Sport Education

Sport Education
Introduction
Health and physical education is an imperative aspect of school curricula. Most especially at these times, the emphasis on obesity has been gaining popularity (Macdonald, Hunter & Tinning, 2007). This is due to the fact that childhood obesity is rising worldwide (Ebbeling, Pawlak & Ludwig, 2002).
Since children spend most of their time in school, teachers and school administrates should be aware of their responsibility in offering a curriculum that tackles health and physical activities. Teachers are responsible for providing children ample time to exercise. The school also has the responsibility of providing relevant education regarding good health and health awareness to children.
According to the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Victorian Branch (2009a, p. 3):
"The Health and Physical Education domain requires students to develop knowledge, skills and behaviours that enable them to maintain good health and live a healthy lifestyle, understand the role of physical activity in ensuring good health and engage in physical activity."
Thus, Health and Physical Education can be an important measure in addressing obesity in children. It also helps in molding well-rounded children, who are physically and mentally healthy.
Specifically, Physical Education is defined as the process through which physical educators use dance, sports, gymnastics, games, aquatics, and outdoor education in teaching motor and fitness skills to students (ACHPER, Victorian Branch, 2009b). Physical Education is also used to develop students` social and personal skills (ACHPER, Victorian Branch, 2009b). It has been reported that encouraging physical activity in children through physical education results to various physical and mental benefits (McCormack, Giles-Corti, Timperio et al., 2011).
Sport Education is an academic undertaking that allows students to understand rules, tactics or strategies of different sports. Through Sport Education, students will be able to develop essential sport skills as well as to appreciate codes of behaviour that are necessary when they engage in sports (ACHPER, Victorian Branch, 2009b). Sport Education is a component of Physical Education programs.
As such, a Sport is described as a vigorous physical activity, which involves placing one person in competition against another (ACHPER, Victorian Branch, 2009b). The purpose of such Sports is for fun, for the discovery of a person`s limits and capabilities, or for diversion and amusement (ACHPER, Victorian Branch, 2009b). Furthermore, sports have been widely advocated to keep individuals interested in wholesome activities and thus, drug prevention is also promoted. Sports also promote proper teamwork appreciation for children. Through such exposure, children are being trained to work in groups, which is imperative in future work situations. Finally, engagement in sports allows children to improve their social skills. Through sports, children will learn how to communicate with their fellow players as well as with their teachers or coaches.
Implementation of Sport Education
This paper will discuss Sport Education implementation plans for children aged 9 to 10 years old attending year 4 classes. First, the relevance of health, fitness and sports will have to be conversed. Certain sports to be discussed will be badminton and softball. The following sections will display lesson plans for Sport Education implementation.
Lesson Plan 1: Health and Fitness
Concept / Topic: The relevance of physical activity to health.
Standards Addressed: Students will be able to describe and identify components of health related fitness.
General Goal: Students will be able to relate the importance of physical education to their well-being.
Specific Objectives: Students will be able to identify activities that will help them maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Required Materials: Visual Aids (pictures of obese children could make an impact on the students)
Anticipatory Set: "Health is wealth. What do we know about physical activity?"
Procedure:
* Define health and illness.
* Give examples of diseases that are commonly related to lack of physical activity and are threatening the population today. In particular, discuss obesity.
* Define physical activity.
* Provide examples of physical activities that will be relevant for children.
* After the discussion, ask the children to stand up.
* Lead the class into performing stationary exercises such as stretching or jogging.
* After the exercises, remind the children that they should do exercises everyday and at any time they can.
Assessment: Students will be subjected to a graded recitation. They are to enumerate physical activities that they can do at home to augment their health. Next, the students will be asked to enumerate outdoor activities, specifically things they can do in school, which they think will enhance their health. Furthermore, they will be divided into groups wherein they are to display a set of exercises for the class to follow.
Lesson Plan 2: Introduction to Sports
Concept/Topic: Definition of Sports with the characterization of teamwork and sportsmanship.
Standards Addressed: Description of physical and social components in the local environment and how these contribute to wellbeing. The concept of fair play and respect for the role of officials will be explained.
General Goals: Students will be able to learn the basic purpose of certain sports. Students will also be able to understand what it means to be a sport.
Specific Objectives: Students will be able to know the history and method of playing badminton and softball. Badminton is a sport that is commonly played in singles whereas softball is essentially a team-based sport. The students will be able to differentiate the essences of playing alone and in a team.
Required Materials: Visual aids pertaining to the sports that will be provided as examples.
Anticipatory Set: Ask students for their own definition of sports. The question "does anyone know how to play a particular sport?" will also be asked to assess the students` knowledge of the topic.
Procedure:
* Define Sport and expound its relevance to individuals and the community.
* Provide examples of sports that are played in singles or in groups. For example, badminton and softball.
* Provide a brief history of badminton and the method of playing it.
* Provide a brief history of softball and the method of playing it.
* Define team and teamwork.
* Define sportsmanship and fair play.
Assessment: At the end of the lesson, a question and answer portion will be provided to inquire if students have some points for clarification. The students will also be asked about some of their favorite sports. Then, a quiz will be given in order to assess how the students absorbed the topic.
Lesson Plan 3: Basic Badminton
Concept / Topic: Badminton
Standards Addressed: Students will be able to create and perform coordinated movement sequences that contain a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.
General Goals: As students learn about different sports, their knowledge and fitness will be enhanced. This is also a great opportunity for them to find a sport that they can engage into.
Specific Objectives: Students will be able to play in badminton games, either in individual or paired settings.
Required Materials: Badminton rackets, badminton balls or shuttlecocks, and badminton nets.
Anticipatory Set: Recap on the history and the rules of badminton. Introduce the activities and the goals of this lesson.
Procedure:
* Demonstrate how to serve the badminton ball.
* Call for a partner and illustrate the right way of playing the game.
* Divide the class into four groups.
* All groups will practice serving until time is called.
* Then, the groups will play against each other to try volleying the ball.
* As the activity progresses, the teacher wil...