Equipped for lifelong fitness
Image courtesy of AlphaFit
By Rosie Clarke, Editor
School fitness facilities offer a social, motivational way to equip students with lifelong active habits. They can extend existing school fitness programs, complement sports development at your school, and help create a fitness culture among students and staff. Over the last couple of decades, schools have been trying to reverse climbing rates of childhood obesity with educational interventions. A ground-breaking 2020 study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that 25 percent of Australian children
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and adolescents aged 2 to 17 were overweight or obese in 2017 to 2018. Obesity in children in the lowest socio-economic areas is more than twice as high than the highest socioeconomic areas and there has been a marked increase in obesity rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adolescents since 2012. The study also found that obesity rates increase with age, and that younger children are more likely to move between categories. Obesity rates among children and adolescents is a big concern for schools, and not because of the direct health concerns associated with obesity, but because of bullying and self-esteem issues that can significantly impact learning outcomes.
Upgrading or building a new fitness centre is one popular way to invest in your sports culture as well as student health and wellbeing. It helps cultivate cohort-building as students can socialise, train, and work on their fitness at their own pace.
Fitness facility design must-dos •
Location and environment must be suitable for activities including size, lighting, and ventilation.
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Ensure health and safety procedures are met for height, pathways, apparatus set up, and student numbers.
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Appropriate clothing must be used for all
SPORTS & RECREATION
equipment and activities. •
Equipment must be suitable for student ability, size and strength.
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Invest in safe, industrystandard equipment.
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Hygiene considerations: use paper towels, antiseptic spray and wipes, hand sanitiser, etc.
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Provide an area for water fountains or drink breaks.
5 essentials to complement your fitness centre guaranteed to get students moving: 1.
Balls, balls, and more balls: schools should have a range of balls for students to improve their motor skills from bouncy and Term 4, 2022 | school-news.com.au
