George Graham, Ph.D.George Graham, Ph.D.The Department of KinesiologyThe Department of KinesiologyPennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University

Contemporary Purpose of Contemporary Purpose of K-12 Physical EducationK-12 Physical Education

Guiding youngsters in Guiding youngsters in

the process of becoming the process of becoming

physically active and physically active and

healthy for a lifetimehealthy for a lifetime

Golf as a Physical Activity inGolf as a Physical Activity inK-12 Physical EducationK-12 Physical Education

• Sport for a lifetimeSport for a lifetime

• Equally appealing to boys and girlsEqually appealing to boys and girls

• Body size is not a factorBody size is not a factor

• Great way to make new friendsGreat way to make new friends

• Emphasizes positive character values Emphasizes positive character values

• Good physical exerciseGood physical exercise– Riding a cart is superior toRiding a cart is superior to

riding a couchriding a couch

– 10,000 steps or more if you walk10,000 steps or more if you walk

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Emergence of a The Emergence of a Sedentary SocietySedentary Society

• AutomobileAutomobile

• TelevisionTelevision

• ComputersComputers

• Convenience Convenience EngineeringEngineering

• Built EnvironmentBuilt Environment

• Human NatureHuman Nature

Obesity is one of the greatest Obesity is one of the greatest health challenges of our timehealth challenges of our time

Percentage of young people who are obese

*Data for 1966-70 are based on adolescents ages 12-17.

• Obesity rates increased by Obesity rates increased by 74% between 1991 and 2001.74% between 1991 and 2001.

• Obesity rates have Obesity rates have doubled in children and doubled in children and tripled in adolescents tripled in adolescents over the last two over the last two decades.decades. One in seven One in seven young people are obese and young people are obese and one in three are overweight.one in three are overweight.

Source: National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA)Source: National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA)

K-12 School DemographicsK-12 School Demographics

• 53 million kids attend school 53 million kids attend school every day in the United Statesevery day in the United States

• Approximately 200,000 K-12 Approximately 200,000 K-12 physical education teachers in physical education teachers in the United Statesthe United States

• Virtually all youngsters have Virtually all youngsters have some physical education in some physical education in their schoolingtheir schooling

Is Golf in the K-12 Physical Is Golf in the K-12 Physical Education Curriculum Today?Education Curriculum Today?• Who is including golf in their Who is including golf in their

curriculum?curriculum?

• Why are they including it in their Why are they including it in their curriculum?curriculum?

• What might be done to increase golf in What might be done to increase golf in K-12 curriculums?K-12 curriculums?

Survey of K-12 PhysicalSurvey of K-12 PhysicalEducation TeachersEducation Teachers• Survey was posted on PE Central (most popular web site for physical Survey was posted on PE Central (most popular web site for physical

educators ineducators inthe world)the world)

• Survey was available from August 1Survey was available from August 1through September 5, 2003through September 5, 2003

• Only allowed to enter onceOnly allowed to enter once

• Goal was to have 1,000 responsesGoal was to have 1,000 responses

Survey Description (cont.)Survey Description (cont.)

• 2,445 responses from 2,445 responses from 49 states and 8 49 states and 8 Canadian provincesCanadian provinces

• 79.6% full-time K-12 79.6% full-time K-12 teachersteachers– 37% male37% male– 63% female63% female

School golf programs...School golf programs...

• 70.0% Traditional clubs70.0% Traditional clubs

• 68.5% plastic or68.5% plastic orwhiffle ballswhiffle balls

• 79.4% were self-designed 79.4% were self-designed lessonslessons

One of the biggest obstacles to One of the biggest obstacles to teaching golf is safety…teaching golf is safety…

Strongly AgreeStrongly Agree 25.6%25.6% 625625AgreeAgree 35.9%35.9% 878878No OpinionNo Opinion 10.2%10.2% 249249DisagreeDisagree 23.3%23.3% 570570Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree 2.5% 2.5% 6262

0 20 40 60 80

Agree No Opinion Disagree

25.8 %

10.2 %

61.5 %

SafetyConcerns

Cost of equipment is a major Cost of equipment is a major obstacle to teaching golf…obstacle to teaching golf…

0 20 40 60 80 100

Agree No Opinion Disagree

Strongly Agree Strongly Agree 45.3%45.3% 11081108

AgreeAgree 36.3%36.3% 888 888

No OpinionNo Opinion 4.6% 4.6% 112 112

DisagreeDisagree 9.7% 9.7% 238 238

Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree 1.5% 1.5% 36 36

11.2 %

4.6 %

81.6 %

CostConcerns

Golf embodies positive values Golf embodies positive values that benefit children…that benefit children…

0 20 40 60 80 100

Agree No Opinion Disagree

Strongly Agree Strongly Agree 46.1%46.1% 11261126

AgreeAgree 45.3%45.3% 11071107

No OpinionNo Opinion 5.4% 5.4% 132 132

DisagreeDisagree 0.4% 0.4% 14 14

Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree 0.1% 0.1% 3 3

0.5 %

5.4 %

91.4 %

Golf and Positive Values

How interested would you be How interested would you be in teaching golf if….in teaching golf if….

Very Interested Very Interested 76.1%76.1% 18601860

InterestedInterested 19.9%19.9% 487 487

Somewhat InterestedSomewhat Interested 2.6% 2.6% 63 63

Not InterestedNot Interested 0.9% 0.9% 21 21

A system was provided that was both safe and fun…

0 20 40 60 80

Very Interested

Interested

Somewhat Interested

Not Interested

19.9 %

2.6 %

0.9 %

76.1 %

How interested would you be in How interested would you be in teaching golf if….teaching golf if….

0 20 40 60 80 100

Not Interested

Very Interested

Interested

Somewhat Interested

Not Interested

Very Interested Very Interested 73.6%73.6% 18001800

InterestedInterested 21.9%21.9% 535 535

Somewhat InterestedSomewhat Interested 3.4% 3.4% 83 83

Not InterestedNot Interested 0.9% 0.9% 22 22

21.9 %

3.4 %

0.9 %

Equipment, training and a complete curriculum were provided to the school at no cost

73.6 %

What Teachers Have to Say…What Teachers Have to Say…

““In the school district where I teach, many of our schools In the school district where I teach, many of our schools are in the low socioeconomic group. ...we cannot are in the low socioeconomic group. ...we cannot afford a golf program if we had to purchase it. If we afford a golf program if we had to purchase it. If we did have such a program it would be such a benefit for did have such a program it would be such a benefit for most children because it teaches them that golf isn't most children because it teaches them that golf isn't only a lifetime sport but they could learn respect, only a lifetime sport but they could learn respect, socialization skills and personal challenge.”socialization skills and personal challenge.”

Tammy Farmer, Elementary PE, KYTammy Farmer, Elementary PE, KY

What Teachers Have to Say…What Teachers Have to Say…

““I think that two greatest barriers are lack of funds and I think that two greatest barriers are lack of funds and PE teachers’ lack of experience and/or knowledge of PE teachers’ lack of experience and/or knowledge of how golf could be taught at this level. I would love the how golf could be taught at this level. I would love the opportunity to explore ideas that could bring this activity opportunity to explore ideas that could bring this activity to my students. I believe it is lifetime activities like golf to my students. I believe it is lifetime activities like golf that need to be implemented at the elementary level in that need to be implemented at the elementary level in order to give students the opportunity to learn skills order to give students the opportunity to learn skills towards an active lifestyle.”towards an active lifestyle.”

Denise King, Elementary PE, WIDenise King, Elementary PE, WI

What Teachers Have to Say…What Teachers Have to Say…

““Children are willing to learn new sports and games in Children are willing to learn new sports and games in

PE instead of the traditional yearly lesson plans. PE instead of the traditional yearly lesson plans.

Elementary children love it more because they can go Elementary children love it more because they can go

home and encourage the relatives at home ways to stay home and encourage the relatives at home ways to stay

physically fit. Golf is not a game for older gentlemen but physically fit. Golf is not a game for older gentlemen but

a game for every one in the family.”a game for every one in the family.”

Christina Gaines, Elementary PE, MDChristina Gaines, Elementary PE, MD

Survey ConclusionsSurvey Conclusions

• Teachers believe in the Teachers believe in the value of golf value of golf – For the physical benefitsFor the physical benefits

– For the character lessonsFor the character lessons

• Respondents are highly Respondents are highly receptive to including golf receptive to including golf in their programsin their programs

• Cost and teacher training Cost and teacher training are a factor that needs to are a factor that needs to be addressedbe addressed

The National School Golf ProgramThe National School Golf Program

• Directly addresses the needs Directly addresses the needs identified by these teachers in identified by these teachers in the surveythe survey

• Through NSGP it is Through NSGP it is reasonable to expect that….reasonable to expect that….

– Hundreds, eventually Hundreds, eventually thousands, of teachers will thousands, of teachers will provide millions of provide millions of youngsters with a positive youngsters with a positive introduction to the sport of introduction to the sport of golfgolf