By Gosego Phutieagae

Human movement science students from North-West University (NWU) will step out of the classroom and onto the field as they take on key support roles at the National School Sports Summer Games on 11 to 15 December 2025 in Kempton Park. The Mahikeng Campus group, guided by lecturer Siyanda Mbatha, will apply their academic training directly to the competitive school sport environment.

The students will run warm-up sessions, oversee on-field safety and manage post-match recovery routines for young athletes participating in the championships. Their responsibilities place them at the centre of athlete preparation and well-being, requiring confident decision-making and a strong understanding of sport science principles.

Mbatha says the experience exposes students to the realities of working with athletes from diverse backgrounds and age groups. “This outreach offers students a pathway to future careers in sport science, coaching, rehabilitation and performance analysis,” she said. “It turns academic learning into tangible experience and opens doors to meaningful job opportunities.”

What began as a discipline-based outreach initiative has developed into a structured learning opportunity that strengthens students’ professional readiness. By integrating theory with hands-on practice, the NWU students demonstrate how university training extends beyond lecture halls into community sport settings where their skills have real impact.