Throughout the weeks it is with great pleasure that I accept the honour of being able to discuss any aspect of health, exercise and fitness with you and get tapping away on my trusty keyboard to that effect.

In terms of audience, we generally tend to look at the subject of increasing physical activity from the viewpoint of the general population. That basically means “normal” people, not athletes or anybody in any particularly special circumstance that would require a drastically altered approach to a physical activity programme.

This week, however, we consider an altogether different viewpoint. Let’s have a look at exercise and fitness as it relates to those who are actually in one of the most powerful positions to deliver it – sports coaches of the young.

Exercise and fitness may be classified as a form of ‘active leisure’. This is precisely what differentiates it from sport. The notion of sport is centred around organised competition, while active leisure is not. Using a gym is a pursuit many enjoy without competing in any particular discipline. Some gym users may ultimately end up practising sports like bodybuilding, physique competition, powerlifting, weightlifting or crossfit, but the majority will not.

In fitness we are more concerned with improving health and fitness to enjoy a better quality of life and to achieve healthier and more aesthetically attractive bodies. In sport, on the other hand, we are solely concerned with improved performance and “going for gold”. Despite the difference in classification the two camps do actually share a fair bit in common.

The fitness world learns much from the discoveries made by sports scientists, motivated by the demands and reward of elite competitive sports, while the sports world benefits from the tried and tested methods for improving physical fitness provided by the fitness industry.

And this is where sports coaches of the young come into the picture. Despite the terrible obesity ranking our children continue to obtain in international studies, the fitness industry has not been terribly forthcoming with options or opportunities for our kids to get more active.

In fitness we are more concerned with improving health and fitness to enjoy a better quality of life

It is not just us either, the international fitness industry still remains a predominantly adult domain. Physical education in schools also struggles to deliver the dose of activity our youngsters need. Until policies and cultures change, our kids will always spend far more time at their desks than anywhere else in or around school premises.

Sport on the other hand offers a real solution. In local sport we see a comprehensive range of nurseries and clubs serving a multitude of disciplines for children at affordable prices. At these clubs children can learn the basic fundamental skills required by their chosen sport from as young as under five. Children of all shapes and sizes can be seen after school hours donning their colourful club gear and setting off for training.

Much work has gone into education and development of coaches, however, a lot of this progress is inspired by the efforts of the international associations and federations of respective sports. In other words, while the international federation of a given sport will certainly take into account the importance of general games and activities for young children that are fun and engaging, they will always have a predominant objective to keep children participating in their particular sport.

If we could infuse a little more fitness philosophy into the melting pot, then perhaps we could also tackle some of the bigger issues. It is at nurseries and clubs where kids can learn the basics of healthy living and lifelong participation in physical activity, whether it is competitive sport or simply active leisure. By introducing children to the concept of fitness training because it is “good for your health” might help them to understand that they are achieving a whole lot more than winning on the field alone.

Whether or not children choose to remain in sport they may still choose a life of physical activity purely for leisure and wellbeing. If sport coaches consider the power they have in promoting physical activity as a way of life, as well as promoting the specific sport they coach, they can play a huge part in potentially enhancing the quality of life of the youngsters under their care, now and well into the future.

As children grow into young adults, sport coaches also have the opportunity to introduce the basic methods of fitness training for this dual purpose of improved sport performance, as well as better overall health.

Educating young athletes about the importance of supplementary training and activity, the importance of healthy eating, good quality sleep and the avoidance of stress will not just make them better at the game but will serve to instil an ethic for lifelong participation.

Getting young athletes used to the gym environment or indeed any alternative activity, to serve as supplementary training will make them more likely to take up or retain that activity even after they stop competing.

As parents we can help our children to understand these notions as they pull their football socks on and dream of World Cup glory. With fresh oxygenated blood pumping from a strong healthy heart, through our veins fuelling powerful muscles and a sharp mind, everyone is a winner. Perhaps the scorecard that matters most of all is the clean bill of health we can all shoot for.

matthew.muscat.inglott@mcast.edu.mt

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