School is an ideal setting where physical activity can be promoted among teenage students. School-based interventions to increase physical activity show improvements in student awareness, concentration, memory and classroom behaviour. School-based physical activity programs benefit communities as well as students and schools. - Provide sport competitions between and/or within schools for students who enjoy sport and physical activity;
PDHPE classes and organised sport not only provide an opportunity for teenagers to learn how to adopt and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle, but also help teenagers meet daily recommendations for physical activity in a fun, familiar and supportive environment.
Strategies for Schools1. Quality Physical Education
- Provide quality physical education to students on the benefits of physical activity and encourage them to be physically active through creating fun and engaging PDHPE and sport lessons.
2. Daily Recess Period - Have policies that provide time for free play (eg. during recess and lunch);
- Provide at least 20 minutes of recess per day, in addition to physical education classes.
3. Activity Breaks Throughout the Day
- Have policies that provide time for organised physical activity (eg. offer physical activity opportunities before, during and after school; provide students with a choice of activities like walking, running, dancing, cycling, etc.; offer students of all skill levels an equal chance to participate).4. Intramural sports (recreational sports provided within an educational institution)
- Offer every student an equal opportunity to participate in a sport/physical activity regardless of their ability/skill level;
- Provide sport lessons where lifetime physical activities like walking, running, hiking and swimming are incorporated.5. Interscholastic sports
- Provide friendly sporting games between and/orwithinschools for students who do not want to play competitively.
6. Walk- and bike-to-school programs
- Encourage active transport, such as cycling or walking to school. This can be done through 'Walk to School Week' programs;
- Encourage stay-at-home parents to participate in active programs such as walk to school groups. (Information on the ‘Walking School Buses’ program can be found at www.travelsmart.gov.au);- Advocate with local councils to create safer routes to school and provide access to secure public bike racks at train stations and outside schools.
7. Staff wellness and involvement
- Encourage staff to be active as school staff and school leadership are often role models for students;
- Enhance the skills and confidence of teachers who deliver the sport curriculum within schools.
8. Family and Community participation
- Provide information to parents about the benefits of physical activity and how they might help their adolescent become more physically active. Information about physical activity programs at school and in the community can be provided to parents in different formats such as flyers, newsletters, emails, Internet, messages sent home and at school events such as information nights;
- Include families and community members on the school health advisory council, or P&F;
- Provide opportunities for families and students to participate in physical activities together. This could be through family homework assignments, activity newsletters, or family nights;
- Provide physical activity programs or workshops to students, families and school staff. Schools can work with community organisations to allow public use of school halls/gyms and playing fields after school hours and on weekend;
- Encourage families and local community groups to be involved in school-based physical activities and events including athletics and swimming carnivals
