The Death of School Sport and the Acid Test of COVID-19 for Physical Education

After many conversations and thoughts on the topic, I have two main observations regarding physical education and school sport in the wake of social distancing. These thoughts are borne out of the changes that have uprooted so many aspects of what we considered to be day to day life.

The Death of School Sport?

Don’t get me wrong, I love sport, I loved sport at school and I love competitive sport. I think they have their place and can be a great tool for the development of character and our moral compass. I am not suggesting with my provocative title this should be the unequivocal end of school sport. It can help us forge deep relationships, meaningful experiences and making lasting impactful memories. But let’s not be myopic. It’s not for everyone, and it’s not everything. I know no one is saying it is, but I wonder how long we will continue to allow sport to be the standard bearer of physical activity in the school setting. We continue to grasp at sport based models because it’s what we know. It’s what we’ve always done. But is sport the best vehicle for how to physically educate our pupils during these challenging times? Has it been fit for purpose for a long time?

I wonder if this time will be a catalyst for change? Or how quickly will we forget and ignore lessons learned as the steam train of ‘tradition’ builds its momentum once again?

I don’t suppose anyone ever thought the rug would be pulled from under us in such a way, but at the moment many sports coaches and PE teachers seem to be treading water. We are waiting for normality to return and many are doubling down on our planning for ‘next year’, but what if some things change forever? Who’s planning for that?

This feels like a huge opportunity. Not that government guidance has ever been the pinnacle of how to lead one’s life, but the importance of physically activity merits inclusion in a very select list of criteria on how we can spend our time during social distancing. It's generalised of course, and a unique set of circumstances, but no mention of sport, just exercise for health. That was important enough to keep.

I say we use this time where we have all probably reflected on the role of physical activity and sport in our life as an opportunity. Sport will return. But will it and should it be the monkey or the organ grinder, as far as when physical education and physical development is concerned? Sport should stay, but I don’t think as it currently is.

Physical Education

My mission statement for PE:

To empower those I work with, with the knowledge, skills and confidence to remain physically active/look after themselves (physically) for the rest of their lives.

I want to put myself out of a job.

As I look around I have to ask, have we failed and are we failing? For those we are about to let out into the big wide world, what’s their engagement like? I get it, they have a lot going on, but are we and am I confident they have the knowledge, skills and confidence to achieve the above?
It may be my skepticism and cynicism, but I’d say for the majority, sadly no. I’m not sure many are looking at it this way, but this has been a litmus test. We continue to fall short, we’re missing the mark and we need change.

So what next?

This feels bleak, but it doesn’t need to be. This is an opportunity. Let’s use this time for reflection to elevate the importance of physical education above lip service and one liners. Time to stop playing second fiddle to academia. We are all embodied beings on different paths, but we only get one body. We need to get it right the first time. We need to remember sport isn’t the panacea, and it won’t ever be, but that doesn’t mean it has to die.