Lessons on and off the Field
By Craig Learn
A
llen Russell, a Physical Education
Specialist from Grand Junction,
Colorado, once said, “Of all the
subjects taught in school, Physical Education
is the only subject which, by the very nature
of its content, has the potential to affect how
a person will feel every moment of every day
for the rest of his or her life.”
A quality physical education and athletics
program is about much more than developing
good athletes. With regard to this year’s
school-wide theme, respect, a good program
can draw comparisons to every aspect of a
student’s life to make the lesson relevant both
on and off the field.
In Lower School Athletics, the curriculum
centers around building the foundation for
what we want a Saint David’s student-athlete
to be by the time he graduates. Teaching the
rules, strategies, and physical skills of each
sport is key to building that foundation.
However, there are components to the
curriculum, such as safety, teamwork, and
sportsmanship, which transcend the playing
field. Our Cooperative Games Unit in the
pre-primary program is designed around activities that
require teamwork, communication, and problem solving
among the boys, all of which depend upon them showing
respect to their teammates.
Sportsmanship is a focus during every Lower School
sports class, with a particular focus on boys respecting
themselves, their classmates, the rules of the game, and the
result of the game that is played. There is no doubt that
each of these components, along with rules, strategies, and
physical skills, are essential to success on the athletic field.
However, the objectives learned in these lessons are also
equally essential to the boys’ lives outside of school, off the
field, and they will impact them into their teenage years
and adult lives. Additionally, we teach the boys to respect
their classmates’ safety by understanding the importance of
body and spatial awareness during activities. This theme is
a major focus in the pre-primary classes, particularly early
in the school year. We use many techniques and references
to help the boys better understand safety during the daily
lessons. For example, while teaching the importance of
moving with a safe body and respecting other students’
space during a game of “Jack Frost” tag, a reference to proper
spacing on the basketball court could be an effective way to
reinforce the desired objective. However, at the pre-primary
Craig Learn leading a Lower School sports session.
age, referencing tactical concepts of team sports may be
too advanced. Therefore, it may be more effective to draw a
comparison to respecting body and spatial awareness when
riding on a crowded subway train and living in New York
City in general. While teaching an entire First Grade class
in the Multi-Purpose gym, I have made references to my
daily commute on the 7 Train and how important it is that
I respect the personal space of others.
As teachers and coaches, we are challenged with teaching
groups of students who learn in different ways. By offering
a variety of sports and activities and using references from
their lives outside of school to reinforce the learning, we
can ensure that each boy understands the objectives of each
lesson and is given equal opportunity to succeed. With an
added emphasis on respect this year, teaching concepts such
as safety, teamwork, and sportsmanship will not only serve
our boys as they navigate the hallways and gymnasiums of
Saint David’s, but also the sidewalks of New York City. M
Craig Learn is Lower School Athletics Coordinator at
Saint David’s School.
Winter 2020 • 15