STARTER Identify the main reasons why you think Sergio Aguero decided to sign and play football for Manchester City.

Topic 1.1 The Benefits and Reasons for Taking Part

Learning Objectives . . . By the end of this lesson should be able to… Explain what constitutes a healthy, active lifestyle Classify the benefits of a healthy active lifestyle as social, physical or mental

A Healthy, Active Lifestyle: What is it? (a) contributes positively to physical health and includes regular exercise and physical activity (b) contributes positively to physical and mental health and includes regular exercise and physical activity (c) contributes positively to physical, mental and social wellbeing (d) contributes positively to physical, mental and social wellbeing, and includes regular exercise and physical activity. KEY TERM

A Healthy, Active Lifestyle: Rewards A healthy, active lifestyle has a positive effect on physical and mental wellbeing. People who exercise regularly and have an active social life tend to cope with stress much better! Most participants are amateurs who pay to take part, only the lucky few get to the professional ranks and are paid for their privilege.

BENEFITS of Physical Activity There are THREE main categories: Physical Improving health and fitness Mental Reducing stress and related problems Social Building/developing friendships and teamwork skills From this there are SEVEN related benefits you need to know……

1. To Increase Fitness Exercise, training, and taking part in exercise can increase fitness. A well-planned programme of exercises, resistance training and playing sport is a good way to achieve this. Muscles can be strengthened and made more flexible and toned. Exercise and playing expends energy, using up calories. This can contribute to weight loss. 7

2. To Help the Individual Feel Good Many people take part because they want to feel good. Exercise can literally do this by stimulating the release of serotonin (a ‘feel-good’ hormone). Regular exercise helps you look and feel better, and can therefore help people with low self-esteem. 8

3. To Relieve Stress and Tension Physical activities can provide a distraction from the problems of daily life, and can relieve stress and tension caused by work, school, and family pressures. Although exercise cannot solve problems, it can make them easier to face by providing complete distraction for a while. 9

4. To Increase Self-Esteem and Confidence Many activities provide physical challenge. Overcoming challenge gives a sense of achievement which can lead to an increase in self-esteem and confidence. A good example of this is when people take on a marathon. Completing one will increase confidence when it comes to taking on other tasks that seem difficult. 10

5. To Improve Health People who are physically fitter usually cope better if they become ill. This applies for colds etc. but also with serious illnesses. The ability to prevent and recover from illness is related to fitness and we will see how heart and lung function improves with exercise. Exercise and sport contribute to good health. 11

6. For Enjoyment Most people do an activity because they enjoy it. Observe some players at your local sports centre. they are probably there because they want to be! Enjoyment of activities may be affected by the reason for participating in it. Some people are forced to do it so enjoyment may be low. Others are highly competitive and want to win. Some do it as they know its good for them. 12

7. For a Mental Challenge Many activities provide a mental as well as a physical challenge. The London Marathon is a tough physical challenge, but it is an equally tough mental challenge – the thought of running 26 miles and 365 yards (42.195km) can be very daunting, especially for someone who has never run that far before! 13

Task For each of the 7 benefits… …think of an example of a physical activity you can use to explain your point. 1, To Increase Fitness 2. To Help the Individual Feel Good 3. To Relieve Stress and Tension 4. To Increase Self-Esteem and Confidence 5. To Improve Health 6. For Enjoyment 7. For a Mental Challenge

REASONS for Taking Part in Physical Activity You need to know how participation can stimulate the following FIVE reasons: Co-operation Competition Physical Challenge Aesthetic Appreciation Development of Friendships and Social Mixing Most activities are able to offer at least one of these and some most or all of them

1. Co-Operation Many sports are played in teams. Working in groups helps improve teamwork and co-operation, which are often necessary in everyday life. Games are a good example of team sports where it’s important to support and encourage your team-mates. 16

2. Competition Can be thought of as psychological (mental) both in terms of the psychological preparation necessary to compete and in terms of getting away from daily stress. When competing most people put aside their problems to concentrate on their goals. 17

3. Physical Challenge Coming back to sport after a long time away, maybe as an adult who has not taken part since school, or taking on a seemingly impossible task, allows for a physical challenge which can be very satisfying. 18

4. Aesthetic Appreciation Moments in sport are sometimes beautiful, although this aspect of sport may not always be appreciated as much as winning. Beauty may be seen in a brilliantly executed goal, a delicate chip in golf or a perfect move in gymnastics. Often it is the observer who appreciates the performance, even though the performer can sometimes ‘ feel’ the performance is ‘just right’. 19

5. Development of Friendships and Social Mixing Taking part in activity at school or at a club means involvement with others, inc. fellow participants, coaches and officials. This enables new and lasting friendships to be made. Training alone can be lonely and requires motivation and discipline, but most activities give opportunities to mix socially. 20

Task Choose your own sport and link how each of the 5 reasons for taking part in physical activity are visible. Co-operation Competition Physical Challenge Aesthetic Appreciation Development of Friendships and Social Mixing

Task Complete the worksheet, highlight the main reasons for participating for the 7 different individuals

Plenary Having seen the benefits and reasons that being involved in physical activity brings… Think of two people you know who you think might benefit from taking part in physical activity and explain why you think it would help them to have a healthy life style. Give brief details about them, e.g. age, occupation.

Homework Bring to lesson next week a newspaper/ internet article that relates to a sporting hero of yours.