A re-imagined approach to Sports Education

Over the past 2 years I have been promoting an alternative scenario. What if physical education programmes reflected a broader future focus? What would school programmes look like if they tried to provide experiences similar to the employment opportunities related to physical activity?

As part of a Teacher led Innovation funded project I have led two units of work through a mixture of online and face to face delivery methods.

The first theme was “Increasing Participation” where students explore systems and structures that help to increase a person’s willingness to participate in activity. This programme involved the type of thinking required of Sports Clubs, Schools, District Health Boards, Community Boards, Local Government and Regional Sports Trusts.

The second theme begins this term and focusses on “Improving Performance”. Students learn about how to analyse individual and group movement and how to work through a process of improvement. They keep records and reflections about their efforts throughout the process. This programme reflects the type of thinking required of coaches, professional trainers, youth workers etc.

At this point I am looking beyond the TLIF projects and wish to put into place a theme where the focus is on “Engaging the Community”. Students will learn about event marketing.

They will engage with a client company to determine a suitable event that can be used as a vehicle to raise awareness of the company and drive a call to action towards the company website. Students will create and administer a sporting event by using a modified Sports Education Model where the resulting event will meet the marketing requirements of the marketing plan. Students will use the school newsletter, school website, on the day handouts, event signage and product placement to raise awareness and add authenticity to their event.

The theme requirements will also involve the students reporting to the company to show progress towards the marketing outcomes. This theme will reflect the type of thinking required in marketing, event management, local government and those seeking to access funds from charitable trusts etc.

The purpose of this article is to seek interest from individual teachers, schools or companies who would like to begin this pioneering venture. The theme will be facilitated via google hangouts, docs and wikispaces. Please find me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/ActiveEnterprise/ or vist http://morgantim111.wix.com/activee

I look forward to hearing from you

Tim Morgan