Conference Grant Recipient: Tonita Craig - Conference Reflection

HPEC / GEOEC 2017 No Limits - Education for Everyone, Everywhere 

I don’t know who had the clever idea to combine the Health and Physical Education Council conference with the Global Environment and Outdoor Education Council but, whoever it was, this person needs to be praised. As a new member of both councils and a first time conference goer, I was thoroughly impressed. Now, some may argue that, as a first timer, I could very well be easily impressed. That’s possible. Others may suggest that any conference held in the striking Rocky Mountains is bound to be inspirational based solely on the merits of the setting. Also possible, in fact, very much so. Still, location in itself is not enough to make a fantastic conference. Add great organization, a fantastic selection of sessions presented by knowledgeable and passionate educators and an atmosphere humming with positive energy and, well, what you get is, No Limits. 

The conference slogan -No Limits - Education for Everyone, Everywhere- was aptly chosen and the theme resonated in every aspect of the weekend. It began with an early morning mountain bike excursion guided by Palisades Education Coordinator, Paul Langevin. A brisk ride on a variety of trails in the crisp, mountain air with a diverse group of riders set the tone for the day -take risks and get outside as the effort will be rewarded. 

The benefits of risky play, joy and nature-based learning was reinforced by an inspirational keynote presentation from Dr. Douglas Gleddie. In a society focused on the elimination of risk, Dr. Gleddie’s view on risk assessment and management was refreshing. He maintains that by engaging with the outdoors children develop critical skills, learn to assess their own risks, challenge themselves and develop resiliency in ways not always possible in the classroom or gymnasium. As a Division 2 PE teacher, I found myself reflecting the outdoor classes I have led that were successful examples student engagement, teamwork and problem solving. This keynote not only gave me cause to reflect on those engaging lessons that our class enjoyed but inspired me to continue to take learning outside and expand the experiential learning opportunities for my students. 

So, I have taken my class outside, now what? The conference offered many different sessions to equip educators with practical games to engage large and small classes in a variety of environments, including the outdoors and the gymnasium. Presenters Andy Raithby, Dawn Watkins and Craig Jones offered sessions on Circle Games and games for large groups with resources for PE teachers of all grades. These highly engaging games were simple, with minimal equipment and setup -vital criteria for PE teachers with large classes of young students (or presenters with large groups of adult educators). Literally, these games could be played by everyone, everywhere. 

As anyone who teaches in a K-12 rural Alberta school can tell you, we tend to wear many hats. You may teach many different age groups and classes, coach multiple sports and fill a variety of school roles. Thus, the diversity of the conference sessions was invaluable. One of the final sessions of the conference, Loose but Intense: Stress Management for Athletic Achievement, addressed student athletes and competitive sport in schools. Vincent Mireau, a high school football coach and school counselor, recognized the unavoidable existence of stress in our students’ lives, its role as both a motivation and a hindrance and the importance of enabling students to manage their anxiety by taking risks and learning from failure. As a senior high school coach, it seemed to be an appropriate session to attend even if it was a departure in theme from the previous sessions I had experienced. In this opinion, I was mistaken. Rather than a departure from my previous sessions which embraced the themes of positive relationships, resilience, risk taking and mindfulness, this final session actually helped to reinforce them in a different context. 

“HPEC/GEOEC 2017 - No Limits: Education for Everyone, Everywhere” lived up to its promise. There are no limits for anyone - student, teacher, young, old, experienced or novice, recreational or elite. We all have similar goals when it comes to health and physical education. There are no limitations for where and when we can experience mindful learning opportunities -mountains, wetlands, playgrounds, gymnasiums, fields and classrooms. The conference slogan, No Limits - Education for Everyone, Everywhere, was aptly chosen and that theme resonated in every aspect of a fantastic and educational weekend.

Conference Grant Recipient: Alicia Kudryk

Reverse Football

By Alicia Kudryk

Objective: The team who successfully gets all of their players in the end zone first wins. Players get into the end zone by throwing a football to a teammate in the end zone, who successfully catches the ball. The objective of this game has similar properties to benchball, however, provides further development of throwing to a moving target and being able coordinate passing patterns. This is a great game for large PE classes (40 or more).

Grade Level:  7 to 12.  For junior high, have the students throw the short length of the gym to develop their coordination and strength.  For high school, set up the long length of the gym. Adaptations of the centre line to shorten the throwing distance can be made for any grade if students are continually experiencing difficulty throwing into the end zone.

Equipment:

• 1 football for every 5 students participating (For example, 8 footballs for 40 participants).
• Indoor gymnasium with lines to identify end zone and centre line.
• Pinnies can help distinguish teams, however, not necessary.

Set up:

Junior High (Rotate layout for high school and advanced throwers.)

• Amount of players vary depending on class size, 35 or more ideal.

Rules:

• Put half of the footballs on each side to start. Blow whistle to commence game.
• Players must throw the ball from their half to target in the endzone. Adaptation can be made for specific player if necessary.
• If ball is caught by the target, the player who threw the ball must go over to the end zone. Players can not throw for team mates.
• Players are allowed to block thrown passes as long as the do not enter the other team’s end zone.
• After a ball is caught, it must be put down for the other team, players in the end zone can not throw the ball back to their team.
• The throw counts as a catch if it does not hit the floor, walls or roof before getting to the target.
• Balls caught after hitting or bouncing off of other players count as a successful catch.
• Players in the end zone must keep feet behind line, if feet are touching the line when the ball is caught that catch is unsuccessful.
• Team will all of their players in the end zone first, win the game.

Safety:

• Starting the game with footballs on each side reduces collisions at the centre line.
• All benches and other Physical Education equipment should be clear from play area, especially the end zone.
• A lesson on awareness and keeping heads up during play is mandatory.  Students are vulnerable to getting hit with the flying footballs and other people.
• Teaching kids how to use the phrase “heads up” goes nicely with this activity.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students develop, basic and advanced, throwing and catching techniques.
• Students develop spatial awareness.
• Students develop and understand roles that help contribute to team strategies.
• Students build coordination, strength and endurance.
• Student build understanding of varying abilities in sport.
• Student practice sportsmanship in a competitive game.
• And so much more.

**Thank you Scott Staples for teaching me this game.