I.M. Vijayan calls for more dedicated periods for sports in schools

Former footballer I.M. Vijayan has urged schools to dedicate more time to physical education since children are increasingly leading sedentary lives.

At a panel discussion on ‘Kerala’s chances in sports’ at the fourth edition of the Kerala Legislature International Book Festival (KLIBF) organised by the Kerala Legislative Assembly here on Thursday (January 8, 2026), Mr. Vijayan said, “It will be better to dedicate at least two periods for physical training in schools.”

Recalling his interactions with parents during a visit to a sports camp, he stated that many parents felt happy that the students go on to study directly after playing. “If students are provided with the right opportunities, they will never go astray or turn to drugs or any other harmful activities.”

Mr. Vijayan also highlighted challenges in coaching. “These days, we have more coaches than players,” he said with a smile.

He felt it was better to show a child how to play than to instruct them. “Currently, training is largely instructional, and coaches who can demonstrate are becoming rare,” he said.

Another panellist G. Kishore, Vice-Chancellor of the Young India Sports University, Telangana, observed that while identifying sportspersons has become part of selection trials, the process remains limited to a small pool of candidates.

Potential talents excluded

Talent identification was largely confined to very few who participate at district and school-level competitions. “We are selecting those who have already been identified as sportspersons, while many potential talents are excluded,” he said.

Emphasising that sport should not be treated as an extracurricular activity but as an integral part of the curriculum, Dr. Kishore said, “When education is all-round development of a child’s body, mind, and spirit, focusing only on mental faculties cannot be considered true education.”

Dr. Kishore also highlighted how hypokinetic lifestyle diseases pose both social and medical risks. The lack of physical activity among the youth often goes unnoticed and is often glorified as a “car-to-carpet” lifestyle. Sports, while providing career options, also helped address this issue, he said.

(By Devadathan A.)