Physical Education
(413) 662-5302
Coordinator: Peter Hoyt, Ph.D.
Email: Peter.Hoyt@mcla.edu
The charge of a liberal arts education includes opportunities for intellectual, physical and spiritual development. The physical education courses are housed within the Department of Biology. It is designed to encourage lifelong physical well-being and provides opportunities for leadership and collaboration.
These courses offer students the opportunity to experience various forms of lifetime physical and recreation activities. These activities emphasize one or more of the different components of physical fitness: cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, coordination, skill acquisition and weight loss. These serve as a foundation for a healthy, physically active lifestyle and inform effective choices concerning the value and place of lifetime physical activity.
Sport Coaching
This is an integrative program that includes coursework in Biology, Health Science, and Physical Education and prepares students for careers in coaching, including skills in coaching methodology, team management, and coach-player interaction.
Physical Education Courses
Provides instruction in basic first aid and CPR for the adult, child and infant. Red Cross certification is provided upon successful completion.
Provides the opportunity to learn skills and strategy of racket sports, specifically badminton.
Provides instruction in professional rescuer CPR, AED, and first aid for the adult, child, and infant. American Red Cross certification is provided upon successful completion.
Introduces students to the game of golf. Provides basic instruction in a good golf swing and the following: putting, chipping, iron and wood shots.
Provides instruction in the components of physical fitness: flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, and cardiovascular endurance. Stress management and nutrition are also discussed.
Focuses on awareness and avoidance of a possible attack. Students will learn to punch and kick properly along with basic self defense hands techniques. This is a beginner's course in self-defense.
Teaches the basic Hatha Yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques.
Introduces students to a variety of physical education activities. Activities vary according to teaching staff and student needs.
Designed for students to learn and practice techniques of conditioning as it relates to sport. Testing and training techniques for strength, power, speed, endurance, flexibility and agility will be emphasized.
Explores fundamental principles of exercise safety, injury risk management and emergency care. Involves the study of orthopedic injury, environmental illness, eating disorder and concussion. Certification of CPR/AED and first aid for the adult, child and infant is provided upon completion of the course. Extra course fee required.
Helps students develop a set of health behaviors that constitute what is generally considered to be a high energy lifestyle. These behaviors stress responsibility for one's health. Areas covered are physical fitness, nutrition and weight control, stress management, substance abuse, sexually transmitted disease and chronic disease.
Facilitates an understanding of sport coaching based on fundamental principles that appropriately guide coaching behaviors. Involves the study and professional development of aspects related to sport coaching, including but limited to: leadership, sportsmanship, legal aspects, ethics, psychosocial aspects, interscholastic rules, organization and administrative aspects.
Explores a specific aspect related to physical education, athletics, coaching or sports medicine. Content identifiable by subtitle.
Open to juniors and seniors who wish to study a topic in depth. Written reports and frequent conferences with the advisor are required.
Provides hands-on experience in the field of sports coaching. Students will utilize acquired knowledge, skills and abilities in various aspects of coaching in a sports-related environment. Requires 135 on-site hours. Graded on Pass/Fail basis.