Recreational Sport Programs in the Elementary School

The junior high and middle schools provide a setting where many students develop a keen interest in sport. This is a time of limitless energy, physiological change, and immense psychosocial challenge, A full concentration of challenging recreational sport activities should be made available for all those who are not involved in seasonal interscholastic competition. In fact, many professional groups favor recreational sport programs at this level and are opposed to high degrees or competition. Activities conducted after school (sec the box on p. 107) should provide the student with the opportunity to develop skills, gain self-confidence, have fun, socialize, gain recognition, develop self-worth, and break down cliques as well as racial and gender stereotypes.

The program should be well structured, properly supervised and managed by the school's physical education teachers, and "student-run." Challenges by homeroom, grade, neighborhood, academic interest area, or school club are often used as motivators for maximal student participation. Weekends, lunch hours, and special event days featuring faculty challenges should not be overlooked as a means of build-ing school pride, as well as healthful, whole some, physically active lifestyles which, it is hoped, will carry over into adulthood. The program should also be "open" to all students with any type of special need regardless of disability or physical limitation, and provision should be made for "inclusion versus exclusion."