The Active Schools team offer all primary and intermediate schools in the Otago region support and guidance around sport and physical activity within the school environment. This is achieved through establishing key community networks and partnerships, facilitating training opportunities for parents, teachers, and trainee teachers and supporting appropriate events and promotions.  As part of this, physical activity workshops are available, with an option to run these within clusters of schools with the aim of developing fundamental movement skills through a variety of games and activity ideas.

Fundamental movement skills provide a foundation for many sports and physical activities.  Having these skills are an essential part of enjoyable participation and lifelong interest in an active lifestyle.

Active Schools is delivered at Sport Otago by Kerri Bush.  For Kerri’s contact details click here

Workshops topics include:

• Developing Fundamental Fun Indoors
• Cheap and Innovative Equipment Ideas
• Outdoor Games and Activities
• Fundamental Movement Skills
• Playground Markings
• Fitness Components
• Cooperative Games

Suggestions and ideas are more than welcome, other workshop ideas we have explored include: Instant Activities, Station Activities and Individual and Pair Activities.

Click here to find out what workshops are coming up

The Active Schools team also hold information and resources to help support school-based sport and recreation programmes.

Topics include;

• Running a Physical Activity Leaders Programme
• Funding and Fundraising Ideas
• Event Management – (School sports and activity days)
• Coaching Sports Teams
• Volunteers

If you would like more information, or would be interested in us running a course with your school, contact us, and we'd be happy to talk about what we can do for you.

Physical Activity Leaders (PALs)

PALs is a programme which gives senior students responsibility and an opportunity to be seen in a leadership role.  At the same time the programme helps to encourage students’ participation in sport and physical activity and contributes to their 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

The PAL programme is an adaptable programme which should be designed to suit the needs of the students.

Being a PAL gives the students within the school a sense of pride and satisfaction and a chance to develop a role model status.

Some noticed benefits of running PALs include:

• Students develop personal leadership skills
• Students have an opportunity to accept more responsibility, appreciation, and respect from teachers and students
• Students gain a sense of satisfaction for helping the enjoyment of others while working towards a happier, healthier, more physically active life!
• Provides a great teaching and learning opportunity in leadership, sportsmanship and teamwork.

Example of PALs in action within schools:

• PALs running lunchtime games and activities
• PALs responsible for and involved in the planning of school community sports and recreation events
• PALs taking class 'brain break' session with the juniors
• PALs running activity events to promote what they do
• PALs responsible for “Caught Being Active” Awards and “Fair Play”
• PALs setting up weekly crazes such as skipping, elastics and wheel days
• PALs setting up a teacher versus student challenges
• PALs buddying up with junior students

Stirring interest

• Introduce the programme in assembly with a guest speaker
• Promotional flyers around the school
• Special lunchtime coaching sessions
• Get potential PALs to fill in an application form, click here for an example.

Training PALs

Click here to download the Teacher Training manual to assist in setting up the PAL programme.

Click here to download the Student Training booklet which can be used in conjunction with the Teacher Training booklet.

The Sport Otago Active Schools team also have templates for Game & Activity booklets & certificates.  Also make sure to keep an eye out as throughout the year there are Student Leadership Training sessions on offer, click here for more information.

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