Applying Skills
The Multi-skills Activity Cards provide opportunities for children to develop and apply their skills in a variety of situations.
The activities develop a range of concepts and skills that can be applied and transferred to a range of sport specific activities. For example, hand-eye coordination; spatial awareness; peripheral vision; balance; control; agility; accuracy; effectiveness; attack; defence; possession; scoring goals/points; strategies; tactics; stamina; strength; fluency; rhythm; thinking; communication; working with others; improving own learning; recording; timing; measuring; estimating; etc. Each activity may develop more than one of these aspects in combination.
Please see the ‘Which Skills…Which Activities?’ Factsheet to identify which skills feature in each activity card. Each activity can be adapted to focus on a specific skill, concept, aspect or outcome. The Activity Cards are not intended to be prescriptive or ‘grab and go’ prompts, they are designed as ‘concept’ cards that will hopefully inspire you and your participants over a series of sessions. By adapting activities imaginatively to meet the needs, interests and abilities of the children in your care, it will increase their motivation, enjoyment and participation and improve performance. The activities can be made simpler, more complex or different, depending on need.
The ultimate aim is for the children to take increasing responsibility for organising and developing their own ideas, however, they will need support to achieve this. As a deliverer, you may initially set up and explain an activity to the children, and then work with them to adapt and develop it, encouraging as much creativity as you can, with a focus on developing skill. This may not always be just their physical skills levels; it may be developing wider skills. See ‘Developing the Whole Child’ Factsheet. All skills are important to a child’s all-round development and future participation in a healthy and active lifestyle. All these skills can be developed through the activities and you will need to make sure that over time you are providing opportunities for this to happen.
As children take increasing responsibility they can set up activities for themselves, manage these activities by taking on roles such as referee, coach, scorer, etc. and adapt them to meet their own needs. The activities will become child driven-adult supported. This will lead to increased motivation and enjoyment, as well as improved skill levels. Children may invent their own activities to play, that they can teach/coach another group etc. Again, this develops their understanding and awareness of concepts and skills.
Last updated on 03/11/2023