How to become A Physical Education Teacher

All work and no play are unhealthy for both the body and the mind. For some children and adolescents, engaging in sports is instinctive. For others, it may not be so. A Physical Education Teacher ensures that all students have the opportunity to develop their skills, interests, and their overall well-being through curricular and extracurricular physical activities carried out under skilled supervision.

• Physical Education Instructor
• Drill Instructor
• Physical Trainer
• Coach
• Athletic Trainer
• Director of Athletics
• Martial Arts Instructor
• Playground Teacher
• Certified Personal Trainer
• Camp Administrator
• Soccer Coach
• Basketball Coach
• Sports Official
• Wellness Teacher

What do PE Teachers do?

A PE Teacher would typically need to:

• Lead, teach and motivate individual students or groups to practice physical activities including sports and exercise
• Participate in coaching activities for school sports teams; act as faculty advisors for extra-curricular student clubs; accompany teams to local, regional, national, or international and inter-school sporting events
• Promote community activities; assign homework that require physical activity or some fun at home with the family exercising together; get to know the out-of-class physical activities in which the students participate, perhaps ice skating, mountaineering, etc.
• Collaborate with the academic teachers and clinical staff to identify the physical education requirements of children to help them adapt; interact with teachers to prepare and implement interdisciplinary lessons; participate in entire in-service training
• Assess the physical abilities of each student through testing; analyse the physical education program and activities of the institution where they work
• Plan different physical activities crucial for students’ well-being of students; set specific and measurable objectives for each lesson, unit and project; arrange for the activities to take place and maintain records
• Coach or inform students individually or in groups; model strict behaviour-management guidelines and strategies; evaluate the behaviour and performance of students; monitor progress
• Ensure that students spend at least half the class time being moderately or vigorously active
• Ensure that objectives are addressed and met; share results and information with teachers and therapists to formulate final reports
• Interact with parents and guardians as required and address concerns
• Keep in check the amount of time you talk or instruct
• Organize space, equipment, and students effectively so that all children can be active simultaneously, for instance, a skipping rope for each child
• Structure time to allow maximum participation, using a mix of individual, partner, and small-group activities, non-elimination activities, and no-wait-time activities
• Structure the class to allow for learning while students are physically active
• Teach skills that students can transfer to physical activity outside the PE class and can use for a lifetime of healthy physical engagement
• Teach activities that students may do independently, such as jump rope, hopscotch, and others; include these activities for a brief period in the PE class to encourage the students to play them on their own on the school playground and in their neighbourhoods
• Consult with and guide school or college leadership team regarding administration policies and rules related to physical education
• Attend staff and faculty meetings; hold conferences with parents and caregivers; carry out administrative work

Physical Education Teachers teach students in a gymnasium or the outdoor recreation areas of the school or the community or fitness institutes. They also spend time working in an office to complete paperwork or attend school meetings with leadership teams, faculty, students, or parents. Travel to local sports venues or other locations in the country or overseas may be needed for sports events and competitions.

PE Teachers typically work six to seven hours a day, 35 hours a week. Their work hours may extend during interschool sports meets and contests or when they organise a sports day for their school. In general, the profession is relatively free from pressure, and the daily schedule is reasonably constant.

Some PE teachers may work at more than one school, using class rotation to work with students at different schools on each working day. 

Finding a new job might seem challenging. PE Teachers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.PE Teachers may work on permanent terms or on a contractual basis that lasts a year at a time.

Physical Education Teachers are generally employed by:

• Public & Private Schools
• Elementary & Secondary Schools
• Post-Secondary Schools
• Fitness Centres
• Online Health Coaching
• Community Centres

Professional associations and organisations, such as the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport, and Dance (ICHPER-SD), are crucial for Physical Education Teachers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Low wages, insufficient infrastructure, lack of materials, and inadequate space; a devalued department treated more as recreation; lack of discipline among students and lack of interest among families
• Numerous accidents during PE classes, the common hazards being fractures of upper and lower limbs, dislocations, contusions, tendonitis, muscle tear and cuts
• Too little prep time for too many students with limited administrative support and challenging students to teach
• The lack of college preparation for new teachers and finding adequate curriculum to teach; veteran teachers finding it hard to retain motivation and cope with “teacher burnout” due to repetitive skills, activities, games, sports and concepts
• Large class sizes and the lack of assistance to manage them make it difficult to focus attention on and assess individual students even though you are responsible for each of them
• Difficulty finding funding outlets to buy equipment; gym space used for other events; a sense of isolation from the rest of the school; not enough say in the PE program
• Inadequate support for professional development; lack of time-off or permission to take external courses or further training
• School administrators reluctant to spend on PE equipment for students; classroom teachers thinking of PE as a “babysitting” service so that they can plan their classes; PTA groups not giving adequate importance, respect, and funding support to the PE program
• District and state cuts to PE programs despite evidence of their importance in the holistic growth of students; minimal guiding standards and curriculum resources
• Dealing over and over again with instances of poor sportsmanship, tattling, technical issues, and equipment breakdowns
• Providing new activities/games and stations demands time, effort and funds
• Encouraging sports in a society that is less active overall, especially at home; balancing extreme cases of one-sport specialists who have skills limited to just the one sport with the need to build their sportsmanship and cooperate in diverse games and situations
• Understanding what makes students feel loved and respected

Aspiring Physical Education Teachers would do well to gather experience in playing team sports and in exercising interpersonal and communication skills. If they understand team dynamics well, they will make more effective coaches. Exposure to kinesiology and nutrition can come in handy as well. Practising healthy eating habits and physical fitness routines will help them set a personal example to their students and inspire them to do the same.

You may choose to take up school-led courses that last a year as an alternative to a master’s degree program. Such studies provide a hands-on approach to train as a PE teacher working in schools. You may find yourself continuing to work at one of the schools you teach after you are qualified. While you may not receive remuneration, your tuition will be paid.

Candidates with a diploma or a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, exercise science, or related subjects are eligible to work in schools and colleges. Coursework in student teaching and pedagogy is important. You may also take courses in exercise physiology, health & wellness, kinesiology, and PE teaching methods. An option is to complete a bachelor’s degree in education, with a focus on physical education. Typically, degree programs in physical education include theoretical coursework and activity courses, such as basketball or aerobics. Some programs may incorporate an internship to receive hands-on training under an experienced PE teacher’s supervision.

Those with a master’s degree in physical education qualify for higher-level posts in government departments or become heads of department at universities.

Certification demonstrates a Physical Education Teacher’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When received from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Certification as a PE Teacher is similar to the certification to teach other subjects. The requirements may depend on the location. Typically, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with requisite majors and minors followed by a teacher preparation program and a period of student teaching under supervision. You must also pass mandatory exams and possess certain other certifications, including first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certifications. Lifeguard certification (if at a high school with a pool) and sports therapy certification (if coaching students in team sports) are also necessary.

Public schools may require grade-specific certification depending on which grade level you wish to work with or certification for elementary, middle or high school. A master’s degree in physical education may offer an alternative pathway to certification. You may also choose certification in working with individuals and groups with special needs with the help of adapted methods for differently-abled students.

Starting as a PE teacher for a grade level, you could take on the lead role in elementary, middle or senior school as well and advance to the role of Specialist Leader of Education, supporting teachers across schools. You could also work as a Curriculum Leader, Head of Department, Deputy Head or Headteacher. With experience, you could also take up work in coaching or sports development.

Knowledge of kinesiology and nutrition along with personal fitness and experience in team sports will enhance your job prospects. Combining cultural sensitivity and the ability to motivate and inspire students with your professional qualifications will make you stand out in the job market.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) allow teachers to personalise their professional development (PD) through social media and blogs and engage in lifelong learning. Being permitted to use some time for content-specific PD leads PE Teachers to evaluate strategies and ideas feasible for their content areas.

By attending diverse workshops, PE Teachers learn about new strategies from experts in the field and how to implement them. New trends in PD are building literacy in PE and collaborating with other content areas. Diverse viewpoints and accountability foster new content. PD should be a constant process to help PE Teachers enhance their skills so that they can have a positive and useful impact on their understanding of teaching.

Using Skills to Pole Vault to Success

Skills are transferable between PE classes and children’s play. Little children who play tag or jump rope and older children who play kickball develop skills that make the students more likely to engage in physical activity. Confidence in one’s skills motivates students to play while low-skilled students, particularly older ones, hesitate to participate for fear of failure and peer disapproval. Building skills and confidence early on are crucial to foster volunteer work and active engagement in sports and exercise programs.

Different Strokes

While you will have opportunities to interact with students across the school as all must take PE lessons, you will find your work different at each level.

In elementary school, you will work with children displaying varying fitness levels. You will aim to improve their coordination and teach them teamwork, with the overall goal to inspire them to seek and enjoy physical activities.

You have some flexibility to plan classes for middle or high school classes based on your experience or interests. You may offer traditional courses, such as baseball, basketball, soccer or tennis, as well as newer ones, including rock climbing, ultimate Frisbee, dance, and aerobics.

Why Does a PE Program Score Points?

Physical Education Teachers stress the importance of comprehensive PE programs because they help students recognise how crucial to overall and long-term health and wellness it is to be physically active. They employ a holistic approach to help kids understand how physical activity, intellectual learning and nutrition combine to create a positive outcome for life.

Being pushed to achieve high results and cope with standardised tests and homework stresses young children and physical activity can help regulate this stress. In PE, even if for just an hour, students can focus on just a physical task.

Students also learn about additional aspects of health, such as nutrition and healthy eating habits, to ward off obesity. PE Teachers help them fit together all the puzzle pieces of following a healthy lifestyle. Physical education balances the long periods spent on social media on laptops and phones. The PE classroom is where the benefits of teamwork come into play to achieve a common goal.

According to the WHO, 38 million children aged less than five were overweight or obese in 2019 and over 340 million children and teenagers aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016.

As a Physical Education Teacher, you share the responsibility with other teachers to foster the overall wellbeing of your students. Not only are you a teacher but also a role model, exemplifying good health and fitness. Giving your students opportunities for the maximum and best possible activity time allows them to foster their skills, knowledge, physical fitness, and determination to live healthy, active lives.

Be on time. Be flexible. Time management is everything.