The Importance of Physical Activity Experiences 1

2 Defined as: training in, observation of, practice of, or participation in physical activity to increase one’s capacity for physical performance. Differentiated from subjective physical activity experiences (reactions, feelings, and thoughts; these are the focus of the next chapter). Kinesiologists are experts at designing and manipulating physical activity experiences to bring about desired ends, such as improvement in skill, performance, and health and well-being.

Is rooted in intricate, intelligent plans Can be used to express aesthetic imagination and moral reasoning Is flexible and adaptable Illustrates capacity to improve performance through planned and systematic practice and training * We were MADE to move!!! (outdoors) 3

Human physical activity Intelligence-based physical activity Our activity tends to be more complex and has more sophisticated goals that lower animals Animals have relatively simple plans Cheetah can outrun a human, but…. 4

Human physical activity Ethically and aesthetically based physical activity We use movement to express imagination and moral reasoning Express joy, beauty, wonder, other 5

Human physical activity Flexibility and adaptability of physical activity Upright posture and bipedal gate Great ability for movement Hand, arms, shoulders, stereoscopic vision Fine motor Perform movement in our field of vision 6

Human physical activity Ability to improve performance through planned experience Systematic and scientifically ways as means of improving health, performance, skill or for rehabilitation 7

Enormous disconnect between what we know about benefits of physical activity and our behavior Why is this? Three primary barriers: Lack of time Accessibility Safe environment 8

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10 Geography Local physical activity culture * Historical norm shifts Socioeconomic considerations Access Acceptable activities Personal attributes Self-perceptions Feelings

Parents Physically active parents more likely to have active children Same gender parent as child will have most influence Peers Will influence activity level along with other areas Teachers and coaches * 11

Teachers and coaches Influential – can confirm or disconfirm person’s competency in an activity Can create social environment that discourage young persons from seeking out physical activity experiences Gatekeepers – may have life long experience 12

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Self-perceptions Tend to participate in activities we enjoy Difficult to pinpoint factors why Feelings Research shows involvement or avoidance influenced by feelings of self-esteem or perceptions of competence 14

15 Figure 3.4

16 Motor skills: Physical activities in which performers try to attain specific goals by executing efficient, coordinated motor responses Practice: Physical activity experience that involves cognitive processing and leads to skill improvement Learning: Permanent alteration in functioning of nervous system that enables performers to achieve a predetermined goal consistently Skill, Practice, and Learning

17 Physical performance capacity: Aspects of physical activity developed through training Training: Physical activity carried out for the purpose of conditioning one for performance in an athletic or other event Conditioning: Temporary end state of training reflected in the performer’s possessing adequate strength, endurance, and flexibility in order to carry out desired tasks Physical Performance Capacity, Training, and Conditioning

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19 A physically fit person can perform the essential activities of daily living at a high level, has sufficient energy remaining to pursue an active leisure life, and can meet unexpected physical demands that emergencies may impose. Types of physical fitness 1. Motor performance fitness 2. Health-related fitness Two major U.S. tests for youth fitness President’s Challenge Physical Fitness Test Fitnessgram Anyone done these??? Anyone done these???

Measuring physical fitness Type of physical fitness Motor performance fitness # curlups/1 minute Agility test Health-related fitness Run on treadmill Monitor HR, blood pressure, oxygen consumption Skin fold test for body composition 20

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Physical fitness activities are training experiences that improve our general capacity for performing daily activities and prevent disease processes associated with low levels of physical activity. 22

Generalists vs. specialists Generalist: breadth of experience Exposure to many different types of experiences will increase breadth of capactiy Advantage: enjoyment from many different physical activity experiences; not at a high level Specialist: depth of capacity Limit physical activity to single/narrow range will have increased depth of capacity Advantage: remarkable proficiency; in a limited area 23

Principle of quality Principle of quality Experiences that engage us in the critical components of an activity are most likely to improve our capacity to perform that activity. Principle of quantity Principle of quantity Increasing the frequency of experiences that engage us in the critical components of a physical activity will lead to increases in our capacity to perform that activity. 24

Critical component Critical component The aspect of an activity deemed most important for successfully performing that activity Task analysis Task analysis The systematic examination of a particular physical activity for purposes of disclosing its critical components 25

If physical activity experiences are to lead to specific improvements in our learning and conditioning, they must be planned intelligently and systematically. This means that they must engage the individual in the critical components of the activity as frequently as possible. 26

Abilities as building blocks for experience Interactions of experience and abilities Underachievers Natural ability; fail to develop abilities through training and practice Overachievers Little natural ability; compensate through practice and training 27

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29 Contribution of Practice, Training, and Heredity. Figure 3.11

30 Think about your activity experiences and their influence on your capacity to perform particular skills or achieve certain levels of fitness. Remember that, as a Kinesiologist, you need to be aware of the experiences of others!

31 chapter 4 The Importance of Subjective Experiences in Physical Activity

Derived from physical activity Emotions Cognitions Dispositions Knowledges Meanings Basically, subjective experiences are how we feel, think, and react to physical activity rather than the actual performance itself. 32

1. Always accompanied by subjective experiences Experiencing an activity means more than just performing it 2. Subjective experiences are unique How activity makes us feel determines whether we continue 33

3. Might do physical activities without ever asking why or understanding purpose How does activity fit in larger scheme of life’s meaning? 4. Will not be meaningful unless enjoyable Experience may be hollow 34

One of the primary reasons we participate in exercise and sport is that they supply us with unique forms of subjective experience that are not available in other daily activities. 35

36 1. Subjective experiences can help clarify the bases of our career choices. 2. Subjective experiences can help develop our skills as physical activity professionals. 3. Most important, how we feel and what we think before, during, and after a physical activity largely determines whether we will make that activity part of our lives. The focus is on internal dynamics rather than external performance.

Immediate subjective experiences Your best game Hole in one! A “bad” day Immediate emotional & cognitive impressions Proprioceptive stimulation Tendon, ligaments, muscles, inner ear Provide information about body in space Biochemical changes Circulatory system Perceptions of fatigue and effort 37

Replayed subjective experiences Do you remember the feeling? process of examining past experiences Opportunity for self reflection Put experience in a framework that make it more meaningful and comprehensive What about some of your experiences? 38

Sensations Raw, interpreted data collected through sensory organs Perceptions Means by which we interpret sensations Emotions Different from person to person Perceptions during activity can evoke different responses Angry, happy, enthusiastic, etc. Emotional Expression Tendency to reveal something about our emotional state Fear – tremble Excited – forceful or rapid movements 39

Knowledge and subjective experience Rational knowledge Facts about history; math formulas Derived from using logic, reason, and analysis Intuitive knowledge Derived from subjective experiences Intuition – how we come to know something without conscious reasoning 40

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Knowledge and subjective experience Psychoanalytic self-knowledge (deep-seated desires) And the manner in which we pursue physical activity Mystical knowledge (rare and special) Experience may take you out of the real world Peak performance Socratic self-knowledge (we know and don’t know) Play within yourself 42

It can be difficult to find the right words to communicate our subjective experiences of sport and exercise to others. It is important that we try, however, since this helps us better understand the personal meanings we find in physical activity. 43

Extrinsic approaches (to physical activity) Extrinsic approaches (to physical activity) Valuing physical activity because of the benefits that come from participating Intrinsic approaches (to exercise for health) Intrinsic approaches (to exercise for health) Valuing physical activity because of the subjective experiences embedded within the activity itself 44

Even though sport and exercise may provide participants with many different kinds of benefits, most people likely engage in them because of the unique subjective experiences they offer. 45

Factors related to the activity Evenly matched challenges Ability and skill go beyond challenge Boredom Challenge beyond our ability frustration Clear goals and feedback Feedback from coaches, teacher, etc. Competition An organizing principle that frames physical activity 46

Factors related to the performer Dispositions Short term, highly variable psychological states influenced by outside factors Attitudes (see Kenyon ATPA) Relatively stable mind-set toward concrete objects May be favorable or unfavorable 47

48 Alone vs. with others Environment Sense of perceived freedom

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We are more likely to enjoy physical activities when the challenges of the activity match our abilities, when the activity has clear goals and feedback, and when the activity is arranged in a competitive framework. 50

Dispositions Perceived competency Absorption Perceived control Attitudes toward physical activity (ATPA) Social experience Health and fitness Pursuit of vertigo Aesthetic experience Cathartic experience Ascetic experience 51

Alone vs. presence of others Running on a treadmill vs running in the park Environment Enriched social environment/leadership may influence experience Sense of perceived freedom Or sense of obligation 52

Physical activities are never performed in a vacuum; the social context and immediate environment surrounding them can affect our sense of enjoyment. An example of this is how feeling forced to engage in an activity rather than freely choosing to do it can make it less enjoyable. 53

Vicarious participation Vicarious participation Feeling as though a person is engaged in a sport contest he is watching Disinterested sports spectating Disinterested sports spectating A form of watching sport contests in which the observer is nonpartisan in his or her feelings about the outcome 54 Watching Sports as a Subjective Experience

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Knowledge of game Game spectator knowledge Enhances watching experience - enjoyment Feelings toward the competing teams and players Dispositional theory of enjoyment Spectators applauded failed play of opponents as much as favorite team BIRG (bask in reflected glory) Greater joy when closely identify with team Human drama of sports competition Teams must be equal in talent and ability Underdog overcomes heavily favored opponent 56

57 Physical activity involves emotions, thoughts, and reactions. Physical activity professionals help people appreciate physical activity. Subjective experiences are gained by participating or watching. Our enjoyment of an activity is one of the greatest determinants as to whether we continue to engage in that physical activity. (This is significant if maintaining or increasing participation is key.)