This brief article outlines some of the challenges that come with teaching Athletics and offers an alternative approach that could be used and adapted for students in KS2 through to KS4. This is detailed more fully in these FREE resources comprising of a sequence of Running lessons with some detailed activity suggestions. The same will be offered for Throwing and Jumping in the next blog.

I am that person who had a negative experience of PE. School PE was for the few who could make the teams. It wasn’t for me. PE philosopher, Scott Kretchmar, says all kids should be encouraged to ‘find their playground’. I believed there was no playground for people like me. I could not relate to any of the posters of high-profile athletes plastered on the walls of my school. I did not enjoy PE lessons, had no way into school games and events, and that spilled into my informal physical play. I believed I just did not possess the skills - never for a minute did I assume I hadn’t been taught them or that someone could be taught them - it was obviously just something to do with ME.

This short blog will discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by the new SHAPE America Standard 4 for Physical Education.