'Grassroots Coaching and Consulting Group', features inspiring teachers from all around the world. Below is the link to the group which features practitioners and researchers from all sports!!! Feel free to join! But, we must remain curious...

https www.facebook.com/groups/147501649318126/about/

Hello fellow learners,

In late September, 2019, an enthusiastic group of PE teachers, sports coaches, academics and parents gathered at Mr. Henderson’s, Sandgate to hear from one of the world’s greatest coaches on putting back in at the ‘coal face’ for kids, Kelvin Giles of ‘Movement Dynamics’. To say that the bloke delivered is an understatement. “I feel like I’ve just been punched in the face…” said one lucky patron.

The great coach was ably supported by Australian Catholic University’s Deputy Head of Exercise Science, Dr. Gert-Jan Pepping and Coach Gunny. All three happily donated their time for free to help ‘fight the good fight’ for young people, plus, attract sponsorship for the incredible, medical service, ‘Heart of Australia’, who care for rural and remote Queensland communities. Scroll to the bottom for ‘Ted Talk’ video featuring Dr. Ralph Gomes.

PE teacher, Mr Shepherd from Southern Cross Catholic College, Scarborough wrote two pages of wonderful notes from which I will gather some absolute gold from Kelvin. Basically, he is begging us to go back to an idea that has worked for Australia in the past, sport and coaching development at the ‘grassroots’ level and a PE curriculum, plus organised sports cultures that doesn’t just focus on competitive games fixtures but movement to the betterment of all.

Gold by Kelvin Giles:

1) “Pre- and post-puberty: 50% of energy is for growth, not winning trophies”

2) Need to have children engaged before the age of 14 otherwise they get “APS – Anti-Perspiration Syndrome”

3) “Jogging is the worst activity ever” - We need warm-up activities tailored to the movements needed for the sport/activity

4) “Whoever came up with ‘Youth Olympic Games’ needs to be shot” - 80% of those who make this stop the sport by the time they are 16. They are burned out either physically or emotionally

5) Any increase in Healthy Young People (physical and mental) means an increase of High Performers. They win (happy and healthy) = Society wins!

6) Develop movement not sports in PE - School PE mostly competitive game based education. We need more Movement based education! Need to focus on: How to do activities and how to improve, not how good we are at doing an activity now. We do games/events because its easier to compare with concrete information eg. Scoring or marking distance/speed/height…

7) Need to focus on the foundations of movement – Movement is King: a) Squat, Lunge, Push, Pull, Brace, Rotate, Hinge, Landing; b) Linear, lateral, rotational

8) Skill acquisition of movement is the key to open the door for any Sport

9) Have to focus on those students below the ‘High Performers’ to push and develop them. Problem: we focus on ability at a chronological age and those who are slow developers are left behind and drop off! We need to focus on developing the skills at whatever level the student is at.

10) Four our young people: Engage early!!! Specialise late…

Kelvin was booked for 50 minutes but in true professional style delivered and answered questions for a full 90 minutes. This meant that I (Coach Gunny) and Associate Professor, Gert-Jan Pepping only needed to set the context and gather the summary!

Of course there was plenty of time prior and after for good food, drink and networking opportunities for those of us who care deeply for our kids’ future…

Congratulations to the three schools who participated in the ‘Cup Challenge’ game: Wavell High, Sandgate High and St. Patrick’s, Shorncliffe. You’re all winners!!!

See you in November?

Yours in learning,

Coach Gunny www.craiggunn.org