In The Game

The major goal of an In The Game program is to get primary school children to be more active, more often. Everyone is aware of the growing rate of childhood obesity in Australia, and the need to get to get kids to be more physically active. At In The Game we aim to provide a cost-effective and convenient way for schools to increase the level of physical activity for their students. We are also trying to increase the enjoyment of physical activity for the participating students.

The aim of In The Game is not simply to have the students participating in physical activity during their weekly sessions at school, but also to give them the confidence and enthusiasm to be more physically active in their own time. We are trying to encourage a generation of Australians who realise the benefits of leading an active lifestyle, while also possessing the skills to ensure that they are able to continue to enjoy taking part in physical activities throughout their entire life.

It’s our belief that every primary school student should have the ability to perform fundamental physical skills as they grow up. It would be nice to think that all Australian kids are able to throw and catch a ball, do 20 sit-ups, control a soccer ball with their feet, perform different movements with ease, or simply bounce a basketball up and down to themselves with confidence. Unfortunately however, there are many primary school children who struggle with all of these skills and more. We’re trying to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn, practice and develop these skills so that they will experience the confidence and enjoyment that comes with having the ability to successfully take part in physical activity and games.

The program does not however, cater only for the students who experience difficulty is performing physical tasks. Each activity and session are designed to ensure that there is maximum participation and enjoyment from students with all levels of ability. By modifying our activities or games we can be sure that students who are just learning and practicing a new skill are able to do so at their own level while the more gifted students are still appropriately challenged. We are conscious of making sure that, regardless of their skill level, every student is able to take part in a fun and challenging activities each time they attend an In The Game session.

Assisting primary school children to improve their physical capabilities is definitely one of the major goals of our programs at In The Game. We recognise that students, who have confidence in their ability to perform the skills necessary to take part in physical activities and games, will most likely be more motivated and enthusiastic about continuing to lead an active lifestyle. If, through the learning, practice and development of their physical skills, we can encourage Australian kids to become more active, then we are well on our way to achieving one of In The Game’s major goals.

An extremely important element of In The Game, is the teaching and development of positive emotional skills, or life skills, to the students through their participation. These skills include such things as working as part of a team, participation, enjoyment, co-operation, good sportsmanship and dealing with success and defeat. Along with the aim of getting primary school children to be active more often, the development of these life skills for the participating students is the major goal of the In The Game program.

Throughout In The Game sessions, the issue of improving life skills is something that the students are constantly aware of, not simply something that is touched on once or twice a term. There are countless opportunities throughout every session for either the whole class or just one or two individuals to receive a quick lesson in life skills. This may include something as simple as getting them to participate when they don’t feel like they want to, or it may be in regards to their treatment or attitude towards another student – be it in their own team or the opposition.

The students are taught to realise that these skills should not only be on display throughout their participation at In The Game, but in all areas of their life. This is the reason that there is such a great benefit in using In The Game to teach these skills. There is a direct correlation between the students learning the skills through whatever means – in this case taking part in physical activities and games - and then transferring them over to other aspects of their life, from social and academic areas to career and relationships.

At In The Game we recognise the importance of teaching the students about developing their life skills, and that’s why it’s such a big focus throughout our program. As well as our goal of improving the physical capabilities of the students who take part, we are equally committed to assisting the students, to develop the emotional skills that are so relevant to achieving success in any area of life.