physical education

: instruction in the development and care of the body ranging from simple calisthenic exercises to a
course of study providing training in hygiene, gymnastics, and the performance and management of
athletic games.

-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.

-The purpose of physical education involves more than training the body, or physical fitness, but is
based on the understanding that fitness and physical training helps the mind. For young children play
has been recognized as a valuable, even essential, component

Components:

Cardiorespiratory Endurance- The ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen to the muscles during
long periods of exercise.

Muscular Strength- The ability of a muscle or muscles to push / pull an object using Total Force. (Less
than 12 Reps)

Muscular Endurance- The ability of a muscle or muscles to repeat a movement many times, or hold a
position for an extended period of time. (More than 12 Reps)

Flexibility- The ability of a muscle or muscles to move a joint through its full range of motion.

Body Composition- What the body is made of. Muscle Mass vs. Fat Mass.

Skill Related Components

Speed- The ability to move quickly from one point to another

Agility- The ability of the body to change direction quickly

Balance- The ability to maintain an upright posture while still or moving

Coordination- Integration with hand and/or foot movements with the input of the senses.

Reaction Time- Amount of time it takes to get moving.

Power- The ability to do strength work at an explosive pace.

Another meaning of components:

Cardiovascular endurance is the ability of the heart and lungs to work together to provide the needed
oxygen and fuel to the body during sustained workloads. Examples would be jogging, cycling and
swimming. The Cooper Run is used most often to test cardiovascular endurance.

Muscular strength is the amount of force a muscle can produce. Examples would be the bench press, leg
press or bicep curl. The push up test is most often used to test muscular strength.

Muscular endurance is the ability of the muscles to perform continuous without fatiguing. Examples
would be cycling, step machines and elliptical machines. The sit up test is most often used to test
muscular endurance.

Flexibility is the ability of each joint to move through the available range of motion for a specific joint.
Examples would be stretching individual muscles or the ability to perform certain functional movements
such as the lunge. The sit and reach test is most often used to test flexibility.

Body composition is the amount of fat mass compared to lean muscle mass, bone and organs. This can
be measured using underwater weighing, Skinfold readings, and bioelectrical impedance. Underwater
weighing is considered the “gold standard” for body fat measurement, however because of the size and
expense of the equipment needed very few places are set up to do this kind of measurement.

Objectives:

Students will understand the importance of sound health and fitness principles as they relate to better
health and will be able to:

Define the various health components of fitness.

Recognize the physical and mental benefits of increased activity.

Understand anatomy, basic bio mechanical principles and terminology.

Determine factors involved with development, fitness levels and training strategies.

Examine the effect of nutrition, rest and other lifestyle factors that contribute to better health.

Students will be exposed to a variety of activities providing them the opportunity to:

Apply learned fundamental skills.

Utilize physical activity as a tool to manage stress.

Empower themselves by setting and working toward realistic individual goals.

Participate in a motivating and nurturing environment resulting in a greater sense of well-being and self-
esteem.

Participate in active learning to stimulate continued inquiry about physical education, health and fitness.
Students will demonstrate proficiency through knowledge and acquired skills enabling them to:

Understand and utilize various training methods.

Assess individual levels of fitness components.

Create a safe, progressive, methodical and efficient activity based plan to enhance improvement and
minimize risk of injury.

Identify common health and fitness myths along with trends involved with the evolving nature of
physical education.

Develop an appreciation of physical activity as a lifetime pursuit and a means to better health.

Objectives in General:

1. Improvement in the Fields of Education:

Today, physical education is required part of most school curricula, and a number of colleges and
universities offer degrees in the field. Physical education classes generally include formal exercises,
sports, and contests; although an increasing emphasis has been given to such Asian techniques as yoga,
karate, and judo. The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (founded
1885) is concerned with improving its fields of education and with increasing the public's knowledge and
appreciation of physical education.

2. Improvement in Life-Style and Social Relationship:

Studies in the Health and Physical Education learning area provide the potential for a better quality of
life for all students, now and in the future.

Effective interpersonal skills are essential for participation in meaningful and fulfilling relationships in
family, school, recreation, work and community contexts. Interpersonal skills such as assertive
communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, cooperation and leadership enable students to act
responsibly and contribute effectively to groups and teams.

3. Individualistic Improvements:

(a) Organic Development:

The development of young people in an increasingly complex and diverse society can be characterised
by rapid change, sedentary work and leisure practices, changing family structures and roles, and the
promotion of unhealthy behaviors by various sources.
The Health and Physical Education learning area empowers students to critically evaluate the
opportunities and challenges associated with living in modern society and teaches them how to take
action to avoid injury or reduce threats to their health and well-being. Without the benefits provided by
this learning area, individuals face a reduced quality of life and society increasing health care and social
costs.

(b) Neuro-Muscular Development:

Students require movement, skills in order to perform competently in physical activities. Experience in
fundamental movement skills in the early years of schooling supports the development of more specific
skills in later childhood and participation in sport and recreation as lifelong pursuits.

Students who enjoy, participate in, appreciate and are skillful in play, games, sports, dance and outdoor
recreation develop confidence and self-esteem.

(c) Personality Development: Sports and physical education have great role in an individual's personal
development. Through participation in sport, recreation and other physical activities, students improve
their physical skills and fitness, and become aware of the important role that motivation, enthusiasm,
initiative, self-discipline, self-respect, cooperation and the assumption of responsibility play in the
maintenance of healthy society.

All students develop proficient self-management skills for their own benefit, and for the benefit of the
communities in which they live and work. Being able to set and achieve personal goals; plan, implement
and evaluate decisions; develop self-esteem, and manage stress and cope with change and conflict are
essential self-management skills that underpin a healthy and active lifestyle.

Through participation in classroom interactions, work placements, sporting, recreational and other
physical activities, students develop and practice these skills. Students who possess sound self-
management skills are better able to identify and avoid potential health risk, enhance their mental
health and well-being, as well as planning for their future.

4. Improvement in the Sense of Responsibility:

Improving students' knowledge about health issues and practices does not guarantee they will lead
healthy lifestyles. However, students who are able to identify and develop their own attitudes and
values associated with leading a healthy lifestyle are better equipped to make personally and socially
responsible decisions.

This has the potential to enhance the quality of their own and other people's lives. Students who are
able to respect the attitudes and values of others are well placed to contribute effectively to home,
school, work and community life. Study in this learning area encourages them to exhibit attitudes and
values that are consistent with lifelong participation in sport and physical activity, the prevention of ill-
health and the acceptance of personal responsibility for their actions.
What is Physical Fitness?

Physical fitness is an important part of life. It is an indicator which shows whether you have the ability to
perform and enjoy day to day physical activities with ease.

Physical fitness is generally achieved through

• physical activity and exercise,

• correct nutrition,

• enough rest (good quality sleep),

• Stress management and relaxation.

Definition of Physical Fitness:

So what is Physical Fitness after all?

Physical fitness is defined as the state of general well being, physically sound and healthy, along with
mental stability.

Previously fitness was commonly defined as the capacity of the person to meet the physical demands of
daily life and carry out the day’s activities without undue fatigue.

However, because of increased leisure time, changes in lifestyles rendered this definition insufficient.
These days, physical fitness is considered a measure of the body’s ability to function efficiently and
effectively in work and leisure activities, to be healthy, to resist hypo-kinetic diseases, and to meet
emergency situations.

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic
and creative intellectual activity.”

-John F. Kennedy

I hope you are still with me looking for an answer of what is physical fitness? Well, there is no true
physical fitness definition, as the meaning of that term varies frequently from expert to expert.
However, fitness does encompass the following key components. If you work steadily on health related
components of physical fitness, it will make you fit within a short span of time.

Physical fitness can be classified into following categories:

A. Health related fitness components

B. Skill related components of physical fitness

C. Physiological components of fitness

D. Sports related components of fitness

Health related fitness components:

These are -

1. Body composition

2. Cardiovascular fitness

3. Flexibility

4. Muscular endurance

5. Muscle strength

Health Related Physical Fitness –

What is Physical Fitness or what is Health Related Physical fitness? - It is best defined as activity aimed to
improve your health. The goal of health related fitness is prevention of or rehabilitation from disease as
well as the development of a high level of functional capacity for daily tasks.

Health related physical fitness is further divided into 5 parts i.e. components of health related physical
fitness are -

1. Balanced BODY COMPOSITION –

In other words the ratio of fat to muscle. Minimum of fat and maximum of lean mass is a sign of a
healthy and fit body.

2. CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS or ENDURANCE –

Cardiovascular endurance can be defined as the component which helps to determine if the heart and
lungs are working in coordination. It shows the ability of the body to deliver oxygen and nutrients to
tissues and to remove wastes.

Cardiovascular exercises or aerobics -walking, running, biking, rowing, treadmills

3. FLEXIBILITY -

Flexibility can be defined as the component which checks the ability of the joints in the body to move to
their full range of motion.

Flexibility exercises - stretching, yoga, Tai Chi

4. MUSCULAR ENDURANCE -

Muscular endurance is defined as the ability of the body to perform repeated exercises without getting
tired. If a person can perform more number of repetitions of a particular strength training exercise, then
it can be said that he/she has good muscular endurance.

Strength training exercises such as running, jogging, cross-training on an elliptical machine, etc.

5. MUSCLE STRENGTH -

Muscle strength can be defined as the capability of the muscles to lift weight. By doing weight training
exercises every alternate day increases the muscle mass of the body.

Weight training exercises - push ups, pull ups, biceps curls, pectoral fly, leg extensions, back extension,
etc.

Skill related components of physical fitness:

1. Agility

2. Balance

3. Coordination

4. Power

5. Reaction Time

6. Speed

Physiological components of fitness:

1. Metabolic

2. Morphological
3. Bone integrity

4. Other

Sports related components of fitness:

1. Team sport

2. Individual sport

So what is physical fitness? It is a combination of all these fitness components mentioned above.

Physical fitness and wellness is far more attainable than commonly perceived. A good physical fitness
and wellness can be described as a condition that helps individuals look, feel and do their best.

Physical fitness is not just about having a thin lean body frame, but it is about having cardiovascular and
muscular endurance, strong immunity system, and most importantly, a satisfied, happy and well
balanced state of mind.

You should get the full knowledge and information about the importance and benefits of physical
fitness.

Brief History of Physical Education

A brief history of physical education in the United States would kick off in the nineteenth century. There
was growing popularity of formal physical education programs all across Europe where calisthenics and
gymnastics were all the rage. American schools looked to follow the European model by incorporating
physical education into the curriculum for primary and secondary schools. And a brief history of physical
education would not be complete with a consideration of institutes of higher education that gradually
built up extremely successful sports programs.
-How it began The brief history of physical education would start in just about 1820 when schools
focused on gymnastics, hygiene training and care and development of the human body. By the year
1950, over 400 institutes had introduced majors in physical education. The Young Men's Christian
Association launched its very first chapter in 1851 and focused on physical activities. Colleges were
encouraged to focus on intramural sports particularly track, field and football.

But physical education became a formal requirement following the civil war when many states opted to
pass laws that required schools to incorporate a substantial physical education component into their
curriculums. But it was not till 1970 that an amendment was made to the Federal Education Act that
allowed women from high school and college to compete in athletic competitions. Sex-based
discrimination was completely outlawed from government funded programs at this point. Physical
Education in college College athletics received a major stimulus when a National Collegiate Athletic
Association was created in the early twentieth centuries. There was a rise in popularity of sports within
colleges and universities and funding greatly increased. Colleges took great pride in their athletic
programs and sports scholarships became a norm. There was also a surge in people who enrolled in
sports education programs to meet the growing demand for professionals in the field. Decline in
Physical Education But this is not meant to imply that the history of physical education has been all rosy.
Late in the twentieth century there was certainly a decline in the commitment to physical education.
The growing offering of extra subjects and electives in schools means that the shift was focusing away
from physical education and towards academics. The country also faced a recession around 1970 and
1980 and the dearth of government funding means that physical education programs were often the
first to be cut from schools and universities. The modern age But recent awareness of the need for
balanced curriculums particularly given the national concern over the state of obesity and children's
attention towards non-physical activities like video games has brought physical education back in the
spotlight. The government has re-signaled its commitment to physical education by making it mandatory
in public schools in early classes. But it remains an elective at the high school level. One of the most
interesting developments in the history of physical education has been how the definition of physical
education has evolved. While it only encompassed traditional sports in the beginning, it now includes
several less physical activities such as yoga and meditation which are considered critical to helping
students develop a sense of control in such a stressful age.