SPORT @ DUBAI INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY - EMIRATES HILLS
Best Sport School Award Application
Student Sports Leadership Roles
At DIA Emirates Hills, we believe in empowering students to lead—not just on the scoreboard, but within their teams, their school, and the wider community. Our Student Sports Leadership model provides structured, meaningful opportunities for students to take ownership, build confidence, and contribute to the culture of sport beyond participation. Leadership in sport at DIA is not reserved for the most talented athletes; it is open to any student who demonstrates commitment, initiative, and a willingness to serve and inspire others.
Our Sports Ambassadors Programme is a flagship initiative that enables selected students to represent their peers, promote inclusive sport participation, and assist in the planning and delivery of events across Primary and Secondary. Ambassadors act as role models, lead warm-ups, mentor younger athletes, assist with equipment, and speak at school assemblies and external events. Their involvement nurtures communication skills, responsibility, and peer influence in a real-world context.
In addition to ambassadors, students also serve as team captains, event organisers, officiators, and house sport leaders, gaining experience in strategic thinking, organisation, and collaborative leadership. Senior students are offered the opportunity to pursue formal accreditation through the Sports Leaders UK programme, further developing their leadership credentials and real-world readiness.
These roles enrich school life and provide powerful pathways for personal growth. We don’t just develop athletes—we develop leaders who understand that sport is as much about lifting others as it is about personal achievement.
Mentoring & peer coaching initiatives
At DIA Emirates Hills, we actively cultivate a culture of mentorship within our sport programme - recognising that some of the most impactful learning happens peer to peer. Our mentoring and peer coaching initiatives are designed to empower students not only as athletes, but as role models who inspire, support, and guide one another across age groups and ability levels.
Through structured mentoring opportunities, senior students are paired with younger or less experienced peers to provide guidance, encouragement, and practical support. Whether it's a Year 12 student mentoring a Year 7 team member on technique, mindset, or preparation - or a Sports Ambassador leading a warm-up or tactical discussion with junior squads—these moments of shared learning strengthen both confidence and community.
Our peer coaching model is embedded within training sessions, PHE lessons, and school events. Students take turns leading drills, analysing movement patterns, giving feedback, and helping one another reflect on their performance. Coaches support this process by providing leadership prompts and facilitating student-led moments of feedback and goal setting. This helps build communication skills, critical thinking, and empathy, while reinforcing understanding through teaching.
In addition, our sport leaders are involved in the induction of new students and the inclusion of younger athletes during key events, such as house competitions and sport festivals. These opportunities allow students to practise leadership in action - building relationships across year levels and creating a sense of shared responsibility for the success and well-being of others.
Mentoring in sport is not only about developing skill - it is about fostering connection, trust, and the belief that every student has something to give.
At DIA Emirates Hills, we believe that meaningful student leadership extends beyond the playing field. Involvement in the organisation of sports tournaments, house events, and community festivals provides students with authentic, hands-on experience in planning, collaboration, and project execution - skills that are transferable far beyond sport.
Our students play an active role in the planning and delivery of a range of school events, including interschool tournaments, house competitions, sports festivals, and wellness campaigns. Under the guidance of PE staff and coaches, students contribute to logistics, scheduling, officiating, team coordination, promotion, and event hosting. They serve as announcers, timekeepers, scorekeepers, and venue assistants - gaining behind-the-scenes insight into the complexity and excitement of sport event management.
For larger events such as our annual Sports Days or Dubai 30x30 initiatives, students collaborate across year levels and departments to co-create inclusive and engaging experiences for their peers, staff, and families. Sports Ambassadors take the lead on roles such as welcoming visiting schools, managing warm-ups, guiding teams between venues, and coordinating presentations and awards. These responsibilities build confidence, ownership, and real-time decision-making skills.
By involving students in event organising, we transform spectators into contributors and participants into planners. They gain an understanding of how sport is structured and delivered at scale—an experience that fosters responsibility, teamwork, and pride in creating something meaningful for their community.