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PESSYP (PESSCL) Strategy – The Increase in Physical Education and School Sport Businesses

Since they were introduced in 1997, Sports Colleges have grown in number, and it could be argued that they have transformed the shape of education in England, leading the way for specialist schools. The introduction of the PESSCL strategy has subsequently seen the introduction of School SPorts Partnerships which now cover every state school in England.

The use of Sport as a medium has now taken off and many ex-athletes are making a living from getting high level messages, consistent with the principles of EFQM to businesses, managers and consultants. An example of such an event can currently be found on the Certius Project Development website.

You only have to look at the size of the Sports College Conference to see how much of a market place there is. Even in these hard financial times, there is a host of development driven companies looking to provide support, advice, products, services and consultancy to schools around sport and physical education. This can range from software to monitor development plans and EDPs through to custom equipment.

The market has never been bigger and if you have a passion for sport, experience of education consultancy, and can combine this with a good business approach, there is an opportunity for you to get involved in the worlds biggest sport and Physical Education system.

That is certainly what I hope to do. I have a background in Physical Education and School Sport as a teacher, an SSCo, PDM and National Development Officer with the Youth Sport Trust. I am 1 month in to being a consultant and already have work to see me over for 6 months – Not a bad cushion to start from. Only time will tell if my experience, contacts, business operations knowledge and EFQM Assessor qualification will turn this into a long term venture.

In the digital age, the right kind of marketing is essential. I have put the basic information from my CV on the website for you to look at, because unless you have this as your starting point, you will really struggle

I will write again in a month with tips on writing your CV, including what to put in and, crucially, what to keep out!

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How Physical Activity Affects Business Achievement

There are some suggestions that the influence of physical activity on achievement may build over time. There are also findings that show links that exist between physical activity and achievement. Physical education classes are being replaced with other classes in an effort to increase the students’ academic achievement.

Several studies have shown positive correlation between academic achievement and physical activity. The mechanisms by which students may improve academic achievement as a result of increased physical activity through physical education include increased arousal and reduced boredom, which may point to increased attention span and concentration.

It is noted that higher activity levels might also be related to increased self-esteem, which positively could be expected to enhance classroom behavior as well as academic performance. Over a period of time an evaluation of physical education classes, physical activity participation, and academic achievement may provide more concrete information of the their true correlation.

Physical Education can enhance our overall performance in general. Physical Education can also help with a better Body Mass Index (BMI). Our stress level is reduced and we have a tendency to think better when we include the right amount of physical education.

Research studies in the United States have sought to link adolescents’ health decline with that of adult obesity health factors in order to promote preventive measures for children. Those factors associated with adult obesity include hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. They would like to influence a greater awareness in screening adolescents sooner in order to reduce these risks.

These factors are already showing up in children now, however it has not been proven necessary to seek early treatment or prevention measures for children as of yet. Currently not all of the organizational boards associated with these diseases have been able to prove they relate to childhood obesity. Although there may not be a direct connection between obesity and health issues in children, if left alone the problem simply worsens, as the child grows older. Obesity is associated with these health issues in adults. If a child is not taught early how to control weight it will catch up with them later in life.

Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association suggest that physicians focus on children that are quickly gaining weight, have a history of diabetes, or have high blood pressure. These children would benefit from preventive actions, and could possibly change the outlook of their adult lives.

One social issue I have written about extensively is that which is ongoing in most American school districts. Due to budget cuts, many schools have had to cut out physical education classes or at least minimize the amount held per week for each child. What message does this send the children? Not only are they not receiving an adequate amount of physical activity, but this has also been shown to lead to obesity and lower academic achievements.

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A Simple Strategy For Physical Educators Interested In Preventing Childhood Obesity

Here’s a simple three step study with which I’d like to challenge every physical educator in the USA. It’s really very simple, check it out.

1. Identify all the kids in your school who can perform at least one legitimate pull up. And by legitimate pull up I use the old “all the way up and all the way down rule.” It says you start from all the way down (straight elbows), and pull all the way up (chin touching the bar). Everything else, including kicking, screaming, grunting, groaning, grimacing, and cursing (under your breath) is fair game.

2. Look over this list of kids and identify any of them who you’d consider obese. In other words, I want to know if any kids in your school are simultaneously able to do pull ups and are obese? My intuitive bet is no, but let’s make sure.*

3. If you want to take it one step further, take your list and divide it into 3 groups

o those who can do between one and five pull ups,

o those who can do between six and ten pull ups,

o and those who can do more than ten pull ups.

o Then stand back and see if there’s any difference between the three groups in terms of their tendency to carry excess weight.

o My own wager is that the more pull ups a kid can do, the lower the odds of them carrying excess weight, but again, let’s see.

In the Wake of Your Study

If this informal study confirms the old gym teacher’s claim that kids who can do pull ups are never obese, the next step is to get your hands on a height adjustable pull up bar, and introduce all the kids who can’t do pull ups to leg assisted pull ups (jumping and pulling at the same time) as a simple, affordable, and predictable way for them to learn to physically pull their own weight.

Your Goal is…

Using the incentive of strength gain (all kids, including both girls and boys, want to be strong), and the opportunity to immunize themselves against obesity for life, as long as they maintain this simple ability, the strategy is to transform a bunch of those kids who can’t do pull ups into kids who can do pull ups. And make sure you understand that every kid who you can help learn to do pull ups, will represent one more documented bite you’ve taken out of childhood obesity in your community.

Don’t Forget to…

While you’re doing all this don’t forget to tell the local media about what you’re doing in the name of childhood obesity prevention and self esteem improvement. If your experience is anything like mine, the media will eat it up (as well they should) and turn you into a local community hero instead of just another gym teacher hoping to avoid the pink slip from educational budget cutters in a recessionary economy.

*Why not use Body Mass Index (BMI) or skin fold calipers to mathematically determine body composition? Well for starters, although BMI is the accepted industry standard, it falls short of being accurate in lots of ways. For example, NFL running backs like the great Walter Payton or Emmit Smith at 5′ 10″, 220 lbs. of pure muscle would be considered obese according to a BMI measurement. And skin fold caliper measurements vary so much that I don’t even want to think about it. I much prefer to rely on a physical educator’s intuitive eyeballs to make the call.

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