Physical Literacy

The current working definition of physical literacy.

In short:- 'the motivation, confidence, physical competence, understanding and knowledge to maintain physical activity at an individually appropriate level, throughout life'.

In further detail:-

• Physical literacy can be described as the ability and motivation to capitalise on our movement potential to make a significant contribution to the quality of life.
• As humans we all exhibit this potential, however its specific expression will be particular to the culture in which we live and the movement capacities with which we are endowed.
• An individual who is physically literate moves with poise, economy and confidence in a wide variety of physically challenging situations.
• The individual is perceptive in 'reading' all aspects of the physical environment, anticipating movement needs or possibilities and responding appropriately to these, with intelligence and imagination.
• A physically literate individual has a well established sense of self as embodied in the world. This together with an articulate interaction with the environment engenders positive self esteem and self confidence.
• Sensitivity to and awareness of our embodied capacities leads to fluent self expression through non-verbal communication and to perceptive and empathetic interaction with others.
• In addition the individual has the ability to identify and articulate the essential qualities that influence the effectiveness of his/her own movement performance, and has an understanding of the principles of embodied health, with respect to basic aspects such as exercise, sleep and nutrition.

Addendum

Such is the influence of western patriarchal culture that the development of physical literacy by girls and young women has become problematic. This arises on account of the way in which male hegemony works both to assert the lesser capacity of the embodied dimension of women and to devalue the development of physical literacy in that it is unfeminine.

Developing physical literacy in its broadest sense can also be problematic for boys who do not match up to the extrovert, mesomorph male model to which all men are made to feel they should aspire. In both cases, for different reasons, physical literacy can be seen as counter to the expectations of society.

M. Whitehead May 2007