National Physical Education & Sports Week

BY @b.u.n.j.a.h

Overview and Definition

Physical Education is a course taught in school that focuses on developing physical fitness and the ability to perform and enjoy day-to-day physical activities with ease (Kelly, 2019). Kids also develop skills necessary to participate in a wide range of activities, such as soccer, basketball, or swimming. Regular physical education classes prepare kids to be physically and mentally active, fit, and healthy into adulthood. An effective physical education program should include engaging lessons, trained P.E. teachers, adequate instructional periods, and student evaluation.

About the Week

May 1-7, 2020 is set to be the National Physical Education & Sports Week. In February our world changed drastically as COVID-19 began its rapid spread around the globe. During this unprecedented crisis, health and physical education teachers have worked creatively to keep students healthy, active and engaged at home. Through dance parties, breathing exercises, sidewalk chalk obstacle courses, yoga, and more, HPE teachers are helping students and families cope with stress and anxiety.

Mission of the Week

National Physical Education & Sports Week mission is to invoke a call to action to recognize the value and importance of having physical activity and physical education in the lives of kids and adults. Regular physical activity in childhood is vital to promoting long-lasting health, and for women, being active every day helps to lower their risk of developing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and depression (Winnick, & Porretta, 2016). 

Facts and Statistics

•   Only 35 – 44% of adults 75 years or older are physically active, and 28-34% of adults ages 65-74 are physically active.
•  Nationwide, 25.6% of persons with a disability reported being physically inactive during a usual week, compared to 12.8% of those without a disability.
• Less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day, only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week.
•  More than 80% of adults do not meet the guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities, and more than 80% of adolescents do not do enough aerobic physical activity to meet the guidelines for youth.
•  Children now spend more than seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen (e.g., TV, videogames, computer).
•   About 90% of Americans eat more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet.
•  Reducing the sodium Americans eat by 1,200mg per day on could save up to $20 billion a year in medical costs.
• Food available for consumption increased in all major food categories from 1970 to 2008. Average daily calories per person in the marketplace increased approximately 600 calories
•  Since the 1970s, the number of fast food restaurants has more than doubled.
•  In 2008, an estimated 49.1 million people, including 16.7 million children, experienced food insecurity 

Benefits of Physical Education and Sports in Schools

Sports are viewed as a universal language that brings people together no matter their origin, background, religious beliefs or economic status. According to united nation, sports are a bridge to resolve difficulties in culture and conflicts. Sport is best in school life and it offers values to younger generation. Physical education on the other hand teaches youth not merely about sport but how to use sport to promote mutual understanding, well being and friendship.

Sports and physical education bring about national and international benefits, sports competitions are known to promote understanding and respect for cultural diversity, foster international partnership and increase greater awareness of global issues such as human rights, role of women in the society and drug prevention (Cope, & Parnell, 2020). Sports also create a deeper sense of national pride.

Physical education enhances body health, quality life and a sense of well being. In schools physical education and sports provide a venue for learners to be active and learn necessary skills, knowledge and attitude that lead to physically active lifestyles.

Physical education and sports helps to improve the wholesome development of an individual the physical, intellectual, emotional and social aspect of an individual. It is important for learners to participate in wide variety of physical education activities to improve their physical power as well as improvement in their academic potential (Cope, & Parnell, 2020).

Physical education and competitive sports helps build character. The games in physical education have competitive experience and modified rules and regulation which learners are expected to participate in and adhere to, hence building individual character to respect rules and regulations and existing authority.

Emotional benefits - during physical education activities emotions of individuals are involved, learners enjoy participating in physical activities .Groups competitions help teach discipline of accepting defeat and celebrating win. Dealing with such success and failure provides learners with opportunity to develop self discovery and sense of achievement, actualization and freedom (Cope, & Parnell, 2020).

Recommended Amount of Physical Activity

Children and Adolescents Aged 5-17years

•  Should do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.
•  Physical activity of amounts greater than 60 minutes daily will provide additional health benefits.
•  Should include activities that strengthen muscle and bone, at least 3 times per week

Adults aged 18–64 years

•   Should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or do at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity.
•   For additional health benefits, adults should increase their moderate-intensity physical activity to 300 minutes per week, or equivalent.
•   Muscle-strengthening activities should be done involving major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week.

Adults aged 65 years and above

•   Should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity.
•  For additional health benefits, they should increase moderate-intensity physical activity to 300 minutes per week, or equivalent.
• Those with poor mobility should perform physical activity to enhance balance and prevent falls, 3 or more days per week.
•   Muscle-strengthening activities should be done involving major muscle groups, 2 or more days a week.

Keep safe and fit by promoting physical activity through this pandemic # COVID-19