3. DESCRIPTIVE TALK OF DEMONSTRATION

In order that the audience will have a complete under­standing of the purpose of the demonstration and be able to grasp the meaning of each activity it is necessary to have a leader describe the program as it moves along. Here is a descriptive talk which may be given along with the program. It will help a great deal to have a loud speaking system.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We welcome you to the Physical Education demonstration given by the High School Physical Education Department. The purpose of this demonstration is to acquaint you with the activity and work of this department. We sincerely hope that you will leave the gymna­sium tonight with a clearer conception of what is meant by Physical Education and what is being done by the Physical Education Department in this school.

There has been little attempt to dress up the program. Rather we have attempted to demon­strate to you some of the activities taught in the Physical Education classes which meet times each week throughout the school year. In addi­tion to the regular class work in Physical Edu­cation and our athletic program which includes football, basketball, and track, we have set up an excellent intramural program which meets the needs of the entire student body. An attempt has been made to make this intramural program as interesting as possible and to include every stu­dent, not only the efficient and "headlined" reg­ular on the team, but also the shy, backward, high school lad who lacks the physique or burn­ing desire to make the regular team. Our intra­mural program has been set up as a leisure time program and includes such activities as six-man football, basketball, free throwing, volleyball, badminton, ping pong, track, soft ball, golf, ten­nis, boxing, shuffleboard, horseshoes and many others. We have as our objectives:

1. The promotion of health and Physical fit­ness.

2. The development of character, good citizenship and social well being.

3. Worthy use of leisure time.

4. The development of neuro muscular control.

5. Help the pupil to adjust himself to social conditions.

6. The development of leadership.

7. The development of the power of self ex­pression.

8. The development of safety skills.

9. The development of useful skills in activities which have a carry-over value.

Tonight's program is a demonstration of the work done in both departments. No effort has been made to segregate the better students from the poorer. Each number is demonstrated by en­tire classes.

The aim of the department is to give each student a program that will be of benefit during school and in later life.

(Before each activity a few comments may be made regarding the activity such as the following explanations:)

Co-Recreational Activities

An attempt is being made throughout the country to arrange boy and girl groups for students so that they may study and enjoy activities together. There are many lei­sure time activities which can be enjoyed by both boys and girls. Activities will now be shown which may be use­ful during the noon hour, recreation periods, such as fun nights, parties, play days, etc., as well as in later life.

Girls' Basketball Game

While girls also engage in the game of basketball it is a decidedly different game from the way boys play. Here are some of the rules which apply to girls' basketball:

There are three guards and three forwards.

The player is allowed only one dribble.

The game is begun by throwing the ball in from the center and side of the court.

The ball cannot be batted out of the hand of an opponent.

No body contact is allowed.

Games

Games are organized to give the boys an opportunity for relaxation. Simple games are used.

Conditioning Exercises

Conditioning exercises are important to keep physi­cally fit.

Marching

Marching and formal calisthenics do not play as great a part in the modern physical education program as they formerly did. However, marching teaches rhythm, co­ordination and unity; therefore they should be included to some extent in a program.

Corrective Exercises

The corrective course is primarily for those students not progressing satisfactorily in the regular physical edu­cation classes. Each student is examined for postural defects and an attempt is made to correct them. A full set of exercises is worked out for each particular case.

Dancing

The influence of dancing in American culture is in­creasing. It is a part of the physical education program and while dancing is a physical skill it also has a carry over impetus for lifelong enjoyment. The dance teaches rhythm of movement, balance and graceful carriage.

Archery

Archery is a sport which has enjoyed continuous growth. It is purely a game of skill and has a definite carry over value. The girls will demonstrate some straight shooting.

Golf Techniques

Courses in physical education are continually being broadened to include a variety of sports and activities. Students are encouraged to participate in many different recreational activities during their school career. Those activities with a carry over value suitable for continu­ance after school years are past are being sought. Golf is one of these activities. The boys will demonstrate the use of several clubs.

Tumbling

Tumbling teaches coordination, poise and daring. It also teaches the boy how to fall correctly, thus prevent­ing injury. Some become more adept at tumbling than others, depending upon their muscular coordination.

Pyramid Building

Pyramid building has a special appeal to every boy and girl. It teaches initiative and the desire for accom­plishment.

Relays

Relays are also used to give the boys an opportunity for relaxation. The freshmen boys will now show you sev­eral relays which are used for this purpose.

Apparatus Exercises

Apparatus work should be supplementary to all other forms of training. The object of this work is that it teaches the pupil to control his body while its weight is supported or suspended from the arms and hands. It de­velops the muscular strength of the entire body and the arms, legs, and hands in particular. The general aim of apparatus work is to develop portions of the body which can never be done in any other sport. The senior boys will show you some simple exercises on the parallel bars.

Boxing

Boxing is the modern expression of the combative ten­dency in man. The law of self preservation finds ready expression in boxing. Failure to fight back in the early days meant death. The combative spirit finds release in give and take sports. It is agreed that of all the activities, boxing is considered to be the most vigorous. Abundant energy is needed.

Boxing demands coordination, intelligence, ability to relax. The class will demonstrate some of the prelimi­nary conditioning exercises and also some of the blows:

1. Neck Exercises 2. Arm Exercises

The wrestler's bridge Pushups The front bridge

4. Blows

3. Stomach Exercises Left jab to the chin

The set up Left jab to the body

The leg raise Left hook to the chin

Knees to chest Left hook to the body

The jack knife Left uppercut to the body

The alternate leg raise Straight right to chin

The double leg raise Right hook to the chin

The scissors Straight right to body

Right uppercut to body

Basketball Drill

Fundamentals in basketball can be made more inter­esting if drills which incorporate the different fundamen­tals are used. Here are a few drills which may be used in teaching ball handling, passing, pivoting, etc.

Mass Exercises

This type of exercise is as old as history itself. It lends itself to a program as a means of attaining physical fitness when there is no opportunity for organized sports. The exercises to be demonstrated here were selected for the greatest benefit to the individual.

Folk Dances

The folk dance is essentially historical. It has been handed down from generation to generation much as folk stories have been perpetuated. A folk dance may be used to teach folk lore as well as satisfying a desire to dance. The best folk dances are those in which large groups take part, which are easy to learn and which provide vigorous action and forgetfulness of self.

Boys' First Aid Drill

First aid is now taught in many schools. The boys will demonstrate a few of the things they have learned such as the carries and artificial respiration.

The carries that will be demonstrated are:

1. The fireman's carry

2. The cross carry

3. The single shoulder carry

4. The arm carry

5. The fireman drag

Boys' Tug O' War

The next activity will be a tug of war. You will no­tice on your program that this is for the school cham­pionship. Other teams have been eliminated and the four teams on the floor will pull for the championship. Three of them will be eliminated. The final pull will be between the two best teams.

Wrestling

Wrestling is one of the oldest forms of combat. Al­though it is one of our oldest sports it did not come into prominence as an amateur sport in the United States until the last twenty years. Today wrestling is an international sport. In wrestling, individual sport is at its best. The wrestler is given an opportunity for self expression which may be denied to him in team games. As wrestling is or­ganized it provides an outlet for the athletic ambitions of boys of all sizes and weights.

Rope Jumping

Rope jumping is one phase of a well rounded physical education program. Rope jumping will develop the arms and legs as well as develop rhythm and coordination. Rope jumping has a wide range of appeal.

Athletic Poses

Oftentimes in a demonstration such as this, something out of the ordinary and perhaps a little spectacular is added. The next activity falls in this category. We hope you will like it.

Stunts

To give variety to the program of tumbling, activities are worked in which have a special appeal to the students. There are, of course, a great number of these special stunts. A few will be shown.

Marching

Marching is used in the physical education classes to promote posture. A marching drill will be shown.

Square Dancing

Square dancing is truly an American dance. In many of the sections of the country it has been passed from one generation to another with few changes. A minimum of four couples is necessary to make up a set but an indefi­nite number may participate if space permits. We will show several dances from different sections of the coun­try.

Weight Lifting

Weight lifting programs are fast finding a place in the modern physical education program. Their value lies in the fact that the weight lifting program need not be com­petitive unless so desired. The purpose of the program is to improve the individuals physical development and not to see how much each boy can lift. By adhering to this philosophy, it may be assumed that the individual, by improving his physical development will at the same time improve his general physical fitness.

Careful supervision is given to this program so that no injuries due to over lifting will result. The amount of starting weight for each student is determined by the in­structor. This is done by having the class seated in front of the bar bells to receive instruction in the proper lift­ing technique. The weights are graduated from 2-1/2 pounds to 40 pounds. Each student is assigned his start­ing weight by having the instructor determine the first weight and then allowing the student to perform the military press eight times. When the boy presses the bar eight times in good form without undue strain, but with some effort he is assigned this weight as his beginning weight.

Careful attention is paid to proper warmup proce­dures. This is done either by running or by the lifting of lighter weights.

Proper routines are worked out so that all the mus­cles of the body will be given the benefit of the exercise. Charts and records are kept whereby the increase in weights are recorded each week. Correct form is stressed constantly and the names of the muscle groups involved in each exercise are identified so that the boys will have a better understanding of the muscles involved. It should be mentioned that there are specific weight lifting exercises prescribed for each specific athletic sport. The exercises that will be demonstrated are general standard exercises which are used in the physi­cal education classes and are general conditioning exercises. They are not to be confused with specific exercises for any one athletic sport.

The exercises that will be demonstrated at this time are those which are used in the regular physical educa­tion classes.

Rebound Tumbling

To date over 100,000 schools, colleges, and other institutions are using rebound tumbling equipment. Rebound tumbling is an excellent source of exercise. It can be done in a few minutes. It develops almost all groups of muscles and can be compared with swimming in this respect. It gives one an exhilarating feeling of refreshment.

For years farsighted educators have seen the multi­ple values to be gained through rebound tumbling. These values are there; concrete and visible to the naked eye. You can see the values of this sport in the faces of those taking part. You can see them in the stronger muscles, the straighter backs, and the quicker responses which result from jumping.

Rebound tumbling adds fun, variety, and interest not only to gymnastic activities but to all phases of the physi­cal education program. It can easily be adapted to all age levels and both sexes and can easily become a co-educa­tional activity.

Rebound tumbling can benefit the students in the fol­lowing ways:

1. By increasing flexibility and litheness.

2. By promoting organic well-being through vig­orous exercise involving all parts of the body.

3. By developing a better sense of balance and position.

4. By encouraging instantaneous decisions and actions.

5. By serving as an enjoyable recreational activity.

6. By conditioning them for other sports.

7. By developing good coordination and timing.

8. By providing a carry over value into family life.

Learning rebound tumbling is fast and enjoyable and it requires no particular physical skill. More students are willing to participate in it than in any other activity. Rebound tumbling is truly an American contribution to physical education. In Europe, it has made tremendous strides forward and is a part of the school program.

The rebound tumbling activity is divided into units which have as their basic objectives the following: Rhythm, poise, strength, coordination, agility, good pos­ture, and control.

The evaluation of the work takes place toward the end of the unit. Each student is graded on required moves covering all basic drops, combinations, and the front somersault. Representative items are scored by giving three points for a minus. The grading procedure gives a plus if the move is executed in good form. A check is given if the student gets through the move and a minus is given if the student fails.

The class will demonstrate several basic moves in the program followed by a short comedy skit.

Physical Fitness

It has become increasingly evident that many of our youth are physically unfit. More than half of our boys and girls, four out of every seven, between the ages of six and sixteen, are today unable to measure up to the simplest basic standards of muscular strength and flexibility. The critical years in building the body begin at birth. The in­dividual reaches the point-of-no-return at adolescence. If by age six the child has acquired the necessary mini­mum of physical ability, he can hold onto it throughout life fairly easily — with a reasonable amount of exercise. If he does not have it by age sixteen, the chances are great that he will never acquire it. Krouse-Weber made a study of American and Euro­pean children and found the American children lacking in muscular strength. We must learn to increase the de­mands on the body and develop greater power, strength, and endurance. We must work for poise and skill in the use of our bodies.

One of the most important laws of nature states, "Life is movement." If you should tie your arm to your side for several months, your arm muscles would shrink and waste away. We must learn to increase the demands on the body and develop greater power, strength, and endur­ance for sustained effort. The only significant difference between the American and European groups in the Krouse-Weber test was the lack of physical activity in the life of American children. It is with these facts in mind that the school has installed a physical fitness pro­gram which will measure the physical fitness of our students in relation to established norms. These exercises are given three times each year with the results posted for each individual. The student may com­pare his score with his friend's or may see his own im­provement. The exercises have been accepted as an authentic test of physical fitness and will be demonstra­ted by a group from the physical education class

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