REDUCING INACTIVITY, ATHLETE-CENTRED PEDAGOGY AND ENGAGING WITH THE EDUCATION SECTOR By Dr Mitch Hewitt It is perhaps both timely and fortuitous, given recent events, that I have been provided with the opportunity to contribute to the conversation surrounding the topic of this edition of Coaching Life themed around “Future”.
I present these reflections as question marks (?) as opposed to exclamation marks (!) designed to provoke thought in relation to our profession as coaches and our obligation that extends beyond merely teaching techniques and tactics.
Some recent academic publications, work projects and attendance at a conference in November this year combined to stimulate some thought in relation to future considerations and directions in our coaching lives – and in my particular discipline – tennis coaching.
Reducing inactivity and the role of coaches The recent conference I attended in Adelaide was the Movement to Move: Global Insights to Get our Kids Moving. This inaugural gathering provided the opportunity to launch the 2018 Active Healthy Kids Australia (AHKA) Australian Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth People in addition to the ‘Global Matrix 3.0 which presented the Physical Activity Report Card for Children and Youth from 49 countries attached to the Active and Healthy Kids Alliance. The results from the Australian Report Card revealed that Australian children were not achieving acceptable physical activity levels.
This was demonstrated with an overall grade of D-, which tied Australia in 32nd place from 49 countries. Best practice success stories, innovation and the thoughts of highly credentialed individuals were revealed and discussed, all with the intention of encouraging a movement designed to promote children and youth across the globe to move more and sit less. Professor Fiona Bull from the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified a ‘whole of society’ and cross-sector collaboration to address the challenge of inactivity.
One of these sectors comprised National Sporting Organisations which include coaches. Coaches develop active individuals and provide programmes and associated opportunities for activity.
Do we (coaches) necessarily view our profession contributing to the global movement of reducing inactivity as we develop athletes and players of all ages and abilities to play sport? Well, we need to in the future.
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