Unique Physical Activity Classes to Meet College Students

Unique Physical Activity Classes to Meet College Students’ Needs Tim Meyler and Sarah Banks Coastal Carolina University

About CCU • Midsize, southern liberal arts university • ~9000 students • ~half from out of state – ~80 of those from mid-Atlantic/northeast • Most students commute • 8 miles from beach / major tourist destination – Key reasons students choose to attend

Physically Active Living Skills (PALS) • • 7 week classes – 21 contact hours 1 s. h. credit May take same class up to 2 times for credit Students are not required to take any – Hours do count towards graduation • ~50 -60 sections offered each semester – Nearly always fill, cap 15 -25 = ~1000 students/sem

What Makes PALS Unique? • • Geographic Location Student Feedback Examining Other Universities Keeping Up With Technology

Geographic Location • • 8 miles from Atlantic Ocean 3 miles from Waccamaw River 4 hours to SC mountains Prior to 2008, few classes offered based on location

Student Feedback • What types of classes to offer – In addition to new classes, which to offer as advanced – i. e. Yoga 2 • Based on end-of-semester evaluations • Student comments

Keeping Up With Technology • • • Exergaming Heart rate Monitors Pedometers Websites Fitness Assessments

Examining Other Universities • Extensive search of what other schools offer – i. e. Fitness through technology – Surfing – how to manage legalities, rentals, etc. – The “odd” – Stanford offers treeclimbing

Classes • • Personal Fitness through Technology Personal Fitness Vehicles Surfing Sand Volleyball Snorkeling and Kayaking Outdoor Sampler Ropes Course Backpacking

Possible Additional Classes • Water based sports – Skim boarding, Paddle boarding, Boogie boarding • Yard based sports – Horseshoes, Bocce ball, Yard golf, Corn hole

Fitness Through Technology • Exergame based • Fosters intrinsic motivation – Video games have 5 Cs • Fitness websites – Livestrong. com • Other technology – Tri-fit assessment, heart monitors • Omron body composition

Personal Fitness Vehicles • Trikkes – Three wheeled human powered vehicles • Potential to add skateboarding

Surfing • Students must pass swim test • Can rent board as part of lab fee, or bring own • Pool practice first – Paddling and standing techniques • Ocean work – Techniques and etiquette • Flexible schedule based on weather and wave conditions • Same waiver as for most other courses

Sand Volleyball • Court available through student affairs – Popular past time in Myrtle Beach – Intramural sand volleyball already offered • Only one course offered, because only one court – New one ~$6 -8, 000

Thank you • • • Tim Meyler tmeyler@coastal. edu 843. 349. 4183 P. O. Box 261954 Conway, SC 29528 -6054