Practice to progress
You’ll need
- Coloured pens or pencils
- Sports diary sheet
- Question cards
- Sporting equipment (optional)
Before you begin
- Print out a copy of the sports diary sheet for every member of the group.
- Print and cut out copies of the question cards.
Session one: discuss your sport
- Everyone should have a conversation about the sports they do regularly. What are the sports? How often do they do them? What do they like about their sport?
- Everyone should think of something from their sport that they could teach to the rest of the group. This could be a technique or trick, a rule, or the language used in the sport. Everyone should prepare something and think about bringing in any equipment that is required.
- Everyone should talk about whether it’s still fun to play a sport even when it’s difficult. They should think of some examples that make their answer come to life.
- Everyone should take a copy of the sports diary sheet to fill in next time they do their sport. A sports diary or training log can help people keep track of the sports they do, record their achievements, and reflect on what they did well and what they could do better.
Session two: discuss your diary
- Everyone should split into small teams and share their diary entries, focussing on what went well and what could be improved.
- Everyone should show their team something from their sport that they planned in the previous session.
- Use the question cards as prompts. Everyone should mingle and ask one or two questions to someone before finding a new person to ask more questions.
Reflection
This activity was about being physically active by playing sport. Did you learn something new about a sport today? Why is it important to play sport regularly? What’s more important in sport: to have fun or to stick to a very careful plan?
This activity was also about building confidence and self-esteem by being aware that some things are challenging but through practice they can be overcome. How does getting better at a sport make you feel? What other things in life do you have to try hard at?
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
Skip the writing and just use the drawing page of the diary if preferred. Keep the diary for several weeks to chart even more progress.
Make it accessible
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
