PE Pays for Young People

Irish teachers, coaches, public health professionals and policymakers recently gathered at Dublin City University to discuss ways to promote physical activity amongst Ireland’s young people, whether in schools or in their communities. 

DCU hosted the Physical Education, Physical Activity and Youth Sport (PE PAYS) Research Forum conference where keynote addresses were delivered by Professor Joan Duda on ‘Empowering Coaching’ and Dave Malone, a three times Paralympics medallist.  Professor Duda, an academic from the University of Birmingham, is co-ordinator of the European PAPA (Promoting Adolescent Physical Activity) project committed to enhancing young peoples’ health and well-being through positive experiences in sport.  Dave won gold in the Sydney Paralympics 2000, and silver in both Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004 in swimming. He is also former world record holder in 50, 100 and 200m backstroke.  Dave is currently Head of Paralympic Swimming and was Team Manager to the Irish 2012 Paralympic Swim team.

During the two-day gathering, attendees discussed a range of subject included:

• Inclusion in Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport – to explore the development of sports opportunities for people with disability or special needs as a way to facilitate social inclusion;
• Developing Talent and Coach Education in Sport – to analyse and evaluate the current state of talent development in Irish sporting contexts;
• Learning to Teach – to better connect physical education with curricula;
• Active Schools/Active Communities – understanding and promoting physical activity in children and adolescents, and the role and place of fitness testing in schools.

The PEPAYS Research Forum is the flagship conference of the national PEPAYS Research.  This Centre is recognised internationally for the quality and impact of its research in support of an inclusive, physically active culture for young people.