SportsCan Skinny: Variety in children’s athletic activities key to building Physical Literacy

By SportsCan, Ottawa’s LTAD Leaders

We have all heard the term literacy and it is usually referring to school and the core subjects of math and English. We never hear that word used in sports but… all great athletes, and weekend jocks all have literacy, PHYSICAL LITERACY.

Physical literacy is the development of fundamental movement skills and fundamental sport skills that permit a child to move confidently and with control, in a wide range of physical activities, rhythmic and sport situations. Physical literacy also includes the ability to “read” what is going on around them in an activity setting and react appropriately to those events.

Much like learning the alphabet and phonics are the fundamental skills needed to eventually read Shakespeare, or, identifying numbers and learning to add and subtract are the fundamental skills needed to eventually balance a cheque-book, the development of fundamental movement skills, and fundamental sport skills, is critical if children are to feel confident when they engage in physical activity for fun and for health, or for competition and the pursuit of excellence.

For full physical literacy, children should learn fundamental movement skills and fundamental sport skills in each of the four basic environments before the age of 12:

• On the ground – as the basis for most games, sports, dance and physical activities
• In the water – as the basis for all aquatic activities
• On snow and ice – as the basis for all winter sliding activities
• In the air – basis for gymnastics, diving and other aerial activities

Fundamental movement skills are the basis of all athletic movement and sport skills. Learning to run, jump, catch, throw, strike, kick, hop, skip, swim, skate, ski, balance, bike, and trap are so important both for elite athletes to life-long healthy adults.

The child has a window to develop these basic skills just as they do with reading and numeracy. A child who misses out on developing physical literacy is at a great disadvantage. On the playground and in the park, children really like to play with other children who have the same level of skill as they do, and who can “keep the game going”, and, if you can’t keep the game going, you won’t generally be asked to join in.

Missing out on fundamental movement skills also means that the child is unlikely to choose to take part in a formal sport activity that requires proficiency in that skill, and this restricts their choice of life-long health-promoting activities.

~~~~~~~~~ Advertisement ~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~ Advertisement ~~~~~~~~~

It also restricts their opportunities for sporting excellence. Being unable to perform even a single fundamental movement skill can seriously hamper later opportunities for recreational or competitive activity.

It is imperative that the child becomes an athlete first, then moves to specialize in two or three of the sports they prefer after the development of their athletic skills and basic sport skills in a variety of sports. Becoming a hockey player at the age of 5 – where the child only does hockey – has a negative long-term effect. By the time they reach the age of 16/17, they become tired or bored of the sport, or because of the imbalanced training, start to experience overuse injuries.

Every child should participate in multiple sports and participate in free play as much as possible from the ages of 0-12. This will give them the basis for whatever athletic activity they want to participate in.

Physical literacy gives children the tools they need to take part in physical activity and sport, both for healthy life-long enjoyment and for sporting success.

Ottawa’s Long-Term Athlete Development Leaders for Over 10 Years, SportsCan helps piece together your athletic success – from nutrition to strength & conditioning, to mental training, to video analysis programs. Learn more at sportscan.ca