Saint David's Magazine Vol. 34 No 1 | Page 15

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