1. Characteristics of Physical Activity
Learning objectives
To understand the concepts of leisure, play, PE, recreation, OAA and sport.
To describe and contrast the concepts and their functions.
To understand the national curriculum and the elements involved.

2. Why has there been a growth in leisure time in the last 50 years?
What is the difference between the type of swimming taking place in these 3 photos?
Why has there been a growth in leisure time in the last 50 years?

3. What is it that changes as you move from play to sport?
Leisure Time
Consider this diagram....
What is it that changes as you move from play to sport?

4. Leisure Time
Leisure is spare time during which individuals can choose what to do.
Discuss the function of leisure time. What does it provide?
Helps relaxation
Improves fitness
Functions of leisure
Provides opportunities for socialising
Helps reduce crime
Civilises society

5. Leisure Time
The term 'leisure' covers a variety of types of active participation (play, physical recreation and sport).
Physical education is a compulsory subject at school and as such lessons cannot be considered leisure time.
However, school PE programmes often provide extra-curricular opportunities for pupils in their free time.

6. The Leisure Continuum
This activity continuum highlights different concepts of leisure and the structure that goes with them.
Low structure
Non-competitive
Choice
High level of structure
Competitive
Organised
Play
Physical Recreation
Outdoor Education PE
OAA
Sport

7. Factors influencing leisure time
There are a number of factors can affect participation in leisure time:
Socioeconomic status - i.e. how much time and disposable income someone has available.
Stereotyping - traditional viewpoints may limit participation in leisure-time activities for some people. e.g. Male dancers.
Disability - local facilities and availability of specialist coaches are often inadequate for people with disabilities.

8. Factors influencing leisure time
Age - some activities are seen as being suitable only for the young, for example skateboarding.
Ethnicity - some ethnic groups do not place as high a priority on 'active leisure' as they do on educational achievement.
Lack of facilities - while people may have plenty of free time, local facilities are often limited or of poor quality.

9. Give some examples of physical recreation.
To physically recreate is to take part in a game or activity for it’s own sake, not for any extrinsic reward.
It is entered into voluntarily during free time and people have a choice concerning which activities they take part in. The focus is on participation rather than results.
Give some examples of physical recreation.

10. Examples of Physical Recreation
The atmosphere tends to be relaxed - taking part is the main motive.

11. Physical recreation objectives
Recreation provides many functions, these include:
Relax and unwind
Socialise and meet new people
Be creative and self-fulfilment
Improve health and fitness
A key reason why many people take part in recreational activities is to relax and recuperate from the stresses of everyday life.

12. Physical recreation and society
The social benefits of recreation include:
Less strain on the NHS
Social control and crime reduction
Employment opportunities
Economic benefits

13. Can you give other examples of play?
Play is identified by the following characteristics:
Enjoyable activity/fun
Non serious and simple
Non obligated
Spontaneous
Rules and time constraints are flexible.
Children play to master reality, adults play to escape reality
Can you give other examples of play?

14. Play
Equipment may be modified and simple, often using what children bring with them, e.g. jumpers used as goalposts.
Comparing and contrasting play and recreation:
Both play and recreation include the following:
They are entered into of one's own free will.
The main motivation is enjoyment/fun.
They have an informal structure and flexible rules.
The outcome is non-serious and results not important

15. Play The differences between play and recreation include:
Other motives are likely to be involved in the recreation process – i.e. adults may use recreation to escape the relieve stress, and see it as an opportunity to improve their health.
Recreation is slightly more organised than play.

16. Play
Play has different functions both for adults and children. Adults use play as a stress release whereas children use it as a way to master reality.
Play teaches children 6 main values:
Physical (e.g. coordination, catching)
Social (e.g. communication)
Emotional (e.g. accepting defeat)
Cognitive (e.g. making up games and rules)
Moral (e.g. playing fair)
Environmental (e.g. safety)

17. Sport
To be classed as a sport an activity must have the following characteristics:
High level of physical exertion required to perform
Competitive
Have a governing body
High level of commitment and skill required
When and where it takes place and who takes part is decided by someone else
Participants often play for extrinsic rewards
Sport can be a career for some people

18. Sport Explain whether you think these are sports or not and why.
Aerobics
Arm wrestling
Body building
Skateboarding
Chess

19. The 4 ‘W’ Questions
These 4 questions will help you to determine what an activity is defined as:
Who is taking part?
Adults or children?
2. When is it happening?
Strict or flexible time?
3. Where is it taking place?
Purpose built facilities or back garden?
4. Why are they taking part?
Intrinsic or extrinsic?

20. Functions of sport
Sport serves a number of important functions including:
Improving health and fitness
Increasing self-esteem and self-confidence
Providing an opportunity for socialising
The sporting success of national teams creates national pride. e.g. Great Britain's Olympic success at the Beijing games especially in the cycling and swimming.

21. Sportsmanship
Quality displayed by a person or team such as fairness, generosity, observance of the written and unwritten rules and knowing how to lose honourably. E.g……..
Certain sports have a reputation for high levels of sportsmanship.
i.e. golf… maintain silence while partner is playing a shot, congratulating them on another round.

22. Can you think of any other examples of gamesmanship?
Bending the rules to gain an advantage over opponents. Usually a tactical and unethical ploy.
i.e. Sledging in cricket.
Can you think of any other examples of gamesmanship?

23. Gamesmanship
Such codes of conduct can have positive or negative effects on the sporting contest.
Sportsmanship helps the game to run smoothly and encourage goodwill among players and spectators.
On the other hand, gamesmanship can lead to ill feeling and a contest disintegrating as officials struggle to make decisions and keep control.

24. Physical Education
..Formally planned and taught curriculum to increase knowledge and values through physical activity/experience”.
Only takes place in educational institutions.
Always involves a teacher passing on knowledge to a group of pupils.
Almost always concerned with bodily movement.
It is part of the National Curriculum (i.e. it is compulsory.

25. Physical Education What is function of PE? (Why is it important?)
Functions include:
Help develop physical skills. e.g. coordination
To improve health and fitness
To develop social skills. e.g. forming friendships
To improve self confidence
To develop leadership qualities

26. Triangular Model of Physical Education
A pupil's experiences of PE should contain 3 elements:

27. The National Curriculum
Minimum of 2 hour of P.E per week is compulsory in schools through the National Curriculum
Key stage 3 pupils (11-14) must do 4 of the following activities.
Games activities
Dance activities
Gymnastics activities
Swimming activities
Athletic activities
Outdoor and adventurous activities
A number of different roles should be experienced, including performer, coach and official

28. Why is this not possible?
The ideal situation is to get everyone at school to take part in meaningful PE experiences.
Why is this not possible?
Inadequate facilities / equipment / time
Low numbers of staff and expertise available
Lack of pupil interest / ability / effort
Lack of staff motivation to do extra curricular activities. (these are done voluntarily and staff do not get paid for the extra time).

29. Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
Outdoor and adventurous activities (OAA) is one of the six areas of National Curriculum PE.
Definition:
“A means of approaching educational objectives through guided direct experience in the environment using its resources as learning materials”.

30. Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
The function of OAA is to heighten awareness of and develop respect for:
Self – by giving yourself a challenge and overcoming that challenge. A good example of this is climbing a rock face.
Others – to gain group experiences, share decisions and work together as a team. Canoeing demonstrates this well.
A sense of adventure and excitement is an important element of the outdoor experience.

31. How is an outdoor activity educational?
Learn about oneself in a challenging environment
A personal experience
Unpredictable (adventure, risk, interesting)
Appreciation of nature
Excitement (rush of wind, spray of water)
Feel good factor, healthy, fresh air

32. Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
OAA in schools tends to be of relatively low quality. A number of factors contribute to this and subsequently affects a pupil's OAA experience:

33. Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
If staff lack qualifications, experience or motivation, the opportunities for a positive and meaningful experience will be reduced.
Lessons do not allow much time for such activities.
Access to the natural environment is not always easy.
Money and resources are often not available

34. Give some other examples of outdoor recreation.
OAA as Recreation
The key distinguishing features of OAA as a recreational activity are:
Appreciation and respect of the natural environment
A challenge with the natural environment
Sense of adventure and risk
e.g use of hills, lakes and rivers for relaxation and pleasure, not just playing a game of hockey outside.
Give some other examples of outdoor recreation.

35. Other examples of outdoor recreation..

36. Functions of OAA as Outdoor Recreation
Individuals who participate in outdoor recreational activities such as skiing do so for a number of reasons:
To improve health and fitness
For stress release and relaxation
As a personal challenge & to develop self-confidence
To develop an appreciation of the natural environment

37. Test your understanding
Look at the following pictures and categorise each one into either play, physical recreation, sport or outdoor recreation.

38. Quick fire Questions
1. Any activity using the natural environment is called an activity
2. Physical Recreation is the active aspect of
3. Play mainly leads to intrinsic rewards in comparison to sport which involves rewards which are
4. Playing for the school hockey team would be classified as what?
5. To be classed as a sport an activity must have a
6. PE only takes place in what type of institutions?

39. Exam Style Questions. 1. Define the term recreation. (2)
2. Describe the difference between sportsmanship and gamesmanship (3)

40. 3. Explain how you could experience Physical Education, Physical Recreation, Play and Sport as part of a Physical Education Programme.
P.E ………………..
Physical Recreation ……………
Play …………….
Sport …………… (4 Marks)