Abstract
Statement of Problem
As population in California increases and changes, parks and recreation professionals are challenged to come up with new and innovative ways to deliver recreation services, particularly to young people. The research literature related to health benefits of leisure involvement shows gaining interest in determining specific types of leisure activities that contribute to health and well-being of leisure participants. Because of the health implications leisure activity participation can endorse, it is important to explore introducing new and different leisure activities into current physical education curriculum. For example the literature shows a declining student interest in physical education among middle school and high school aged adolescent boys and girls. About one third of students asked say they would choose a course other than physical education if given the option.
Disc golf is proposed in this project as an avenue for encouraging leisure activity involvement in high school physical education students to move them in the direction of rebuilding their interest in physical activity. The purpose of this project is to develop a proposal to establish a disc golf program for Ponderosa High School's physical education department.
Sources of Data
The literature cited in the project contains a variety of peer-reviewed journals as information sources. Additionally, books and web related sources provided further secondary insight to the literature. Finally, practical input from physical education professionals was contributed in support of the project.
Conclusions Reached
A comprehensive manual detailing the design and construction of a disc golf course and an outline of a physical education curriculum including disc golf educational strategies and tactics were created for this project. There is considerable literature surrounding the potential health benefits of leisure activities~ but there is little inquiry into the exploration of how disc golf as a specific leisure activity contributes to health and well-being. Performing a curriculum and a facilities evaluation of this project and its components is suggested as an avenue into further research development for disc golf within the sport education curriculum model.