Blog by, Creag Lawrence, Director of Sport

As parents, we all want our children to enjoy sport, stay active, and build confidence in their abilities. But with so many distractions competing for their attention, it’s not always easy to keep them engaged. At Kimbolton School, Cambridgeshire, we’ve been rethinking how we approach sport—taking inspiration from video games to make PE and physical activity more exciting, rewarding, and immersive.

Surprisingly, video games and sport have a lot in common—both rely on clear goals, progression, challenges, and rewards. By bringing these principles into PE lessons, we’ve seen remarkable improvements in motivation, participation, and teamwork among our pupils. And the best part? You can use some of these same techniques at home to get your child more active.

How gamification works in sport

At Kimbolton, we’ve introduced gamification techniques that make physical activity feel more like an exciting game than a chore. Here’s how:

Personalised progression – the power of goals

In video games, players progress by unlocking new levels and tracking their achievements. We apply the same principle in sport by encouraging pupils to set their own goals—whether it’s mastering a rugby pass, improving sprint times, or building stamina in cross-country. This personalised approach keeps them motivated and focused on progress, rather than just the final outcome.

At home why not set small, achievable challenges for your child—such as seeing how many times they can hit a cricket ball against a wall without missing or improving their speed in a short run. Celebrate their progress with rewards like choosing a family activity for the weekend.

Making training fun with challenges

Traditional drills can feel repetitive, so we’ve turned them into mini-games to add an element of fun and competition. For example, in football training, we award extra points for one-touch finishing to encourage quick decision-making—just like in professional matches where fast reactions make the difference.

If your child is reluctant to go for a bike ride or a run, turn it into a challenge—how many laps can they complete in 10 minutes? Can they beat their previous score? Adding a simple points system can transform their mindset from “exercise” to “game.”

Tactical thinking through play

Cricket is a fantastic sport for teaching strategy and decision-making. At Kimbolton, we’ve introduced “challenge cards” in matches, where pupils can activate game-changing advantages. A bowling team might play a “Dot Ball is a Hot Ball” card to deduct runs for every dot ball, putting pressure on the batting team. Meanwhile, the batting side might use a “Double Bubble” card, doubling their runs for a short period.

Why not create your own fun rules and twists in family games—such as giving a bonus point for every “weaker foot” football goal or a power play where extra runs count in garden cricket. This keeps children engaged and encourages creative thinking.

Encouraging creativity and ownership

One of our biggest successes has been enabling pupils to shape their own sporting experiences. In a recent touch rugby block, pupils co-designed their own 6v6 game, adding strategic “superpower” cards that could pause the game, remove an opposition player, or extend the pitch. By giving them control, we saw a huge boost in enthusiasm and engagement.

If you have a child who finds sport boring, let them change the rules! Give them the power to invent their own variations—whether it’s modifying a game of catch, adding a “freeze” rule in football, or letting them coach you for a change.

Why this matters for families

At Kimbolton School, we know that keeping children active is about more than just PE lessons—it’s about building confidence, resilience, and a love of movement that lasts a lifetime. Gamification can help parents break down barriers—whether that’s overcoming a child’s reluctance to exercise, making family time more active, or encouraging a more positive attitude towards sport.

By turning sport into a game, we’ve seen our pupils become more motivated, more confident, and more willing to try new things. And whether at school or at home, that’s something every child can benefit from.