“We noticed that our pupils were not getting enough exercise during breaks,” says Rob Storm, exercise coach at CBS De Hoeksteen in Barendrecht. “There were also regular conflicts in the school playground. When we started looking for a new way to organise break times, we came across Beweeg Wijs. This is a programme designed to give physical activity and play at school a quality boost. The people at Beweeg Wijs advised us to work with junior coaches during breaks. Older pupils then lead the games, enforce the rules, look after the equipment and resolve problems.”

Junior coach course

In collaboration with a Beweeg Wijs instructor, Rob trained all 24 pupils in Year 6 to become junior coaches. This was done in three groups of eight pupils. Rob: “Each group took part in a morning course. First, the pupils were given some theory, for example about the importance of exercise. We also explained Beweeg Wijs’s five colour zones. Each colour is associated with play equipment and activities tailored to children’s motor and social-emotional development.”

Colour zones

After that, the class went outside to set up the games on the playground together. The junior coaches divided the playground into five colour zones using pavement chalk. Two junior coaches were paired up to lead a game, and then they really got started. Rob: “We observed them and helped the junior coaches get started. After playing, we went inside with the whole group to discuss how it had gone.”

Fun and exciting

The junior coaches enjoyed the course, but it was also exciting to explain the games, make decisions as referees and correct other children. Rob: “We noticed that children prefer to lead games they enjoy themselves or already know. The red, competitive games, such as hockey and football, were the most popular. Nevertheless, it is important for them to get to know and lead different types of games. There does need to be a good match between the junior coach and the game, because that is when the child’s engagement is greatest.”

Getting experience

As a Healthy School, De Hoeksteen considers it important for the junior coaches to gain experience as game leaders and referees. Rob: “They learn how to interact with other children, feel involved in the physical activity programme and take responsibility for the equipment. The junior coaches have their turn once every six weeks. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, they lead the break-time games for Years 2, 3 and 4, which go outside together. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the pupils in the middle years have PE lessons.”

Surprising

Rob’s colleagues think the break-time games are great fun, although they were initially worried that the junior coaches would miss lesson time, for example during maths instruction. “That is not the case,” Rob stresses. “The junior coaches work during their class’s eating time.” The involvement of junior coaches has also had surprising side effects. “For example, teachers discover that some introverted children have a great talent for leading a game. The break-time games can also provide an opening for a conversation about behaviour. The games have led to fewer conflicts during breaks. In addition, the connections between the groups are growing stronger, because the pupils also play with children from other groups.”

Rob’s tips

  • Choose a targeted approach for break-time games, such as Beweeg Wijs.
  • Involve pupils in the physical activity programme and give them responsibility for the equipment and the school environment.
  • Give an exercise coach or PE teacher enough time to train, supervise and facilitate junior coaches.

Source: Healthy School.