IN the biggest initiative of its kind, SuperSport is launching the Let’s Play Physical Education Challenge to commemorate its tenth year.
The challenge is a nationwide event targeted at 10- and 11-year-olds from among South Africa’s 18 000 primary schools.
The fittest primary school per province will compete for the title with the grand prize, a R1,1-million all-purpose, all-weather multi-use sports court to be built at the winning school.
The nine provincial winners will each receive R10 000 worth of sports equipment and a physical education package worth R40 000.
The primary objective of the challenge is to reinforce the instruction of curriculum-oriented physical education and to promote physical activity in all schools.
Let’s Play coaching teams will target various schools per day to run the Physical Education Challenge.
The fittest learners per school will compete, after which the top ten schools per province will qualify for the provincial semi-final, leading to an overall provincial winner.
The final will take place on Let’s Play’s tenth birthday on 5 November.
The obstacle course challenge is designed to accommodate both boys and girls and will be standardised at every competing school.
It includes football slalom dribble, catch and throw, mini hurdles, rope pull and an agility drill; all of which are completed in a matter of minutes.
While activity is the central focus of the challenge, it will also draw attention to two major social issues among youngsters: doping and bullying.
A parallel campaign to end violence against children will be supported by Unicef, the children’s rights and emergency relief organisation.
Former Miss South Africa Jo-Anne Strauss is the goodwill ambassador and will make appearances at schools to address the issue.
“We believe that this is a meaningful way to get schools involved in physical activity, particularly as government has highlighted the need for children to become more active,” said Vaughn Bishop, head of Let’s Play.
“Kids needn’t be superstars; the challenge is designed to accommodate everyone at primary school level.”
The Let’s Play Physical Education Challenge is endorsed by the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Sport and Recreation, the Nedbank Sports Trust, Active Education, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, the Physical Education Institute of South Africa and MultiChoice.
Sponsors include 32Gi, Future Life and Hitachi Construction Machinery Southern Africa.
Schools are invited to enter by calling one of the following two numbers: 011-894-7411 or 079-529-8862 (all hours).
Schools may also send an email to physedchallenge@activeeducation.co.za
