Learn how to become a physical literacy instructor • Sport for Life

The Sport for Life Society, Coaching Association of Canada, and HIGH FIVE® have come together to support recreation leaders, coaches, and others in becoming a physical literacy instructor.

The Physical Literacy Instructor program is a blended eLearning and workshop training experience that provides the opportunity for an individual to become a recognized physical literacy instructor. The purpose of the four training modules is to equip front-line physical activity workers with the ability to design and deliver quality programs which effectively enhance the development of physical literacy.

Upon completion of the Physical Literacy Instructor program, participants will be able to recognize, use, and implement quality physical activity programs which support the development of physical literacy.

Module 1: Sport for Life’s Introduction to Physical Literacy eLearning course

This eLearning course introduces the concept of physical literacy, provides information about how we learn to move, and identifies the key elements of a supportive physical literacy environment. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

Explain the concept of physical literacy
Describe the relationship between physical literacy, physical activity, and physical fitness
Identify the general course of motor skill (movement) development in childhood and the approximate age of adult proficiency
Describe the relationship between the development of movement competence, confidence, and motivation, in support of physical literacy development
Identify key elements of a supportive physical literacy environment
Recognize that physical literacy activities must be accessible and inclusive
Describe and diagram a physical literacy life journey
You can register on the Sport for Life Campus: https://sportforlife-sportpourlavie.ca/catalog_detail.php?courseid=798

Module 2: HIGH FIVE’s 4-Hour Principles of Healthy Child Development or HIGH FIVE’s Sport 4-Hour OnDemand training

The Principles of Healthy Child Development (PHCD) is a 4-hour training that equips front-line leaders (anyone working with children aged 4 to 12 – i.e. camp counsellor, coaches, after school staff, swim instructors) with the tools to immediately enhance the quality of the programs they are leading. It provides essential training in the HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Child Development so front-line leaders understand what they need to do to ensure each child’s social, emotional and cognitive needs are met.

Visit the Training Calendar to find a training near you or click to Host a Training. Available as an In-class or virtual training.

HIGH FIVE Sport training helps coaches understand healthy child development, what motivates children to participate in sport, and what strategies help them want to continue to play. The training addresses the key barriers girls face in long-term participation in sport programs. These barriers include lack of quality, enjoyment, and confidence. The training uses the five principles of HIGH FIVE—Caring Leader, Participation, Mastery, Play, and Friends—to address these barriers and encourage lasting participation in sports.

This 4-hour training is designed for coaches, managers, and trainers and is based on best practices for sport leadership. All participants receive a certificate upon completion of the training.

Module 3: NCCP Fundamental Movement Skills

With a firm grasp of the fundamental movement skills, a child may enjoy a long life of physical activity. Given the opportunity to learn a wide range of physical skills, children gain the basic building blocks for the competence, confidence and motivation to try many physical activities and sports.

The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Fundamental Movement Skills workshop which is presented by TeamSnap, provides participants with the tools and resources to promote the development of fundamental movement skills which include, running, jumping, kicking, throwing, catching, and wheeling. By helping children develop these skills, you can set the foundation for a healthy, active lifestyle.

The workshop, available in-person and through online delivery, includes information and activities to better understand fundamental movement skills and physical literacy as well as a simplified teaching process for participants to teach, observe and lead the fundamental movement skills. The workshop provides information and activities to adapt fundamental movement skills for participants with intellectual, physical, sensory, or behavioural disabilities.

The NCCP Fundamental Movement Skills workshop is one of the required modules for the Physical Literacy Instructor Program. Find more information, and register for a workshop near you through your local Provincial/ Territorial Coaching Representative or learn more at www.coach.ca/fms.

Module 4: Sport for Life’s Quality Physical Literacy Experiences workshop

The Quality Physical Literacy Experiences workshop focuses on building the ability of participants to integrate a ‘developing physical literacy’ approach to their physical activity program design and delivery. Specifically, participants will be able to explain how to support movement skill development, identify ways to support inclusion in physical literacy programs, and create modifications to existing programs to make them physical literacy enriched. The workshop will also provide a summative opportunity drawing in key learnings from the pre-required ‘Introduction to Physical Literacy’ eLearning module.

Delivery Partner Update: PLAYAlberta

Alberta is already taking charge and set up to start coordination elements related to the Physical Literacy Instructor Program along with re-imagining physical literacy with the new PLAY Alberta group.Learn more by emailing jgoeres@arpaonline.ca and visit Physical Literacy and You (PLAY) Alberta on Facebook.

For questions related to the Physical Literacy Instructor Program, please contact workshops@sportforlife.ca.