Teaching Movement
Mark the key is letting them explore the dimensions that their bodies can move in. The prime ages to this are the so called ”skill hungry” years ages 7 to 9. Set up games and situations that elicit the movements that you want to see. For example colored dots or shapes on the floor with a particular task needed for each color or shape. Simple cues like run loud or run quiet will help them learn different foot strikes through discovery. I always use the analogy of Karate Kid Part One – Wax on Wax off!The more gamelike the better
posted by Vern Gambetta @ 1/26/2007 06:43:00 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I have been helping kids learning to move, move to learn for several years now. It is a lot of fun watching kids develop into better players playing games that they do not realize is preparing them for team sports later on much like the wax on/wax off. I have fun doing it with them along with some other parents that participate. My comments were stemming from the previous discussion on the false/plyo step and the occassional 11-12 year or later participant that never quite seems to learn how to load the cannon.I also expect there are others wondering about the topic more than me but are afraid to post.
Thanks,
Mark Day D.C., CSCS, DACBSP
activedc@maysvilleky.net
This is slightly off the subject, but......
I spent the 80’s and 90’s as a high school physical education teacher. Very much a generalist – teaching and coaching aquatics, gymnastics, track and field, dance, outdoor activities and a host of field and court sports. Being the local “Phys Ed” teacher in small communities also meant coaching local sporting teams on the weekend and taking an active role in local sporting clubs.
In my own experience, the 90’s saw the rise of the “personal trainer”. While generally well-versed in a narrow range of “cardio” and resistance training activities, most of the trainers I came in contact with had no background in coaching, teaching movement or athletic development.
Unfortunately, many parents tended to view the “personal trainer” as the expert and sought their advice and programs for preparing their kids. Many kids started spending a lot of time in gyms and less time on the field. I began to feel my role and qualifications (Bachelor of Education - Health and Physical Education) were no longer valued.
To cut a long "sob-story" short, reading (and occasionally participating in) this BLOG, has re-ignited my “movement education” fire and made me confident that my knowledge and skills are not only valuable, but very much needed.
Thanks Vern. Looking foward to hearing you when you visit us here in Australia.
Rob Miles
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