Promoting Physical Activity in Physical Education Aaron Beighle

Role of Physical Education v Unique v Physically Educated v Standards v Twofold v Promote lifelong physical activity v Teach social and personal responsibility

How can physical education promote physical activity? v Provide a positive experience for students within the context of physical activity. v Teach students the skills they will use to be active for the rest of their life. v Expose students to a variety of physical activities.

Promoting physical activity during physical education v. P – Perceived Competence v R – Relatedness v A – Autonomy v I – Individual v S – Social Support v E - Enjoyment

Perceived Competence Success v Difficulty of task – easy to difficult v Maximize repetitions and refinement v Consider physical characteristics v Modify activities and games v Incorporate appropriate activities v Provide meaningful feedback v EMPHASIZE THE PROCESS v

Relatedness v Connection v Connect with students v Explain why the activity is being used v Explain the role of physical activity in lifelong health v Be a positive role model

Autonomy v Choice v Have students choose workload v Provide several activities for students to choose within a lesson v Easy to difficult v Allow students to choose a “P. E. package” v Implement an “opt out” option for students v Twice per semester

Individual v Treat students as individuals v Stress that physical activity choices are personal v Provide workload choices v Understand that physical performance varies v Consider the student’s attitude, likes, and dislikes v Treat students fairly

Social Support v Understand the importance of peers v Involve family members when feasible v Incorporate social time into lessons v Be a role model v Start physical activity clubs v Understand the importance of social groups v Positive and negative

Enjoyment Change units often during middle school v Use longer units during high school v Use a variety of activities v Implement a balanced curriculum v Safe, comfortable environment v v Management Ask students what they enjoy v Start easy and progress slowly v

Beyond Physical Education v Turn students on to physical activity during physical education first v Assess physical activity levels v Pedometers v Teach students to assess their own levels v Value of physical activities v Individual interventions v Self-management

Take Home Message v Start by turning students on to physical activity during physical education v P. R. A. I. S. E. v Make all physical activity an enjoyable, successful experience for all students v Progress to monitoring and self-managing behavior v During Physical Education v Outside of Physical Education

Thank You!