In India’s rural areas, which account for 65.53% of the country’s population, young talent remains largely untapped due to a lack of access to quality sports infrastructure.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports reports that, despite programs like Khelo India, rural communities continue to face significant challenges, with only 360 of the 1,000 targeted Khelo India Centres having been established as of 2021. Such a scarcity of infrastructure, combined with socio-economic barriers and limited coaching, leaves rural youth without adequate opportunities to develop their skills and realize their potential.
The problem is that while sports have the power to instill critical life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and leadership, rural children in India lack the resources, coaching, and community support needed to succeed.
Initiatives like Sports Lab have shown how targeted sports programs can provide underprivileged youth with the platform to break these barriers and pursue higher aspirations. However, with limited access to proper infrastructure and trained coaches, these programs remain insufficient to meet the widespread demand.
Why Sports Matter for Youth Development in Rural Communities
Firstly, sports are about much more than physical activity. They teach critical life skills that go beyond the field, discipline, resilience, teamwork, and leadership. These are qualities that young people can carry into every aspect of their lives.
One of the most powerful impacts of sports is its ability to bring people together and break down social barriers. In many villages, traditional norms can restrict what young people, especially girls, can aspire to. But when a young girl from a conservative background step onto a football field or a wrestling mat and holds her own, it sends a powerful message.
Athletes like the Phogat sisters and Sakshi Malik from rural backgrounds have inspired countless young girls to challenge gender stereotypes and pursue sports as a viable career option.
Government initiatives like the Khelo India have been critical in this context. These programs identify and nurture talent from rural areas, providing the necessary infrastructure, training, and exposure that are often lacking.
Many rural areas still lack basic sports infrastructure, and where facilities do exist, they are often poorly maintained. There is also a shortage of trained coaches who can provide proper guidance and mentorship to young athletes.
Successful Sports Programs Empowering Rural Youth
At Roots Foundation, we create inclusive, accessible, and supportive environments where young people can thrive. We have contributed to this cause through the following programs and initiatives:
1. Project Sports Lab
Our Project Sports Lab was one such flagship initiative where we touched upon the root cause of limited access to basic sports facilities and resources in underserved communities, building bridges of opportunities for them to flourish.
We partnered with 60+ government schools; our flagship initiative is active across the districts of Forezepur, Bhatinda, and Mansa in Punjab and Hisar, Fatehabad, and Jind in Haryana, helping 7,500+ students unlock their potential by indulging them in healthy sports.
We have national and state-level athletes serving as coaches and a team of certified physiotherapists bringing their unique expertise to the program, making it an initiative that extends beyond basic sports training, emphasizing comprehensive athletic development.
Project Sports Lab is Roots Foundation’s flagship program, successfully transforming countless lives. This program has touched the lives of several young athletes at the grassroots level, giving them another chance in life to make it big.
One such success story is about Renu, who emerged as a role model for all students enrolled in the Roots Foundation’s Sports Lab initiative. This program played a crucial role in her journey, helping her and many other young athletes from Haryana and Punjab to reach new heights.
Over the past year, she has trained during evening sessions, guided by the dedicated coach Narendra Kumar, who had mentored her for the last six years.
From winning a silver medal at the Junior Nationals Championship in 2016 and 2018, securing second place at the Senior National Women’s Championship, to earning a bronze at the South Asian Games and a silver at the Asian Games, Renu’s achievements speak volumes of her hard work and determination.
She attributed her success to the consistent guidance from her coach and the state-of-the-art infrastructure provided by the Sports lab program.
We want to empower more children like Renu and to fuel this, we’ve partnered with up to 60+ local government schools and communities to promote physical fitness. We promote sports like Karate, Hockey, Handball, Basketball, Boxing, etc to enhance students’ athletic abilities and appear for various district-level competitions.
We also recently launched ‘Sports lab Fitness Centre’ in Hisar, Haryana under Roots Foundation and HMIF’s flagship Sports Lab project. A state-of-the-art facility, the centre reaffirms the project’s commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting excellence in sports at the grassroots level. Equipped with modern fitness equipment and staffed by certified physiotherapists, the centre is designed to cater to athletes across various sports disciplines, ensuring they have the best resources to excel.
2. Utkarsh: Centre of Excellence for Sports
In 2024, in collaboration with the District Administration of Khunti, Roots Foundation launched Utkarsh—Centre of Excellence for Sports. This unique sports initiative aims to nurture young talents and offers specialized training to students in football, athletics, and hockey. Based in Khunti, Jharkhand, a national and international hub of players representing India, we have reached rare talents.
After undergoing a regress scouting and selection process, only 2% of top talent is selected to be part of the program. The process includes selection based on physical competency and an intensive assessment of their specific sports competencies and athletic abilities.
The selected 100 students stay at a fully integrated residential facility and train at state-of-the-art facilities with the latest sports kits and equipment and receive nutritional support and professional guidance. Additionally, they have access to nearby training centers with seamless commute facilities.
We nurture and inspire other students and their families through community interactions, guiding them to embrace their children’s sports ambitions.
3. Football Initiatives
At Roots Foundation, through our football initiatives, Vision Football Academy and Hindustan Football Club, we bring the most sought-after and internationally acclaimed sport to rural and urban youth. These initiatives are significant contributors to the sports ecosystems in Nothern India and have produced more than 20 state and national-level football players.
HFC has also recently established a 150-capacity fully residential CoE in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh with the vision to help Indian footballers’ improve standards over the years, and to examine several areas of development on and off the field. The aim is to constantly ensure quality standards to help players develop holistically.
Beyond physical training, Vision Football Academy and Hindustan Football Club provides educational support, psychological counseling, and life skills training to prepare young athletes from grassroots levels to build their careers in football.
5. MMA Initiatives
We at Roots Foundation have introduced newer disciplines like MMA in the Indian eco-system. Our major milestone in line with this initiative was organizing the world’s most prestigious Jit-Jitsu championship by partnering with Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) and Crosstrain Fight Club..
The event was marked as the first-ever APJ India tour, showcasing the country’s excellence in Jiu-Jitsu through teamwork, dedication, and fair play while highlighting the growing passion and commitment towards mixed martial arts across the nation.
Creating Holistic Programs for Sustainable Youth Development
At Roots Foundation, we dedicate our heart and soul to creating sports programs because, for us, exploring and refining untapped talent goes hand in hand with the country’s exponential success walks hand-in-hand.
Our programs and initiatives aim to recognize the disparities within the society and foster a generation of healthy, confident, capable, and compassionate individuals who will make a difference in the world.
Here are the main aspects we at Roots Foundation keep in mind:
- Physical Development: Our programs, like Utkarsh in Khunti and Project Sports Lab, are a testament to our dedication to helping youth improve their athletic skills, physical fitness, and overall health. We provide access to proper training facilities, equipment, coaching, sports kits, uniforms, and access to training facilities through these programs.
- Access to resources: At Roots Foundation, we believe that the right support is the crux of transformation. We foster an inclusive and equitable sporting environment by providing training through state-of-the-art facilities and building access to modern equipment. We have national-level coaches to help students build the right attitude towards sports and enhance their athletic abilities.
- Mentorship and Guidance: We believe that having positive role models and mentors can significantly improve the personal development of young people. We have coaches and older athletes who provide regular guidance, support, and inspiration to help rural youth navigate challenges on and off the field.
- Community Involvement: One of the key things that contribute to the success of youth sports development programs. We foster community discussions on the importance of sports for kids.
How Can You Help?
We at Roots Foundation believe supporting youth sports development in rural communities requires a collective effort. Here are a few ways you can join us:
- Volunteering with us: We at Roots Foundation are more than happy to have you, and we’ll introduce you to various projects where you can make a direct impact through your time and skills as a coach, mentor, or just a volunteer. If you happen to run a sports program, are good at providing guidance, or just want to make activities more enjoyable for a brief period, volunteer with us.
- Contribute to us: Your donations will help our young athletes directly by funding equipment, facilities, scholarships, and transportation. Donations can also support the training of coaches and the development of new programs.
- Work with us: If you happen to share similar values and are seeking ways to reform lives through meaningful initiatives, you can partner with us.
FAQs
Why are sports important for youth development in rural communities?
For rural communities, where resources are often lacking, introducing sports can be a positive outlet for energy and help them build self-confidence, reduce stress, and instill a sense of purpose. It fosters essential life skills in these kids, like teamwork, discipline, communication, and resilience, which can improve their overall quality of life physically and mentally.
How do sports programs impact the lives of rural youth?
Sports leave a profound impact on the individual, promoting both their social and personal well-being. Regular exercise helps them remain fit, improves focus and discipline, and, most importantly, gives them a sense of purpose. It helps in keeping them from wandering off and getting addicted to unnecessary addictions or other interests, which most of the kids in rural communities are vulnerable to.
What is the connection between sports programs and environmental education?
At Roots Foundation, we believe that sports development programs are a powerful platform for environmental education. By combining physical activities with lessons on environmental stewardship, we can introduce the youth to connect with nature and understand the importance of sustainability.
Can you share examples of successful sports programs in rural areas?
At Roots Foundation, we realize the importance of sports for kids in rural areas. Hence, our set of initiatives and set of several successful sports programs have made a lasting impact on youth development. Here are a few examples:
- Sports Lab & Utkarsh: These are dedicated residential facilities where we train more than 10,000 students annually. We have partnered with district schools and communities to train, educate, and set up students for world-level championships.
- Sports Initiative programs: We provide specialized coaching in football, cricket, and athletics, and participants also receive mentoring on goal-setting, teamwork, and problem-solving.
- Sports for Social Change: In this initiative, we use sports as a tool for addressing social issues like gender equality, inclusion, and environmental responsibility. By encouraging girls’ participation in sports, we challenge traditional gender norms and promote empowerment in rural communities.
