Pursuing sports education

According to experts obesity is an issue of serious concern. It breeds mental stress, physical sickness and psychological unhappiness. Unfortunately, the Maltese and our children in particular are among the top within the European Union that suffer from this condition. Most experts believe that the root of this problem stems from the lack of physical exercise or the lack of participation in sports activities.

This is somehow confusing in the case of Malta. Because relatively speaking, we have adequate sports facilities and sports as such have always been part of the extra curriculum of our schools. So one would expect that the Maltese are geared towards a culture of physical exercise or sports involvement. However, strange as it might sound when it comes to sports we would prefer to take up the passive role and sit on the spectator seat at the stadium or on the sofa in front of our TV set.

Perhaps it is worth reviewing the role of our physical educators at schools in order to ensure that they really lay the groundwork for positive attitudes in sports. Obviously, they need full support from the education authorities to the extent that any sports activity would be considered as important as any other lesson in academic subject. In this respect, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. A closer look at what is happening in other European and American educational institutions could be enough to trigger initiative and commitment towards a more valuable sports culture at our schools. A case in point is the policy adopted by certain foreign universities that are recognising the students' level of participation in sports in granting credits in addition to those obtained through academic achievements.

Physical educators are in key position to improve the general standard of sports education. They know that children's participation in team sports should be fun, contribute to their physical development and well-being, help to develop social skills and promote a desire for continued involvement with physical activity. The objective of physical education in schools should be to encourage development of appropriate exercise habits, with emphasis on the recreational aspects of physical activities.

Unfortunately, compelling evidence suggests that for many children, the pressures associated with sports produce low self-esteem, excessive anxiety and aggressive behaviour. There are instances whereby children may eventually experience "sports burnout" and develop a lifelong avoidance of physical activity. These negative outcomes are caused primarily by adults particularly parents, coaches and PE teachers. Fair-play, sportsmanship and having fun are only paid lip-service whereas encouragement to pursue victory is accompanied by direct and indirect signals that aggressive behaviour is acceptable to achieve it. After all, rewards are reserved for winning!

We surely need to put sports in perspective. "Winning at all costs" should not feature on the agenda of any coach or physical educator worth their salt. Enjoyment and the development of individual skills should be the objective. Players should not be encouraged or allowed to play when injured or ill, as a demonstration of stoic virtue. Studies show that many children between the ages of nine and 14 drop out of sports because they spend too much time on the bench and not enough on the field. They perceive themselves as unsuccessful because their level of performance does not give them enough playing time. It has been proven that 90 per cent of young athletes would rather have an opportunity to play on a losing team than sit on the bench of a winning team. Educators should also foster feelings of team ownership among players replacing the traditional authoritarian PE teacher, submissive students.

Parents are the most influential role models and can have a critical impact on a child's attitude toward sports. Therefore, physical educators and coaches should seek their involvement in planning the curricular activities and goals and in promoting realistic expectations for performance.

Sports at our schools should be given priority. Just consider the implications and consequences we would have to face because of the obesity problem, caused by lack of physical activity. We would have to shoulder the burden of spending thousands of liri to promote prevention measures, to provide adequate cure and to exert control on health and safety expenditure, social benefits and time lost due to inefficiency and low productivity at the workplace.

All this could be avoided if we appreciate the value of physical education and sports through active participation.

matyas@maltanet.net