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Weightlifting is now included in the School Games, delivered by the Youth Sport Trust and funded by Sport England.

The goal is to make physical activity and school sport a daily part of young lives, through a network of over 45 sports, 450 School Games Organisers (SGOs) and Active Partnerships in every English county.

New to weightlifting?

Weightlifting is also referred to as ‘Olympic weightlifting’, as it features in the Olympic Games. It includes two barbell lifts, the ‘snatch’ and the ‘clean and jerk’.

Starting out in weightlifting involves practicing a wide range of body weight movements that have many benefits on strength and physical health.

What’s the School Games Weightlifting resource?

A weightlifter has excellent full body strength which they’ve achieved by practicing movements that challenge their body in different ways.

Using the School Games Weightlifting resource, young people will learn the movements to develop their full body strength! They’ll discover specific Olympic lifting skills, single leg, double leg, hinging, spring, core and push and pull focussed exercises and include these in workouts and competitions. Each movement is scalable ensuring that everyone can succeed and progress.

Who’s the School Games Weightlifting for?

With this resource, young people in secondary schools including those who are least active, will learn to create their first workout. The risk of using weights has been removed and supervising staff don’t need any prior experience of the gym. The result is a workout that young people personalise for themselves, that involves playing with movement, encouraging others, and noticing their own successes.

Developing and maintaining muscle and bone strength is essential to long term health and wellbeing. The movement themes featured have been carefully chosen to help young people progressively develop stronger bodies and be able to perform everyday activities more easily!

Going to the gym appeals widely and cuts across social divides. The intent is for the least active young people to have a positive first experience of weightlifting based movement.

What equipment is needed?

The School Games Weightlifting resource requires minimal equipment. Your school will need to have:

Lightweight wooden or PVC bars (or broom handles)
Boxes or benches (optional)
Cones
Music player and your own playlist
Clock / stopwatches
Pen and paper

What are the School Games Weightlifting options?

Students can take part in different weightlifting events:

Workout!

Students create their own workout using the Movement Menu, or use a template workout provided. Put the music on and complete the workout!

Pairs AMRAP (‘as many rounds as possible’)

Students complete the workout provided in pairs. The pair that completes the most rounds in the given time wins. Put the music on, workout and repeat!

Spring, Strength & Stamina Challenge

Students complete the workout provided in pairs. Students win points at different stations based on their performances. The pair with the highest number of points at the end, wins! Put the music on and give your best performance!

These events help young people to develop self-belief and improve health and wellbeing. Events can be modified by swapping in different movements from the Movement Menu to make it easier, harder or more accessible.

How to use activities in curriculum time

At present, there are no lesson plans or supporting information outside of this resource. However, a lesson could be created by using the workout cards as a template. The resource encourages movement experimentation, not movement perfection! Aim to adapt and change various elements of the workout to keep it fresh (using the movement menu and standards cards to help you), engaging and with increased challenge. At the end of term, why not deliver a Pairs AMRAP intra-school competition to consolidate all skills developed.