Year 9 PASS Elective: Exploring Technology in Sports

Recently Year 9 Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS) elective, delved into the fascinating world of technology in sports. The unit, titled ‘Technology in Sports’, focused on how Virtual Reality (VR) is being used to help athletes prepare for competition.

As part of the class activity, students investigated whether in-person training or VR was more effective in helping athletes train. The lesson provided a hands-on experience where students could explore the benefits and limitations of both training methods.

Interestingly, most students enjoyed the VR experience, finding it engaging and immersive. However, after thorough investigation and discussion, the consensus was that in-person training remains more effective for athletes. This conclusion was based on various factors, including the physical and mental aspects of training that VR could not fully replicate.

Overall, the activity was a great success, providing students with valuable insights into the role of technology in sports and encouraging critical thinking about its applications and effectiveness.

See what the students thought below:

‘During our PASS lesson on Friday using the VR goggles was a fun and exciting experience. I really enjoyed how the technology allowed us to engage with sports in a completely new way, making it feel like we were actually part of the action. The VR lesson linked well to our topic of Technology in Sport, as it showed us how the advancements like virtual reality can enhance training, performance analysis, and fan engagement. I also learned how VR can be used to simulate real life scenarios, improving decision making and reaction times for athletes. While the experience was amazing there were some small challenges, like getting used to the headset and navigating the virtual environment smoothly. Overall, it was a fun lesson that highlighted the growing role of technology in sports.’
– Tamara Abdelrahim

‘Using VR to learn was so cool. It made everything feel real, like being in a sports stadium. For sports, we could see how athletes train and practice strategies without being on the field. It was like a game but with real learning. I got to see how VR helps improve reaction time and body movements in sports. At first, the goggles felt weird, and I got a little dizzy, but once I got used to it, it was awesome. VR is definitely the future of learning and sports!’
– Ava Brown

‘I enjoyed using the VR technology in our lesson. The soccer game was probably more like a game than the actual sport, but it was interesting to try. The VR technology linked to our topic of technology in sport as some athletes use VR for training and watching games to work on strategies and game play. The skills needed to play the soccer game were very different to real soccer as your arms acted as the feet in the game but after some practice it became easier. The technology also sometimes glitched but it worked well most of the time. Overall, it was a difficult but fun experience’.
– Georgie Henning

Stay tuned for more exciting updates from our PASS elective!

– Abbey Connor
Teacher – Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)

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