Teaching Physical Education
- Career Opportunities
Claudette S. Jones
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One of the most fulfilling careers an individual could be engaged in
is teaching physical education. No matter what level you are at, the personal
satisfaction is the same.
Traditional careers in physical education have focused on teaching and
coaching in schools, colleges and universities. In today’s setting,
teaching and coaching continues in non-school settings, for example in
community centres, vocational centres and other like institutions. As
the interest in sport and fitness has grown over they years, other career
opportunities have begun opening up, for example working in health clubs,
corporate fitness centres and centres for the elderly. Increased specialisation
within the field of physical education and sport has also contributed
to the creation of additional career opportunities.
The last thirty years have seen the proliferation of a number of varied
and unique career opportunities for students today. This has come about
because of increased attention to health, fitness, leisure, rehabilitation
and therapy. The increased interest in competitive sports by all sectors
of the population (world-wide), has forced the development of career opportunities
in coaching at all levels, sport management, officiating and athletic
training. This increase in competition requires a cadre of specially trained
individuals to fill the positions that are being created. The development
of sub-disciplines like biomechanics, clinical exercise physiology, sport
psychology and adapted physical education, offer new career opportunities
for students.
The growth in the knowledge base, combined with the increasing need to
provide services to diverse populations, have created many new career
opportunities to college students and other professionals. The growth
of academic disciplines has led to emerging multidimensional opportunities
for college students. The basic qualification for entry into the field
of physical education and related areas is a Bachelors degree, which can
be gained from four year colleges and universities (Canada, United States,
United Kingdom, Australia). In the Caribbean islands and other developing
countries, the initial qualification is a Diploma, followed by Undergraduate
then Graduate studies (usually outside of the native country). The demand
for qualified practitioners in the allied areas is not as great in the
Caribbean and developing countries as it is in the United States and Canada
and so on. However, due to the fact that sport is now seen as big business,
small countries are responding to the emerging demands and so it has now
become necessary for students to engage in graduate and post-graduate
programs. Depending on the specialisation chosen and the institution being
attended, this will determine the content of the courses leading to the
chosen area of specialisation.
Today, a degree in physical education or any of the myriad allied programs
of study will lead to career opportunities in the following:
- Athletic Director
- Adapted Physical Education
- Biomechanics
- Coaching
- Exercise Physiology
- Physical training
- Physiotherapy
- Sports Administration
- Sports Psychology
- Sports Sociology
- Teaching
- Sports Management.
There are also opportunities in:
- Health Promotion and Wellness
- Sports Medicine
- Leisure and Recreation Services
- Nutritional Services.
Many of the career choices require completion of an advanced degree,
which involves a broad base of knowledge relative to the discipline, and
a practicum experience or internship or fieldwork. These are seen as vital
to career preparation. You can also enhance your professional credentials
with certification offered through the college or university or via outside
agencies, for example, the Royal Life Saving Society, the Red Cross, Heart
Foundation and so on. Certification can also be gained in specific sport
areas like golf and scuba diving, and through professional organisations
like aerobic and fitness associations as well as in sports officiating.
A career in physical education and sport is an investment in ones future.
Having a strong academic base and the requisite professional qualification
will increase the chances of employment and eligibility for advancement.
It is also important to realise that there are challenges within the field,
most of which are common world-wide. The following are some challenges:
- Dispelling the continued negative perceptions of
the subject held by the general public, administrators, parents, students
and others
- The removal of the subject from the curriculum of
some schools due to budget cuts
- Insufficient financial support to adequately provide
resources
- Inadequate physical facilities
- Large classes
- Classes being placed at inappropriate times on the
time table, for example first session in the morning
- Physical education teachers not being excellent
role models
- Schools offering physical education to Grades 7-9
for example in Jamaica
- Unwillingness of administrators to adequately remunerate
physical education teachers for work done outside of school hours (extra
curricular activities)
- Saturation in the job market resulting in inability
to find jobs (low turn over)
- Young graduates’ lack of work experience that
inhibit their ability to get certain jobs
- Young graduates’ impatience with working their
way up the ladder
- The lack of job opportunities in some of the emerging
careers, for example, sport psychology, sport marketing etc.
- Physical education teachers planning and delivering
quality, meaningful and fun-filled activities to satisfy the diverse
needs of their students.
The following are some recommendations for students, administrators,
teachers and interested persons that may provide an avenue for discussion
or ideas that could be implemented to enhance quality delivery.
- Practitioners must have a love for the subject,
which will result in maximum effort being expended in all aspects of
teaching, learning and practice
- Practitioners must have a passion that will ignite
and enfold others through their behaviors, attitudes and professionalism
- Governments and institutions of learning world-wide
give the status and recognition to the subject that it deserves
- Practitioners must be willing to change, try new
approaches, share best practices and excite their students through their
knowledge and experiences
- School administrators should give equal time to
physical education classes, similar to that given to other subjects,
bearing in mind the benefits to be derived for students, teachers, administrators
and the community as a whole
- Physical education teachers must become more proactive
thus leading the charge for change
- Colleges, universities and related organisations
should keep a registry of job opportunities available to inform graduate
students of available positions
- Organisations offering certification in certain
areas should be monitored to ensure that they are reputable.
Teaching physical education at any level is challenging. However, the
experiences to be gained are priceless, as it challenges ones intellectual
capabilities, provides opportunities for membership in professional organisations,
as well as opportunities to travel and attend international and national
conferences. Attendance at such events can result in establishment of
new relationships with individuals from different countries, which can
lead to lifelong friendships. It can also lead to future collaborations
and exchanges of ideas between colleagues and students. Finally, a career
in physical education offers the practitioner the opportunity to engage
in activities that will influence both children and adults to engage in
a variety of activities geared towards healthy lifestyles.
References
Wuest, D.A and Bucher, C.A (1999). Foundations of Physical Education
and Sport, 13th Edition, McGraw-Hill.
Wuest, D.A and Bucher, C.A (2002). Foundations of
Physical Education, Exercise Science, and Sport, 14th Edition, McGraw-Hill.
Contact
Claudette S. Jones,
Church Teachers' College, Mandeville
Mandeville, Jamaica

http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5
Teaching Physical Education
- Career Opportunities
Claudette S. Jones
|