Team spirit in our nation's schools

Nothing unifies like sport. As coaches begin to formally arrange inter-school leagues, the nation's sporting prowess may be improved as students begin formal competition, as The National's Sports section reports today.

As Colin Wells, a coach at the British School in Abu Dhabi says, "this year we should see the first competitive fixtures between Abu Dhabi schools and Dubai schools in rugby, football and netball. The schools from the two emirates are now working much closer together than in the past and that is really encouraging."

In the past, most fixtures between schools were informally organised, with few ranked leagues or ways of scouting talent. But encouraging sports at school is also essential for the health and fitness of young children, who might otherwise have few opportunities to exercise. Improving young people's fitness levels is a national priority.

Opportunities to discover and nurture sporting talent should be offered at a earlier age. And what better way of teaching sportsmanship and valour than inculcating them on a cricket pitch?

But perhaps the bar must be set higher for children; it is not merely about providing them with outlets but setting their sights to international standards. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.