Do You Have What It Takes To Become A Physical Education Teacher?

Every day, high school and college students become interested in how to become a Physical Education teacher after they graduate.

If you are one of those people, it is important that you consider the following things you will need in order to become a successful Physical Education teacher someday.

1. Passion

Do you love sports? How about health and wellness?

This is the first and most important factor in having what it takes to become a successful Physical Education teacher. Furthermore, loving just one sport or activity won’t cut it. Rather, you have to be interested in all sports and have a general knowledge of most sporting activities to teach Physical Education.

In addition, you also have to have a passion for children and teaching. Combining your passions for teaching and your love for sports, health and wellness will take you far as a Physical Education teacher.

2. Education

In most cases, you will need a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education to become a Physical Education teacher at any level.

Many of these degree programs around the United States consist of courses in exercise science, kinesiology, physiology, health and wellness, and more. In these courses, you will learn how to teach activities such as basketball, tennis, golf, aerobics, racquetball, and many other individual and team sports.

In addition, many Physical Education teachers also teach health, so you will need to have a good grasp of the subject matter. During your education, you will also have to practice teaching through internships and student teaching. And finally, most schools require Physical Education teachers to become CPR and first-aid certified. You can do this through the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association or other organizations.

Some schools will pay for these certifications, so be sure to ask your potential employer about them.

3. Experience

Along with your education, you will need some outside-the-classroom experience in order to be a competitive candidate as a Physical Education teacher.

The best way to do this is to find outside paid or unpaid work or volunteer opportunities that allow you to interact with young people through recreational activities. This could include becoming a camp counselor, working at the YMCA, teaching private sports lessons or finding a coaching job. The more experience you have, the better prepared you will be.

4. Flexibility

As a Physical Education teacher, your job requirements will most likely involve more than just teaching Physical Education and health, which means you will have to be flexible.

Plan ahead for weather issues such as rain or snow. Also, be willing to teach other courses where staffing holes exist or provide your expertise through coaching a sport in the evenings. In addition, be flexible when the gym where you teach needs to be used for other purposes.

In that regard, as the point person for your school’s gymnasium, you may be required to help protect the gym floor and prepare for other activities that occur in that space, including dances, auctions, dinners, etc. Due to this responsibility, you will want to make sure your gym floor is protected so that you can provide the best facilities and classes for your students.

Make sure your administration knows how to properly protect floors using tarps such as GymGuard.

5. Energy

A great deal of energy is required to become a successful Physical Education teacher.

You will most likely teach five or six class periods a day, and during those times, you will have to keep children occupied, active and excited about your subject. Physical Education teachers especially need to stay engaged and ready to handle almost anything. Therefore, make sure you get enough sleep during the week and you are taking care of your own health and wellness. Be a role model for your children in this way. It will help you enjoy what you teach that much more.

Shana Brenner is the Marketing Director of CoverSports an athletic manufacturing company that distributes athletic protective covers, sideline tarps and more.