Introduction to Physical Education for College Students

Physical Education: Concepts and

Legal Basis
LEGAL BASIS: REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5708

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5708 - AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PROMOTION AND FINANCING OF AN
INTEGRATED PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE SCHOOLS IN THE
PHILIPPINES.

Physical Education is "education through the physical". It aims to develop

students’ physical competence and knowledge of movement and safety, and
their ability to use these to perform in a wide range of activities associated
with the development of an active and healthy lifestyle. It also develops
students’ confidence and generic skills, especially those of collaboration,
communication, creativity, critical thinking and aesthetic appreciation.
These, together with the nurturing of positive values and attitudes in PE,
provide a good foundation for students’ lifelong and life-wide learning.
Three Goals of Teaching Physical Education

1. Teaching Essential Body Management Skills

The most well-known goal of any physical education class is to promote
movement but there’s more to this aspiration than breaking students out of a
stationary lifestyle. P.E. classes teach children skills that they will use
throughout their entire lives. For many younger children, physical education
classes offer their first chance to learn about the relationships between
nutrition, exercise, and health, while acquiring basic body management skills
such as:
The ability to stop and start on signal
Spatial awareness
Body part identification
Balance and control
Though these skills may not seem as crucial as literacy and numeracy, the
absence of them can result in sedentary children who feel too “clumsy” to
engage in any regular activity. After time, the inability to develop mature
motor skills can cultivate sedentary adults, who struggle to achieve career
goals or lack self-confidence.

2. Promoting Physical Fitness as Fun

Quality instruction from dedicated educators helps children develop
fundamental motor patterns. But it’s also important for teaching students
that being active can be a fun, natural habit.
The more that young students consider physical fitness a natural part of their
daily schedule, the more likely they are to be engaged in fitness as they age
leading to a healthier lifestyle.
3. Developing Teamwork, Sportsmanship, and Cooperation
Physical education allows children to experience healthy social interactions,
teaching cooperation through group activities, and encouraging teamwork
through identification as one part of a team. These social skills stay with
children throughout their lives, increasing the chance that they’ll become
involved in their communities, take leadership roles, and build lasting
relationships. Social skills develop confidence, contributing to academic
performance and mental health.
When students are stressed, they struggle to focus and manage their
emotions properly. Physical activity is a great way to relieve stress,
promoting positive mental health and enhanced learning aptitude. Although
reduced time for physical education is often justified as a way to help
students spend more time in the classroom, studies have shown that regular
activity during the school day links to higher concentration levels, more
composed behaviour, and happier students.