Academic News April 08

Welcome to the April issue of Academic News. The coming months will see a number of events in the sports and academic arena happening all over the UK and Europe, and we have been inundated with details of the very best, so we have decided to make this issue of Academic News an ‘Events Special’!

In this month’s issue you will find details of all the latest workshops and conferences happening over the coming months, and don’t worry we have still managed to squeeze in some of our latest products and a few news stories!

Experience sport science by the sea at ECSS Estoril’ 08 A new approach to understanding the biomechanics of human movement The first book of its kind to focus on physically demanding occupations UK Strength & Conditioning Association 4th Annual Conference The London Massage Company Summer Skills Workshops Royal Society of Medicine Conference - The Many Facets of Back Pain ‘Regular exercise can slow down ageing’ Obese women ‘50pc more likely to die of breast cancer’ The Future Landscapes of Aging Conference Narrative Research in Sport and Exercise: Exploring the Themes of Story Analysts and Storytellers The 2nd Annual Conference “Laura Sperandio” Academic News inspection copy requests

Experience sport science by the sea at ECSS Estoril’ 08

The ECSS Estoril’ 08 Congress, organised by the Faculty of Human Kinetics, at the Technical University of Lisbon (FMH), will take place at the Estoril Congress Centre, Portugal, from 9th to 12th July 2008.The scientific programme will offer a broad and interdisciplinary spectrum of current research work in sport science. Internationally well-known scientists will present their keynotes and colleagues from all over the world will discuss their scientific findings in oral or poster presentations. In addition to the outstanding scientific work, the programmed social activities will provide many opportunities to make friends, to enjoy Portuguese hospitality and enjoy what summer has to offer on this wonderful coast. Please visit www.ecss-congress.eu for more information on the congress.

A new approach to understanding the biomechanics of human movement

It is only in recent human existence that laws of movement of bodies, human or otherwise, have been formulised. We are now in a position to be able to take a scientific approach to the understanding of human movement and this area of study is known as biomechanics - a name that indicates the application of scientific principles and laws towards an understanding of biological systems. The fantastic Biomechanical Analysis of Fundamental Human Movements deals specifically with biomechanics of human movement, just a small part of the whole range of investigation in human biomechanics. Unlike previous biomechanics texts that have taken a mechanical concept and identified activities in which the concept is implicated, Biomechanical Analysis of Fundamental Human Movements takes a different approach by focusing on the activities and then identifying the biomechanical concepts that best facilitate understanding of those activities. Superbly illustrated and featuring more than 140 figures depicting the critical points of biomechanical analysis, this is an invaluable tool for those pursuing the study of advanced quantitative biomechanics, as well as teachers of human movement, safety equipment designers and rehabilitation specialists. PRICE: £45.00 (67.50 Euros) Read more about the book!

The first book of its kind to focus on physically demanding occupations

Hard Work: Defining Physical Work Performance Requirements focuses on physically demanding occupations that require strength, stamina or both; this includes occupations such as law enforcement, fire fighting, mining, forestry and the military. It is the first book to examine the relationship of recruitment practices, physical training and physical evaluation to the intricate environment of corporations, labour organisations, the legal system and employment rights. Authors Brian Sharkey and Paul Davis have collectively spent over 70 years studying physically demanding work and the factors associated with performance and health. This book attempts to provide an approach for making intelligent and informed employment decisions that will result in a safer, healthier and more productive workforce. Hard Work brings their perspective as exercise scientists to an examination of the following factors: Work requirements and capacity for physically demanding jobs Physical characteristics of the “athlete-worker,” including aerobic and muscular fitness Test development, validation and utilisation in employee selection Employee health and job-related fitness Environmental factors affecting employee performance, such as heat, cold and altitude Respiratory protection and lifting guidelines Legal aspects of employment, consequences of legal decisions and a proposed alternative to litigation     The first book of its kind in this field, Hard Work suggests how employees could benefit by working up to job requirements while maintaining their health, safety and job performance. PRICE: £36.50 (54.75 Euros) Read more about the book!

 

UK Strength & Conditioning Association 4th Annual Conference

The UK Strength & Conditioning Association’s 4th Annual Conference will take place from 6th - 8th June 2008. This year’s conference is hosted by the Sports Institute Northern Ireland and will run over 3 days at the new High Performance Centre, University of Ulster, Belfast. The programme once again brings together a mixture of science and practical coaching sessions from some of the top UK and international names in strength & conditioning including: Dr Greg Haff - Periodisation: let the science guide our programme design Jan Hoff - Research and practice in strength & conditioning for Elite Norwegian Soccer Liam Hennessy - Contrast training: principles into practice at the IRFU Kelvin Giles - The role of physical competence in athletic development Leo Totten - Olympic lifting masterclass   Incredible value all-inclusive accommodation packages are available as well as one day passes. For full programme details and booking forms please visit the UKSCA website www.uksca.org.uk or call 0870 116 1566. Places are limited and early booking is recommended to ensure your place at the top networking event for strength & conditioning in the UK. The London Massage Company Summer Skills Workshops Advance or refresh your skills in sports massage with The London Massage Company’s Summer Skills Workshops, taking place in central London throughout June 2008. Thirteen workshops will run back-to-back, giving attendees the flexibility to choose one or two workshops, or intensify their learning with the whole set. With each workshop attendees will receive an interactive workbook, as well as an attendance certificate. Workshops will take place from 2nd - 20th June and include topics such as ‘Deep Tissue Techniques’, ‘Muscle Energy Technique’, ‘Soft Tissue Release’ and ‘Mechanical Massage’. The workshops are £100 a-day and many professional awarding bodies count one-day workshops as five continuing professional development (CPD) points. For a full breakdown of all workshops and further information on dates and location, visit www.thelondonmassagecompany.com       Royal Society of Medicine Conference - The Many Facets of Back Pain   The Royal Society of Medicine Conference - The Many Facets of Back Pain, organised by the Royal Society of Medicine, Ireland in association with University of Ulster, will take place on Friday 16th May 2008 at University of Ulster, Belfast. The meeting will focus on the varied clinical presentation of back pain and the multidimensional nature of its management. For more information and to register online, please visit http://www.rsm.ac.uk/academ/backpainire.php For further information and assistance, please contact Chloe Waite 020 7290 3844 oe email chloe.waite@rsm.ac.uk ‘Regular exercise can slow down ageing’ Regular exercise can help slow down the effects of ageing by up to 12 years, a study claims. People may also be able to retain the ability to live independently for far longer if they exercise throughout middle age and into retirement, it found. Aerobic exercise, such as jogging, improves oxygen consumption, which in turn improves the body’s ability to convert fat into fuel for muscles. The volume of oxygen we are able to consume is reduced with age, and therefore to maintain good health and the appearance of youth, more aerobic exercise is required. Research by scientists at the University of Toronto in Canada has shown that high-intensity exercise, taken regularly for more than a year, can make someone as fit as a sedentary person who is 12 years younger. The results are published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The Telegraph, 14th April 2008 Read the full story…     Obese women ‘50pc more likely to die of breast cancer’ Significantly overweight women are almost 50 per cent more likely to die of breast cancer within five years of diagnosis, experts warned yesterday. Doctors at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference in Berlin warned that it was more difficult to diagnose the disease in obese patients who also risked getting poorer treatment because doctors feared giving them a high enough dose of chemotherapy for their body weight. Almost 1,500 patients a year in the UK could be diagnosed earlier if they were not obese, research at the conference suggests. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, and almost 45,000 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year, around 9,000 in clinically obese patients. However, that percentage is predicted to increase because of lifestyle factors that have led to a quarter of women being diagnosed as obese. Professor Emiel Rutgers, a from the Netherland Cancer Institute and a breast cancer surgeon, said the findings showed “the importance of losing weight, even after you have been diagnosed”. The Telegraph, 21st April 2008 Read the full story…     The Future Landscapes of Aging Conference The British Society of Gerontology (BSG) Scotland & Centre for Gerontological Practice, at Glasgow Caledonian University, will host The Future Landscapes of Aging Conference on the 20th June in the Govan Mbeki Building, Glasgow Caledonian University. This one day conference aims to rethink how we talk about the future of aging and to consider the implications for policy and practice. The conference will examine the future landscapes of aging, drawing on the expertise of older people, academics and practitioners. It will be of interest to older people and all those who work with them - such as nurses, care workers, social workers, doctors and therapists, as well as academics and students of social gerontology and gerontological practice. A Scottish Minister with responsibilities for older people will be invited to address the conference and keynote speakers will include Professor Alison Bowes and Professor David Bell from the University of Stirling, who will give a presentation on the ageing population and policy implications and Professor Alan Newell from the University of Dundee, who will talk about new technologies and older people. Lunch time will include poster sessions where authors will speak about their posters, and throughout the day participants will have the opportunity to reflect on the future of aging and contribute to wide ranging discussions on aging and later life. For more information contact Susan Tester, email susan.tester@stir.ac.uk or Margaret McLay, telephone 0141 331 8492. More information…     Narrative Research in Sport and Exercise: Exploring the Themes of Story Analysts and Storytellers The Narrative Research in Sport and Exercise: Exploring the Themes of Story Analysts and Storytellers workshop, will take place at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay on Tuesday 24th June (5-8pm) and Wednesday 25th June (9am-3pm). The workshop, based around an evening and day timetable, is a collaborative event between the Cardiff School of Sport, UWIC and the recently established ‘Network for Performative Research in Sport and Exercise’. This innovative venture explores research-led performance and offers critical reflections and ideas on the procedures and challenges associated with story analysis and storytelling. The storytelling element of the workshop illustrates and reviews formative approaches to representation. Sports-based qualitative research data (collected from focus-group processes, semi-structured interview protocols, life-history projects, ethnographic, auto-ethnographic writing and action research projects) will be presented through drama, poetry, music and photographic essays. Invited speakers will also review narrative analysis techniques and consider how performative and narrative research impact on the representation of body and identity. Delegate Fees (includes attendance at all sessions, tea/coffee, wine reception (Tues evening) and lunch (Wednesday) are £75.00 for full delegate and £55 for Students (reduced fee available for all Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral students subject to confirmation by an accompanying Full Delegate). Contact ysaker@uwic.ac.uk to register interest and receive more details. The 2nd Annual Conference “Laura Sperandio” The 2nd Annual Conference “Laura Sperandio” - Physical Activity in the Primary Prevention of Breast Cancer: Mechanisms and Scientific Prescription, will take place on Tuesday 29th May, Mumicipal Room, Castagnaro, Italy from 9.00pm. Conference speakers include J.Modenese and G.Bovo. For more information visit http://digila nder.libero.it/bovoginetto or contact bovoginetto@yahoo.it Academic News inspection copy requests If you wish to arrange an appointment to discuss our latest texts and your course needs, or you would like to enquire about an inspection copy of any book featured in Academic News, please call Sian Partridge on 0113 255 5665 ext. 204 or e-mail sianp@hkeurope.com

FitNews April 2008

Welcome to the April issue of FitNews.

This month’s issue of FitNews is full of the latest stories on the many benefits of exercise. We all know exercise is good for our health, but in the month’s issue we discover how exercise can help with the ageing process, how it can improve your quality of life, help with stress and even make you smarter. So if you thought it is just your body that benefits from regular exercise, your wrong!

To celebrate International Dance Day on April 29th 2008, we have included a fantastic 10% discount off all dance books and DVDs for all our subscribers. Dance is a great way to exercise and is fun, so if you are a regular dancer or thinking of trying it out we will have a book to suit you. Read on for more details…

International Dance Day discount!

International Dance Day, UNESCO, is celebrated on April 29th every year. First celebrated in 1982 when it was established by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute, the date commemorates the birthday of Jean- Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet.The intention of International Dance Day is to bring all dance together, to celebrate the art form, to cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers and bring people together in peace with a common language - DANCE. As well as this, International Dance Day aims to increase the awareness of the importance of dance among the general public, as well as persuade governments all over the world to provide a proper place for dance in all systems of education, from primary to higher.In celebration of this year’s International Dance Day, Human Kinetics is offering all readers a 10% discount off all dance books and DVDs. To claim your discount, simply quote Mail Code R607. When ordering online, you’ll be prompted for the Mail Code at the top of the shopping cart page. Alternatively, call Human Kinetics order hotline on 0113 255 5665 (or +44 (0)113 255 5665 if outside the UK). Below is just one new dance resource from Human Kinetics… Whatever your motive, whether to get more exercise, to spend more time with a partner or because you have taken inspiration from Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars, dancing can be a fantastic experience. Gotta Ballroom, part of the Gotta Dance series, makes learning to dance fun and easy. From the waltz and the tango, to the foxtrot and the Viennese waltz, master instructors and professional dancers, Christine Zona and Chris George describe and demonstrate every movement, providing the skills necessary to glide across the dance floor like a pro. Including a 64-minute DVD, Gotta Ballroom provides specific instruction for social success with the four most popular American style ballroom dances. This one-of-a-kind package breaks down both leader and follower roles to show basic footwork, body positioning, timing, styling and transitions. With an interactive and structured approach, Gotta Ballroom will soon have you moving to the music, as you become immersed in the experience, pleasure and grace of American style ballroom dance. PRICE: £18.99 (28.49 Euros) Read more about the book…

In FitNews this month…
	International Dance Day discount! Make the right food choices with the all-time best-selling sports nutrition guidebook! The first book of its kind to focus on physically demanding occupations ‘Regular excercise can slow down ageing’ ‘10-minute walk can better quality of life’ A good night’s sleep the key to staying slim Fat risk even if you are healthy weight Train your brain: Can jogging make you smarter? Sport England reveals sports participation is increasing, with the over 55s leading the change Bad Breakfast Habits Could Harm Long-Term Health Cleaning ‘improves mental health’ EIPET Project

Make the right food choices with the all-time best-selling sports nutrition guidebook!

Boost your energy, manage stress, build muscle, lose fat and improve your performance with the excellent new fourth edition of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook! With over 500,000 copies sold, this book has become the all-time best-selling sports nutrition guide on the market. An internationally known specialist in sports dietetics, Clark offers sound nutritional advice for active people. This updated edition includes the latest sports nutrition research on hydration and fluid intake, vitamins, supplements, energy drinks, organic foods and the role of carbohydrate and protein during exercise, as well as information on the new food pyramid. Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook will assist you in making the right food choices in supermarkets, restaurants and your own kitchen. Whether preparing for competition or simply eating on the go, sport’s leading nutritionist will demonstrate how to get the maximum benefits from the foods you choose and the meals you make. You will also learn how to eat before exercise and events, as well as how to refuel afterwards for optimal recovery. Whether seeking advice on losing weight, getting energised to exercise, or improving health and performance, Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook has the answers you can trust. PRICE: £11.99 (17.99 Euros) Read more about the book…

The first book of its kind to focus on physically demanding occupations

Hard Work: Defining Physical Work Performance Requirements focuses on physically demanding occupations that require strength, stamina or both; this includes occupations such as law enforcement, fire fighting, mining, forestry and the military. It is the first book to examine the relationship of recruitment practices, physical training and physical evaluation to the intricate environment of corporations, labour organisations, the legal system and employment rights. Authors Brian Sharkey and Paul Davis have collectively spent over 70 years studying physically demanding work and the factors associated with performance and health. This book attempts to provide an approach for making intelligent and informed employment decisions that will result in a safer, healthier and more productive workforce. Hard Work brings their perspective as exercise scientists to an examination of the following factors: Work requirements and capacity for physically demanding jobs Physical characteristics of the “athlete-worker”, including aerobic and muscular fitness Test development, validation and utilisation in employee selection Employee health and job-related fitness Environmental factors affecting employee performance, such as heat, cold and altitude Respiratory protection and lifting guidelines Legal aspects of employment, consequences of legal decisions and a proposed alternative to litigation.   The first book of its kind in this field, Hard Work suggests how employees could benefit by working up to job requirements while maintaining their health, safety and job performance. PRICE: £36.50 (54.75 Euros) Read more about the book…

‘Regular excercise can slow down ageing’

Regular exercise can help slow down the effects of ageing by up to 12 years, a study claims. People may also be able to retain the ability to live independently for far longer if they exercise throughout middle age and into retirement, it found. Aerobic exercise, such as jogging, improves oxygen consumption, which in turn improves the body’s ability to convert fat into fuel for muscles. The volume of oxygen we are able to consume is reduced with age, and therefore to maintain good health and the appearance of youth, more aerobic exercise is required. Research by scientists at the University of Toronto in Canada has shown that high-intensity exercise, taken regularly for more than a year, can make someone as fit as a sedentary person who is 12 years younger. The results are published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The Telegraph, 14th April 2008 Read the full story…

‘10-minute walk can better quality of life’

Overweight people can make a significant improvement in their quality of life simply by doing 10 minutes of brisk walking every day, scientists have said. A study of obese or overweight women found that those doing an average of 70 minutes of light exercise a week showed substantial improvements in health and enjoyed better social lives than those who did no exercise. The findings contradict Government guidelines that suggest taking 30 minutes of exercise five times a week. They were presented at an American Heart Association conference in Colorado Springs and claim that shorter, less strenuous sessions can lead to improvements. Angela Thompson, of the Pennington Biomedical Research Centre, Louisiana, said: “Walking a little bit every day will help tremendously. That is an important public health message.” The Telegraph, 16th March 2008 Read the full story…

A good night’s sleep the key to staying slim

Sleeping for eight hours a night is the secret to not putting weight on, according to scientists. They found that those who slept for less than six hours a night - or more than nine - put on more weight than those who slept for seven or eight hours each night. The research published in the Journal Sleep found those who did not get enough sleep gained almost 4.4lbs (2kg) compared to those who slept for the recommended number of hours. Those who had too much sleep gained 1.58 kilos (1.58kg) more than those who slept for the recommended number of hours over six years. Short sleepers were 27 per cent more likely to become obese and long sleepers were 21 per cent more likely than those had an average night’s sleep. The research also found that things were worse for people who got less sleep as they were 35 per cent more likely to gain 11lbs (5kg) over six years than those who had seven or eight hours sleep. Those who slept too long were 25 per cent more likely to gain 11lbs (5kg) in the same time. The reason that the amount of sleep a person gets can govern their weight is because sleep affects hormones levels, especially those involved in appetite and feeling full after a meal. The Telegraph, 3rd April 2008 Read the full story…

Fat risk even if you are healthy weight

People not classed as overweight but who lack muscle are just as unhealthy as those who are considered obese, doctors are warning. A study has found that half of those considered to be a healthy weight for their height were still obese because of the proportion of fat in their bodies. Experts say two thirds of the population are at risk because they weigh too much but the discovery of the new condition - dubbed “normal weight obesity” - suggests that eight in 10 face an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. The findings, presented at a scientific meeting in the United States, raise further doubt over the value of the body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of health. It is calculated by dividing weight in kilos by height in metres squared, and a range of between 18.5 and 25 is considered healthy. But researchers at the Mayo Clinic, which has hospitals in three states, found that half of people in the range had a body fat percentage high enough to put their health at risk. To be healthy, women should be no more than 30 per cent fat and men no more than 20 per cent. Body fat can be measured using scales available commercially or callipers to pinch flesh at the waist. The team said that using body fat to determine normal weight obesity was a more precise way of determining health risks than BMI. The Telegraph, 1st April 2008 Read the full story…

Train your brain: Can jogging make you smarter?

We don’t need to be told that exercise is good for us. We know that it combats cholesterol, we know boosts our hearts and we know it stops the pounds from piling on. But, beyond the obvious physical benefits of a good cycle, run or swim, a growing body of evidence suggests that getting breathless can also build the brain. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, which is published later this year, shows how even regular brisk walks can boost memory, alleviate stress, enhance intelligence and allay aggression. John Ratey, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston and the book’s author, says that exercise stimulates our grey matter to produce what he calls “Miracle-Gro” for the brain. “I can’t understate how important regular exercise is in improving the function and performance of the brain,” he says. “It’s such a wonderful medicine.” If the mere thought of trudging round ice-bound playing fields at school was enough to bring you out in a cold sweat, the idea that exercise makes us happy might sound perverse. But, beyond the (potential) mood-lifting effects of fresh air and scenery, evidence suggests that pounding the pavement can also change the way our brains work to make us happier, or even stave off depression. “Exercise is as good as any anti-depressant I know,” Ratey claims. The Independent, 25th March 2008 Read the full story…

Sport England reveals sports participation is increasing, with the over 55s leading the change

The number of adults* across England who regularly participate in sport and active recreation has increased, with the 55s and over showing the biggest growth spurt, a Sport England survey reveals. Early results of Sport England’s second year of The Active People Survey show that the number of adults, aged 16 plus, participating in 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport or active recreation three times a week, has increased by 359,423. This is a 0.7 per cent increase from 19.0% in the period mid September 2005 to mid December 2005 to 19.7% in the period mid September 2007 to mid December 2007. It was the 55s and over who contributed the biggest leap in participation in sport and active recreation, with a 1.3 per cent increase, from 10.9% to 12.2%. During the same period, men’s participation in sport and active recreation increased by 1.1 per cent, from 21.5% to 22.6%. There was no significant change in women’s sport participation. Sport England, 9th April 2008 Read the full story…

Bad Breakfast Habits Could Harm Long-Term Health

Skipping breakfast and snacking on sugary and fatty foods could be fuelling Britain’s rising obesity rates among the under 25s. A new survey commissioned by Cancer Research UK into the nation’s breakfast habits discovered that nearly half the 16-24 age group miss breakfast - the first and most important meal of the day - at least twice a week. The survey, commissioned to raise awareness of the charity’s annual Britain’s Biggest Breakfast campaign, also showed that 85 per cent of under 25s questioned admitted to snacking, with fatty and sugary foods, such as crisps, biscuits, cakes and sweets favourites to keep mid-morning hunger at bay. Professor Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK’s health behaviour research centre, said: “There is still widespread ignorance that being overweight or obese increases the risk of a number of cancers. We know obesity rates are rising in the UK and research has shown that this trend begins early in life. Children who are overweight or obese are likely to grow into obese adults whose risk of cancer and other diseases is increased because of the extra weight they are carrying. This survey reflects the worrying trend that too many young people miss breakfast only to resort to sugary and fatty snacks when they get hungry. These habits can be hard to break.” Cancer Research UK carried out the survey of over 2,000 people to promote Britain’s Biggest Breakfast. The charity is calling for people across the UK to celebrate Britain’s Biggest Breakfast’s tenth anniversary by throwing a breakfast ‘party’ to raise money for research into all types of cancer. Medical News Today, 31st March 2008 Read the full story…

Cleaning ‘improves mental health’

Working up a sweat while performing household chores may not just improve the cleanliness of your home, but your mental health too, a survey suggests. Just 20 minutes of sustained exercise a week - from cleaning to jogging - can impact upon depression, the British Journal of Sports Medicine study found. The more strenuous and frequent the activity, the greater the effect. University College London researchers looked at a survey of 20,000 people on weekly exercise and state of mind. Another study in the journal also found such exercise among the middle-aged and elderly may delay the ageing process. In the Scottish Health Survey, 3,000 people reported stress or anxiety. The more active they were, the less likely they were to be suffering in this way. Taking part in sports at least once a week lowered the risk by 33%, while housework and walking could cut it by as much as 20%. However, light dusting or meandering to the bus stop strictly did not count. The activity needed to be for at least 20 minutes at a time, and had to induce breathlessness. BBC News, 9th April 2008 Read the full story…

EIPET Project

The EIPET project is a two year project, beginning 1st November 2007, supported by the Leonardo da Vinci fund through Léargas, the National Agency for Ireland. The project aims to tackle difficulties that arise and are associated with the inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream education; and associated current deficiencies in initial and continued physical education teacher training to deal with same. A functional map of the physical education teacher’s role will be developed through the project and the knowledge, competence and skill requirements of PE teachers, given the rapidly changing work environments resulting from the aforementioned changes, will be detailed. An International Conference in Tralee in 2009 will launch the project results and a resource pack. Other EIPET project aims include: To empower teacher training providers and PE teachers with the knowledge, skills and competence to operate effectively in the work environment. To facilitate equity of opportunity in Physical Education for all. To develop a resource pack to accompany the model and modules and make it available for download from the project website or available on CD.   The EIPET project is asking FitNews subscribers to let them know your thoughts or dissemination activities in relation to the project in order to engage you in the project consultation process. For more information, please contact Matt Fisher mfisher@sportscoachuk.org

 

UKPE Newsletter April 08

Welcome to the April edition of the UKPE newsletter!

Dance is a great way to keep fit and healthy. As dance is so much fun to participate in, it often feels that you are not exercising at all. The likes of Strictly Come Dancing have seen the UK embrace a new passion for dance and the government seem to have recognised this as they are investing £5.5m in dance for school-age children over the next three years.

This month also sees the celebration of International Dance Day. To commemorate this occasion, which is celebrated on April 29th, we are offering all of our subscribers 10% off our dance books and DVDs. Read on for more information.

International Dance Day discount!

International Dance Day, UNESCO, is celebrated on April 29th every year. First celebrated in 1982 when it was established by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute, the date commemorates the birthday of Jean- Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet.  The intention of International Dance Day is to bring all dance together, to celebrate the art form, to cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers and bring people together in peace with a common language - DANCE. As well as this, International Dance Day aims to increase the awareness of the importance of dance among the general public, as well as persuade governments all over the world to provide a proper place for dance in all systems of education, from primary to higher.In celebration of this year’s International Dance Day, Human Kinetics is offering all readers a 10% discount off all dance books and DVDs. To claim your discount, simply quote Mail Code R607. When ordering online (http://ukpe.hum an kinetics.com/), you’ll be prompted for the Mail Code at the top of the shopping cart page. Alternatively, call Human Kinetics order hotline on 0113 255 5665 (or +44 (0)113 255 5665 if outside the UK). Browse dance resources

In the UKPE Newsletter this month…
	International Dance Day discount! Help your pupils learn essential social skills through character-building activities Achieve maximum fun and fitness in PE lessons with new physical education resource Parents ‘too scared to let children play outside’ £5.5m plan to inspire new generation of Billy Elliots in schools Obese children to die younger than parents Labour’s 187 broken promises on playing field sales Heart disease risk ‘increases for children who are inactive’ School-gate fast food ban urged More children are watching junk-food adverts despite ban     EIPET Project

Help your pupils learn essential social skills through character-building activities

Neither motor nor social skills are instinctual, both have to be learned. Knowing the proper ways to interact with others also has to be learned and it is not always a skill that is taught at home. Character-Building Activities: Teaching Responsibility, Interaction, and Group Dynamics, a book that is primarily aimed at, but not exclusively for teachers, parents and coaches presents activities that provide social-skill development and character-building activities. The book provides nearly 100 activities that will help children and young adults: Learn about themselves through self-discovery Gain a better sense of what they value based on their character traits, Become more effective communicators, and Discover how to communicate their values and strengthen their convictions.   Perfect for citizenship lessons, Character-Building Activities applies directly to pre-teens and teenagers, but it is easily adapted to younger children. This resource can be used in a variety of settings both in and out of school. The activities are short, clearly described, easy to set up and ready to use. Teachers can incorporate the activities into an existing lesson plan, or use a few in creating a new lesson plan. Regardless of age and setting, pupils taking part in the activities in this book will learn to deal with a variety of issues, including self-esteem, peer pressure, bullying, anger and stress. The self-responsibility, social interaction and group dynamics taught through the activities in this book will help children to learn essential social skills, enabling them to grow and mature into well-balanced adults. PRICE: £11.00 (16.50 Euros) Read more!

Achieve maximum fun and fitness in PE lessons with new physical education resource

Maximum Middle School Physical Education is designed for immediate practical use by physical education teachers. The lessons and activities provided in this comprehensive book and CD-ROM package will keep pupils interested and help you meet your daily challenges as a physical education teacher. Maximum Middle School Physical Education offers a mix of student-centred activities and lesson plans that foster effective growth, physical skills and knowledge development. The activities in this book encompass fitness exercises, social skills and physical skill development. The accompanying CD-ROM contains handouts, task cards, posters and station instructions. The book includes thumbnails of the CD-ROM items so that you know when to include them in your teaching. Maximum Middle School Physical Education will help you empower students to take responsibility for their own activity and fitness. This book is more than lesson plans, assessment sheets and fitness development - it’s about developing health and wellness through joyful movement. The book is designed to help you create an environment where students are active and excited and enjoy physical education. PRICE: £19.50 (29.25 Euros) Read more!

Parents ‘too scared to let children play outside’

One child in four aged between eight and 10 has never played outside unsupervised, the Government has admitted as it pledges to spend millions of pounds on new playgrounds and adventure areas. Ministers will also say that a third of all parents do not even allow their older children to play outside alone because they are frightened they could be exposed to harm. A national consultation on how to reverse the decline in children’s play has been launched as part of a Government drive to build more play areas for young people. The move comes amid fears that children’s health and long-term development is being undermined because they are being deprived of the chance to play outside unsupervised. The Government has been accused of making the problem worse by selling off school fields despite a pledge in 1997 that it would protect areas where children could play. Since 1998 the Government has backed at least 187 plans to dispose of playing fields - categorised as land that can be used for grass sport pitches. The Telegraph, 31st March 2008 Read the full story…

£5.5m plan to inspire new generation of Billy Elliots in schools

From Billy Elliot to Ballet Hoo! the power of dance to inspire young people in Britain has never been clearer: Stephen Daldry’s 2002 film, now a hit musical, told the story of a miner’s son torn between his macho working-class background and his love of ballet, while Channel 4’s documentary Ballet Hoo! offered 200 disadvantaged youngsters from the West Midlands the chance to train with professionals. Now the Government is to capitalise on the national passion revealed by the hit BBC1 show Strictly Come Dancing by investing £5.5m in dance for school-age children over the next three years. The initiative, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Children, Schools and Families and Arts Council England, follows a review of youth dance by the Royal Opera House chief executive, Tony Hall, who oversees the Royal Ballet. The money is a fraction of the amount spent on music in schools, but for the first time, the Government plans a national youth dance strategy under the auspices of an organisation called Youth Dance England. The funding will double the amount that the body receives each year. At present, dance in schools is mostly restricted to performing arts academies such as the Brit School in Croydon, but under a pilot scheme, specialised ” co-ordinators” will work with the Youth Sport Trust to get more children strutting their stuff. Six new Centres of Advanced Training for dance will also be set up by 2011, with the aim of taking about 1,500 young people to “the next level”. The Independent, 18th March 2008 Read the full story…

Obese children to die younger than parents

Today’s children could live shorter lives than their parents due to the obesity epidemic, it has been warned. If trends continue as expected, average life expectancy could fall for the first time in hundreds of years, said health specialists. A quarter of five-year-olds and more than a third of 10- year-olds are overweight or obese and numbers are predicted to rise steeply over the next few decades. By 2050 it is estimated that half of the British population will be clinically obese. The resultant surge in health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, will affect life expectancy. Dr Peter Bradley, the director of public health in Suffolk, said: “If you become obese when you are young then your life expectancy will be considerably less. This hasn’t happened in hundreds of years. Even during the Second World War life expectancy continued to go up.” Dr Colin Ware, the chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: “We could be looking at a generation with shorter life expectancies than their parents, which is an alarming prospect. The biggest threat is Type 2 diabetes, which we are starting to see in large numbers in adolescents. We could also see levels of heart disease, which have been falling for 30 years, begin to rise. If developed as an adolescent Type 2 diabetes can take decades, not just years, off life expectancy.” The Telegraph, 6th April 2008 Read the full story…

Labour’s 187 broken promises on playing field sales

Ministers have approved the sell-off of at least 187 school and local playing fields since Labour came to power. Schools Secretary Ed Balls and his predecessor Alan Johnson personally agreed to 19 of the sales last year. This is in spite of repeated Government promises that playing fields would be carefully protected. Labour promised in its 1997 manifesto to bring the “policy of forcing schools to sell off playing fields to an end”. Four years ago the Government said any future sales would have to be signed off by the Secretary of State, with the profits re-invested in educational facilities. However, since 1998 the Government has approved of at least 187 plans to dispose of playing fields. Since 2001 some 1,331 pieces of community and school land smaller than an acre have been sold. Because of their size, these did not require ministerial approval. The figures threaten to overshadow the Government’s announcement of its intention to spend £225 million over the next three years on 3,500 new playgrounds and 30 adventure play areas with trained supervisors. The Daily Mail, 30th March 2008 Read the full story…

Heart disease risk ‘increases for children who are inactive’

Unfit, lazy children are six times more likely to develop early signs of heart disease than those who are active and take exercise, scientists have warned. For the first time, experts have established that activity levels in children as young as seven can have a serious effect on their future health. The study showed that by 14, children who did little exercise from an early age showed a series of symptoms such as raised blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which put them at risk of going on to develop heart disease. The research, carried out at the University of North Carolina, is the first to discover how important physical activity - and not just weight - is in early childhood in relation to health throughout life. In the UK, a quarter of all children could be obese by 2050. Among adults, just 10 per cent of men and 15 per cent of women will be a healthy weight by then unless drastic action is taken. The findings of the study will fuel fears that the country is breeding a generation of inactive children who spend more time playing on computers or watching television than doing exercise, despite millions being spent on Government plans to combat the obesity problem. The Telegraph, 4th April 2008 Read the full story…

School-gate fast food ban urged

Schools and councils are being urged to make it harder for children to swap their school meal for a takeaway. Rising levels of obesity are being fuelled by the ready availability of fast food, said the School Food Trust. It wants schools to close their gates at lunchtime and councils to stop new fast food outlets opening nearby. But the Local Government Association said it could not force schools to shut their gates and that food retailers could challenge licence refusals. The trust has issued a “league table” of the local education authority areas with the most takeaway and sweet shops per secondary school. Seaside towns - with dozens of outlets aimed at tourists - and inner city areas, fare the worst. Topping the list is Brighton and Hove, with 46 per school, closely followed by Blackpool and Hull. School Food Trust chief executive Judy Hargadon said: “At the moment school canteens have to compete with a myriad of take-aways, chippies and sweet shops for pupils’ dinner money. We all know that some children will go for chips five times a week if they are allowed to. The problem is that this is damaging their long-term health, and is also threatening the viability of school lunch services.” BBC News, 28th March 2008 Read the full story…

More children are watching junk-food adverts despite ban

Government attempts to fight childhood obesity by banning adverts for junk food is being hampered by such programmes as The X Factor and Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, the Prime Minister’s adviser on obesity has admitted. A ban was introduced in January on adverts for foods high in salt, sugar or fat during programmes whose viewers were mainly under the age of 16. It did not, however, affect the programmes with an audience mainly made up of adults, even though many more children watch them. Among the programmes affected was the children’s cartoon SpongeBob Squarepants, which attracts about 170,000 child viewers. But Saturday Night Takeaway, a family show watched by more than a million children, was not. New research has concluded the number of times children watch junk-food adverts during these family programmes has risen in the past two years by 26 per cent. The figures come from Dr Will Cavendish, director of health and wellbeing at the Department of Health, who described the trend as “worrying” at a time when almost a third of 11-year-olds are classified as overweight or obese. The Independent, 7th April 2008 Read the full story…

EIPET Project

The EIPET project is a two year project, beginning 1st November 2007, supported by the Leonardo da Vinci fund through Léargas, the National Agency for Ireland. The project aims to tackle difficulties that arise and are associated with the inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream education; and associated current deficiencies in initial and continued physical education teacher training to deal with same. A functional map of the physical education teacher’s role will be developed through the project and the knowledge, competence and skill requirements of PE teachers, given the rapidly changing work environments resulting from the aforementioned changes, will be detailed. An International Conference in Tralee in 2009 will launch the project results and a resource pack. Other EIPET project aims include: To empower teacher training providers and PE teachers with the knowledge, skills and competence to operate effectively in the work environment. To facilitate equity of opportunity in Physical Education for all. To develop a resource pack to accompany the model and modules and make it available for download from the project website or available on CD.   The EIPET project is asking UKPE subscribers to let them know your thoughts or dissemination activities in relation to the project in order to engage you in the project consultation process. For more information, please contact Matt Fisher mfisher@sportscoachuk.org