-taking goes hand in hand with sports like mountain biking. Health and safety is of the utmost importance, and this is why all teachers that lead a cycling session must have undertaken the necessary qualifications to ensure they conduct lessons in a positive and safe learning environment. Likewise, the excellent maintenance of cycle trails and grounds is also important for delivering safe sessions. Bikes should always be checked prior to any lessons in school and should be personalised to the individual pupil riding them. Once helmets and weatherappropriate clothing are in place, and bikes have passed any safety checks, each pupil should be assessed on their level of competence before moving onto any skills activities, physical challenges or time trials. stmargaretsbushey.co.uk

It would be wonderful for sports like mountain biking to become more integrated into the wider curriculum for physical education, but realistically, take up will be dependent on the aims and localised demands of schools. Other limitations for such sports in school are, of course, the initial high outlay of costs to set up the programme – namely the purchase of mountain bikes, helmets, repair kits and other equipment, all of which can vary in price. Having a supportive Head that is keen to develop a broader physical activity programme in school is of course a good start.

Sport should be accessible to everyone, so developing wider opportunities for future physical education in school is important as we seek to provide a well-rounded and more inclusive education across the board; one that will both inspire and nurture pupils’ physical, emotional and social wellbeing and allow them to participate in sports that they are ultimately passionate about.