Physical exercise is an important part of education. Aside from helping to improve mental wellbeing, encouraging higher levels of fitness, and helping pupils to develop better teamworking skills, school sports can also bring prestige and recognition to the school.

High quality school sports facilities create a safer environment for students to perform to their full potential, and school sports area lighting is a key factor in this.

The role of physical eduction in schools

The main benefit of encouraging pupils to engage in physical education is on their general health. In recent years, activity levels have decreased, leading to an increase in childhood obesity and associated health problems. Developing a habit for regular exercise early in life helps to create better health in the long term.

In addition to the physical health benefits, research shows that participation in sports is associated with better mental wellbeing. Physical fitness and competition help to improve mental toughness and self-confidence which are essential life skills.

The importancee of lighting in school sports

There are two main areas for consideration when it comes to choosing lighting for school sports areas:

• Safety
• Performance

Sport England publishes standards for lighting of sports facilities under BS EN 12193 which lays out detailed lighting requirements for various sports including badminton and football to improve safety.  The standard lays out how lighting should be laid out around facilities such as badminton courts and provides guidance around appropriate illumination for different levels of sport.

Safe lighting in school sports facilities that meets the requirements set out in BS EN 12193 reduces the likelihood of accidents such as bumps and tripping while also providing benefits to spatial awareness to help participation. 

In outdoor sports areas, high quality lighting also means that facilities can be used year-round and outside school hours to create additional revenue for the school.  During darker afternoons in the autumn and winter months, appropriate levels of illumination help pupils “follow the ball” better and avoid injury.

Sports hall lighting also contributes to better performance. Students can concentrate better on the activity and have a higher level of awareness of their environment. In fast moving indoor sports such as five-a-side football, basketball, and badminton, players are better able to track the ball and their opponents and achieve better results.

Other considerations for sports hall lighting

When planning the lighting system for a school sports hall, it is important to consider the usage of the facilities. Many school sports halls serve multiple purposes including as exam spaces and for large assemblies, and as such, the lighting solution needs to be flexible enough to offer well protected luminaires that offer adequate illumination for sports, with the ability to create a calming environment for other activities.  The use of smart lighting controls creates adaptable lighting for multi-functional spaces that enables a wider range of uses while also improving energy efficiency with appropriate levels of lighting for different occupancy levels.

Speak to one of our educational lighting specialists to discuss your needs for sports hall lighting.