EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Linda Lazenby
EDITOR
Yvette Poshoglian
CONTRIBUTORS
Joachim Cohen
Sandy Phillips
DESIGNER
Anh Ha
T4L Kids is created on Gadigal Land.
For more information, visit T4L.link/T4Lkids
Are you a sports nut? Ever wondered about the science behind the sports and athletes you follow? This issue we’re in awe of superstar Madison de Rozario, a gold-medal winning Paralympian and champion wheelchair racer. We loved getting her insight into the training and the tech that powers her to be the best. Be inspired by Madi and take on a sporty tech challenge from this issue. Teachers – we’d love to hear how you go!
Linda
Lazenby Director, Digital Teaching and Learning
Madison de Rozario shares insights into how she trains, races and uses tech to become the best in the world. Turn to pages 4-7 to see how Madi trains to be her best – she also has some great life advice!
Hey teachers! Don’t forget that this issue of T4L Kids comes with comprehensive notes and lesson plans for your classroom – they are mapped to the curriculum.
Let’s hope the Wests Tigers aren’t the NRL woodenspooners in 2023! - Yvette
The Matildas inspire me! We’re hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup this year - go girls! - Sandy
Aussie archers (like me) are excited about the Paris24 Pathways Program to enter the Olympics in 2024. - Anh
" Research your challenge – what do you want to achieve?
" Who is on your team –are you working with a partner, group or class?
There are four challenges in this magazine - use the athletics track below to plan your approach to tackling each challenge!
4 Produce and implement
" Write, design, record, create
" Share and publish your creations!
Get feedback at every stage - run your ideas past other groups, teachers and your friends!
" Identify what your goal is for the task – what are you going to create or demonstrate?
" Define what tasks you need to achieve to get to the endpoint of your challenge
" Share your draft ideas, podcasts, websites or designs with your class or other groups
" Trial different tech tools and evaluate which tools are best for your challenge and what you want to achieve
T4L Kids recently met with gold medal winning wheelchair racer Madison de Rozario. We chatted with Madi about how she approaches the track, how her training and tech powers her racing, and her big plans for 2023.
At just 29, Madi is already a legend in Australian sports, having won Paralympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, Commonwealth gold in Birmingham in 2022 and smashing World Championships in wheelchair racing and wheelchair marathons over the years. Madi is from Perth and began racing when she was 12.
Madi was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to sport in 2022
Madi was named Athlete of the Year in the Women’s Health Australian Women in Sport Awards in 2022
Madi’s coach is champion wheelchair racer Louise Sauvage
Mattel created a Madi ‘Shero’ Barbie!
Madi works in tandem with the high-powered technology of her race chair to reach her top speeds and keep her endurance powered up for longer periods of time on the track and on the road.
Her approach to racing is simple – it’s to be the best she can be. For Madi, her competitors melt away at the start of a race.
How many times do you race a year?
I race anywhere from 4-7 marathons a year. Generally, there are two international race meets a year, in Switzerland.
How do you train for two different sports?
In terms of physical training, I stay in marathon training for most of the year. As we get closer to a track meet, I start to sharpen up, bring the kilometres back down, keep a little bit of the distance in there. We flip the ratio of speed sessions to endurance sessions. It’s tricky if you have to race in the same week, like the Tokyo Olympics.
How do you approach each race?
I don’t line up to the woman next to me and want to beat her – I want to give the best possible performance that I can, physically, mentally and emotionally.
How do you improve your performance?
At every level in sport, find little things you can improve – they’re the things that add together.
your advice on how to be the best?
Choosing to do the things you want to do is paramount. Opting in every single day is a choice. Work out your ‘why’! In any industry or sport, if you want to go incredibly far, you’re going to have to make a lot of choices and a lot of sacrifices.
I want to be a person that has a backup after racing, and that has an education.
Madi”s 2023 plans
World Para Athletic Championships in Paris in July
Adjustment with my new race chair (can take anywhere between 3 weeks and 3 months)
Full calendar year of marathons
Trialing new equipment and strategies before the Paris Paralympics in 2024
Turn over for a look at how Madi races on the track and how tech supports her to be her best.
Wheelchair racing is divided into different classifications so that there is fair competition among athletes
In T53/T54 competitions, athletes compete with spinal cord injuries. They generally have normal upper limb/arm function but no abdominal or lower spine muscle activity
Madi competes in the T53 classification in the T53/54 race events
Her events include the T53/T54 1500m wheelchair race as well as the Women’s T53/T54 marathon
first axle past the finish line is the winner
Madi is being fitted for a new race chair for her 2023 racing calendar! Race chairs are 100% custom-built for the racer. Madi”s is being built in partnership with F1 racing team, Sauber. Body measurements are scanned and 3D moulds are taken to get the perfect fit and optimum speed for Madi. Race chairs are tested for aerodynamics using tunnel testing with smoke. 3
tubing fork
power phase
Frames can be aluminium, carbon-fibre or hybrid
wheelchair racers reach high speeds –helmets are essential
6
9
The straps which keep racers in their chairs are made with pressure mapping to keep racers stable
rubber-coated 3D-printed gloves made by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)
pushrim – riders push this rubber coated ring to propel momentum
momentum phase
Race chairs can cost up to $40,000 – including chair and wheels
Madi uses the ‘clockface” method to push
3-6 is the power phase
6-9 is the momentum phase
“I can take a long time to get to speed but I can hold a high speed once I get there. A big part of race chair positioning is based on what events you choose and how you push.’
Want to improve your fitness, refine your sports skills or achieve a personal best? Work towards improving your times by recording your performance and charting your progress. Challenge yourself or challenge your whole class!
What you will need: stopwatch or stopwatch app measurement device someone to record your stats!
Marginal gains - this is a method athletes use to improve their progress, one tiny bit at a time.
‘Higher,
better, faster, stronger’ - did you know that this is the Olympic motto?
‘You have to enjoy the journey. That’s the best part of playing.’
- Ash Barty
Together with a friend, team, or group, brainstorm what area of improvement you want to focus on. You could aim to:
" improve your daily/weekly step count for overall fitness improvement
" practice throwing or hitting a ball harder, faster or further
" improve your long-distance running or short-distance sprinting
" refine your technique – video record your netball passes, high-jump attempts, or tennis serves
" get a partner to record your times or capture your stats while you practice
" record yourself training and watch back to see how you could improve your technique for better performance
" have you set small goals for marginal gains?
" do you have a new PB (personal best) you are working towards?
Time to look at your amazing progress either in your stats or in videos analysing your technique!
" Chart your data using Excel, Sheets, Numbers or even Canva pie charts or bar charts and see where you’ve improved or where there is room for improvement.
" Did you have a particular goal in mind? Did you meet it or even exceed it?
" get your steps up
" practice goal-shooting
" track strength training
" record yourself training
How are you going to capture your progress or record and chart your performances?
You could use:
" stopwatch or stopwatch app on your phone
" measurement tool like a tape measure or an app on your device
" a partner!
" What’s your next goal?
Are you an esports player?
Could you create a club at your school? Try one of the new immersive maker worlds in Minecraft Education and work together to create, collaborate, or even battle!
Set up a club or a tournament using one of the pre-made worlds in Minecraft Education (chat with your teacher) Brainstorm your tournament!
» where will you hold it?
» what will the criteria be?
» Who will be the judge?
Australia’s top esports player has earned more than $6 million!
Esports is just like every other sport, but it sits on a new electronic platform. Minecraft challenges are just one type of esport challenge.
Explore some of the new maker worlds in Minecraft Education
Select an arena or challenge space to use
Agree on your challenge and criteria
Prepare posters, competition entry forms and start to promote your tournament
Allocate jobs such as scorer or statistician
Step 3
Run a dress rehearsal before the tournament
Reflect, evaluate and consider how you could improve for next time
There are hundreds of millions of viewers of esports globally. Teachers! Check out the Club Starter Kit and Educator Framework!
Are you a creative thinker on AND off the pitch? Have you ever imagined what netball would be like crossed with badminton? Handball crossed with goalball? The mind boggles! Together with a partner or team, could you create an entirely new sport, playing field or stadium - and how will it be played?
Hint - it could be in 2D, 3D or virtually! Mix
" How will your game be played – is it physical or virtual?
" Is it an individual or team sport?
" What are the game guidelines and rules?
" Do you need equipment to play?
" Would you need a field or stadium to play in?
" Could you prototype your game using an app framework?
" How will you get your game or esport up and running?
" How will you promote your game or tournament?
" What prizes could you offer?
Sport is constantly evolving! Three new sports will debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics: surfing / skateboarding / sport climbing
You’ll be able to check them out at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Could your game be developed into an app? Try this!
Do you love the thrill of watching live sport or your favourite team play? Could you call a game like a commentator or write a report on the match or event? Could you capture compelling photos or video to complete the picture? Take the challenge and give sports journalism a go!
Sports reporting jobs
TV/radio/print/online sports journalist
sports commentator
sports cameraperson
sports photographer
sports podcaster
With friends or your class, explore a sporting match or event that’s coming up at your school this term. You could even profile a team! Who will write the article? Who will take the photos or video footage?
Cover a swimming, athletics or cross-country carnival for your school newspaper or podcast
Interview or profile a sportsperson or team at your school
Cover PSSA or a tournament at your school
Did you know that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) identifies chess as a sport? It’s a tournament of the minds!
Sydney student Abbie is doing it HER WAY! Abbie started her own sports magazine (now blog) by interviewing superstars of Australian women’s sport. Armed with questions, her mobile and a microphone attachment, Abbie has had some incredible scoops, while continuing to champion our womens’ sports stars. Listen to her podcast and be sure to check out her website!
Step 2 What role will you play? What are you making? Who is your audience?
Sports reporter or journalist (TV/radio/ print/online)
Gather information by talking to sports people and researching events and news stories. Sports reports begin with the most important information about the match or tournament first. You could then follow it up with information like quotes, photos or other details.
Sports photographers and filmmakers
Sports podcasters
Create a list of shots you want to capture before you head out on the grounds – do you want to capture sports people, umpires or referees, coaches or spectators – or everyone?
What’s your angle? Are you creating a one-on-one interview or will it be an audio recording of a sports report you have written? Do you have recording equipment on your phone? How will you create your podcast? Who is the audience and what are you covering?
Want to brush up on your writing, podcasting or filmmaking skills? Don’t forget to try the following step-by-step tools for ideas!
You don’t have to be a sporting superstar to have a career in sports. Who designs the stadiums and parks? Who designs the team uniforms? And will physical sports look even more like esports in the future?
Urban planners dream up and imagine life for athletes at the Olympics and Paralympics. The next Australian Olympics and Paralympics will be held in Brisbane in 2032. Could you design an Olympic Village in Minecraft that that houses, feeds, trains and gets athletes to their events?
Design the new Australian Olympic Stadium!
Have you ever used a health app to track your steps, track your bike ride – or even monitor your cardio/heart rate? Have you got a great idea to help improve your own pace of walking or even create a class step challenge? Prototype an app to improve everyone’s health and wellbeing!
Read the app protoyping edition of T4L Kids!
Australian sports teams, including the Olympics teams all have custom uniforms designed by fashion designers and clothing engineers to ensure that the design represents the club or team. Materials are particularly important – to help athletes perform at their best.
Design a new jersey for your school sports team!
