Zelda Varela, the Crawford Preparatory Fourways sports coordinator, writes:
Can you remember that elated feeling of being part of a team, or maybe not making the A- team and then being so determined that you put in the extra hard work to improve to be selected? Can you remember being forced to run around the field five times, doing push-ups for days on end, because you thought the physical education teacher disliked children and was trying to make you suffer?
Whether you have good or bad memories related to sport or any physical activity, one thing is for sure, that physical activity promotes not only your health but instils good personal attributes required throughout life.
Team sports boost self-confidence and self-esteem. Being part of a team helps children to find a sense of belonging. It teaches acceptable ways to interact with others and how to be considerate and respectful of teammates. Physical activity promotes agility and coordination. It supports healthy growth of muscles and bones, which is critical in schooling years while children are still growing and can help to reduce stress and anxiety levels, especially with the highly pressurised society that we find ourselves living in.
At Crawford Fourways, we have the most passionate team involved in promoting both cultural and sport extra murals. We boast qualified external coaches, supplied by a coaching company that assesses the performance of the coaches as well as the progress of the students and teams that they coach. Together the coaches and teachers work hard to ensure every child enjoys sport and gets the needed ‘physical play time’.
The five core skills that form part of all Crawford teaching methodologies in every subject and grade are also prevalent in our sports programme. The five core skills are: research skills, social skills, thinking skills, communication skills and self-management skills.
Through participation in sport and teaching the five different core skills children gain the following qualities:
- Social and communication skills: sport teaches acceptable ways to interact with others and how to be considerate and respectful of teammates.
- Thinking skills: In a team sports situation, children learn to think and perform under pressure, critical basic thinking skills are promoted, which in turn can help in coping with everyday life. (For more information on this, visit www.thinkingforsuccess.com/cognition-sports.html)
- Self-management and research skills: Be on time for practice and matches. Remember sports clothes and equipment needed for a sport. Children build self-confidence by participating and feeling good about themselves and their achievements. Physical activity helps children set goals for themselves which leads to learning how to deal with failure and success and to have a positive attitude no matter what the outcome of an event.
Details: www.crawfordschools.co.za
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