Launches Fitness
Challenge to
Inspire Students
This semester BGGA students are participating
in a Fitness Challenge, an initiative developed by
fitness coaches Karen Harrison and Justin Smith.
The goal of the Fitness Challenge is to bring out
the competitiveness in the students and to reward
effort, attitude and performance in the physical
training setting.
The BGGA Fitness Challenge began in January and
will continue through Spring Break. Each week there
are numerous challenges with points awarded for
each challenge. By the end of the designated time
period, the top 10 students on the scoreboard will be
rewarded with a unique outing.
“It’s interesting to see, now that we’re six weeks
in, how the game is motivating some of students,”
said Harrison. “There’s definitely been a difference
in behavior. Many of our students are highly
competitive!”
The fitness challenges vary and may be performance-
based at an individual or group level or be based
on improvement for a nominated task. For example,
this week the challenge is for students to hold the
longest front plank possible (with good form) –
our record – Daniel Song with 7 mins 12 secs. The
challenges have also related to attitude, effort and
discipline and attendance. In choosing a variety of
challenges we hoped to make it fair across the board,
so everyone has a chance at doing well. The BGGA
golf coaches have also been asked to participate,
assisting with some of the challenges relating to
discipline in practice.
“It’s been a lot of fun to come up with the challenges
and watch the students competing,” said Harrison.
“Some students get excited about the challenges
and you can hear them talking about them on the
range before class,” said golf coach Nick Duffy.
We already have students asking if we’re going to
be doing it again next year. While it is somewhat
predictable to see certain students in the top 3 or 4
positions, the remainder of the top 10 places really
are up for grabs – it’s anyone’s game. Consistency is
the key.
The Fitness Challenge Scoreboard is updated
weekly. We will keep you posted on the results!
Fitness Challenges:
Week 1: Physical Competence Testing Results
(based on our Fitness Reports) for Best Male
and Female and Most Improved
Week 2: The “Quiet” game – Encouraging
reflection while in fitness class and to quiet the
chatter so that the students can focus on their
task at hand.
Coach Challenge – Do you know your stretching
focus?
Week 3: Improvement on the Mile Run
Coach Challenge – Do you know your stretching
focus?
Week 4: Six exercise circuit performance
challenge
Coach Challenge – Do you know your stretching
focus?
Week 5: Essay on “what I have learned in
fitness”
Best attitude in class – Focus and attitude
Tic Tac Toe Team Relay Game
Week 6: Holding a front plank for the longest
possible time
Coach Challenge – Best attitude/focus during
golf training