Physical education, youth sport and lifelong participation: the importance of early learning experiences

Abstract

The PESSCLS strategy for physical education and youth sport in England has received an unprecedented level of funding from the Blair government during its term in office. In this article, it is proposed that there are structural problems with the delivery of physical education and school sport in England that the PESSCLS strategy and associated policies such as Game Plan may not have accounted for. It is argued these problems become evident through a review of research on the importance of early learning experiences for lifelong participation in physical activity. In addition, the impact of perceptions of competency on young people's motivation to participate is discussed, prior to exploring the influence of gender, socio-economic status and sociodemographic factors on participation. Further evidence is reviewed that suggests secondary school physical education programmes have in their traditional form been ineffective in promoting lifelong physical activities. The article concludes with the identification of some alternatives to the traditional approach to PE and youth sport that could enrich some of the PESSCLS initiatives.

Er gutter bedre enn jenter i kroppsøving? -En studie av jenter og gutters kroppsøvingskarakterer i den videregående skolen

“…Holstad (2012) finner at negativ oppfatning av egen kompetanse gjennom flere år er medvirkende til at jentene i hennes studie i liten grad deltok i kroppsøvingsfaget. Kirk (2005) argumenterer for at kjønn er et nøkkelbegrep i kroppsøving, og at kjønnsproblematikk fortsatt utgjør en barriere i kroppsøving. Kirk fremhever videre at det er mangel på gode initiativ i forhold til å utvikle kroppsøvingsfaget til å bli mer attraktivt for jenter.…”

“…"Tilpasset opplaering handler om å utvikle en skole hvor alle legger til rette for, og bidrar til, at alle laerer og utvikler sitt potensial gjennom deltakelse i et laeringsfellesskap" (Jensen, 2006, s. 15). Kirk (2005) peker på at jenter i større grad enn gutter har med seg negative erfaringer og mangel på motivasjon og selvfølelse inn i kroppsøvingstimene. Kirk fremhever videre at jenter har mangel på likhet og muligheter i forhold til guttene når det gjelder deltakelse i kroppsøving, og at gode initiativ for å utvikle kroppsøvingsfaget til å bli mer attraktivt for jenter, mangler.…”

La disposición hacia la actividad física y deportiva: narrativas de los adolescentes escolarizados

“…Al respecto, García et al (2011) sostiene que la inactividad física y el abandono de AFD podrían mitigarse promoviendo experiencias positivas en las clases de Educación Física; existen evidencias que muestran que las primeras experiencias positivas de los niños en el deporte escolar y la calidad de las mismas son fundamentales para la afección posterior a la actividad física (Kirk, 2005). En esta línea, Kirk y Kinchin (2003) sugieren que la docencia de la Educación Física en la escuela debe propiciar la transferencia de la práctica del deporte fuera de ella.…”

Análise do comportamento competitivo de atletas jovens e adultos de handebol

“…In this sense, training and sports preparation of young athletes should be guided in matters relating to education, recreation and friendship 4 . However, against the great social phenomenon that has become the sport, linked with the increased number of competitions and the pursuit for positive results, the children's participation received new requirements 5 determining the demand for victory and overcoming opponents increasingly present during competitions.…”