Two New Sport Formats Join the School Games Line-Up
Your School Games is delighted to announce the addition of two new and inclusive sport formats - the next exciting phase in our ongoing programme to refresh School Games competition opportunities.
This marks Wave 3 of our multi-year overhaul, which is updating more than 45 sports to ensure that competition in schools remains inclusive, accessible, and inspiring for all young people.
The new formats launching today are for:
- Rounders
- Weightlifting, a fun and fantastic new addition to the School Games sports!
Modernising Competition for Today’s Young People
These formats have been developed in collaboration with the respective National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and with input from School Games Organisers (SGOs) and teachers. The aim is to ensure that competitions are:
- Flexible enough to suit a variety of school settings
- Inclusive, so that every young person can take part and achieve success
- Aligned with the broader ambitions of the School Games to support physical literacy, teamwork, and positive experiences of sport.
These updates continue the journey that began with Waves 1 and Wave 2, introducing new approaches across sports such as football, cricket, netball, and table tennis. Feedback from schools and SGOs has already shown the impact of the new formats: increasing engagement, broadening participation, and improving the delivery experience for teachers and leaders.
Tools, Resources, and Support for Schools
All schools, SGOs, and partners can now access detailed format guides, delivery resources, and training materials through the Your School Games website. Each sport page includes guidance on competition structure, equipment, rules, and ideas for adapting formats to different abilities or settings.
In addition, a series of live webinars and regional support sessions will be available to help schools familiarise themselves with the new formats and share practical implementation tips.
Looking Ahead
Wave 3 builds on the success of previous launches, demonstrating the ongoing collaboration between the School Games network, NGBs, and the Youth Sport Trust to create competition formats that evolve with the needs of schools and communities.
More updates and format releases will follow in 2026 as the overhaul continues.