COACH D PE AROUND THE WORLD

    This over-active boy grew up in Ohio, at all times looking to ride my bike even when the sidewalk ended, to climb a tree always just a little too high, or to play any game real or made up with my friends. 

I was always athletically gifted in sports and enjoyed success playing basketball, baseball—and my favorite sport: soccer!    After playing multiple sports through high school and intramural sports in college, I earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education. Soon followed the master’s degree in sports management. 

Degrees in hand, I move to Charlotte, North Carolina, to run a large multi-sport complex…but this active guy simultaneously ran youth and adult leagues in soccer, flag football, basketball, volleyball, and in-line hockey.     For the past 15 years, I have been also in the education field as a physical education teacher, coach, and private school athletic director. True to form, during that time I started a summer sports camp business through various schools and neighborhoods. Currently, I run summer camps as well as after-school sports clinics.       

 First physical activity must be fun so kids want to participate. Second, physical activity should be safe so they can fully participate and engage in the fun because through engagement, they will learn and develop their motor skills, as well as teamwork and sportsmanship.    For the past 25 years, I’ve coached various school team sports, including girls basketball, boys basketball, girls soccer, boys soccer, girls volleyball, and boys baseball at both the middle-school and high-school levels.      

    I am curious about physical activity and physical education in other countries throughout the world. My inquisitive nature and constant need to move inspired an idea I discovered through the COVID experience. During that time, I engaged my students through social media, creating videos and activities that encouraged students to stay engaged with me and with physical activity. I quickly realized that my adaptability was meant for something greater.    

Starting this August, I will fly east to Morocco to begin my new adventure: bringing physical education to you from throughout the world!    The plan is to cover six continents, 34 countries, and 60 schools in 8 months!    To do this, my team will help me to find schools to connect with, so I can shadow and interview teachers, and experience physical activity and education in real time with real people. I will encounter real culture and family conditions, and I will share these experiences with you in a couple ways: Via YouTube and other social media platforms in real time, via FaceTime calls to groups or classes, via newsletter and social media check-ins, and via film and kids’ books once I return.    

Studying PE in other countries relates to culture, lifestyle, and diversity because people don’t play or exercise without influence. I want to see how kids play based on economic status, lifestyle, customs. We know that factors impact lives, play, and fitness level, and I want to study how it all works. If we learn that we play the same, maybe we can reach common ground in other worldly aspects, too.  

   Check out Coach D’s itinerary.  

Do you want to host Coach D on his excursions?      

Hosting is only needed for one week at each location (Sunday in, Sunday out). 

 Do you have a suggestion for something cool to experience or a place not to miss in your country?    

Do you want to sponsor Coach D in the physical education adventure?     

Do you want to donate?    

Do you have grant ideas the team can explore?    

or do you just want to follow the fun?