Approach

The approach is like a diamond with many facets when brought together creates a bright gem. The facets of bicycling as a sport are as diverse as the roadways cyclists travel. From “wind in your face” recreational cycling these facets expand to traditional Road Racing, off-road Cyclo Cross & Mountain Bike Racing, Velodrome Track Racing and Bicycle Motocross Racing.

Overcoming challenges

How do you bring sustainability to a bike program and get teens to adopt an aerobic healthy lifestyle that fights obesity? Bicycling is the only sport that does not have a safe controlled venue to receive instruction and practice before youth venture onto the roads by themselves.

Traditionally, bicycle education is divided into two categories; bicycle recreation/commuting or a competitive sport. The two categories can merge, obtain sustainability, become institutionalized and taught by professionals who are trained in teaching Kinesiology, skills and team building.

The YES curricula teaches the foundation for all disciplines of bicycling.

YES Secondary P.E. Bike Unit

Unlike other sports taught in schools, bicycling is the only sport that most youth learn and practice on the streets competing with vehicles. And school physical education facilities are the best place to learn and practice bicycling without ever needing to leave school grounds.

YES provides a FREE curriculum – YES-BLAST for intermediate and YES-BIKE for high school, containing rubrics of the National Standards and satisfying the Common Core requirements.

The curriculum elements include the introduction of:

• Healthy lifestyle
• Competitive sport
• Recreational experiences
• Understanding the equipment
• And safe transportation by bicycle

The YES skill building progressive curricula are created especially for secondary Physical Education Departments. In addition, YES provides Professional Development and Team Teaching to help Physical Education Teachers to implement the Bicycling Unit annually.

The YES starting curricula for secondary schools are: YES-BLAST Vol.1 for middle/junior high schools and YES- BIKE Vol. I for high schools. Each curriculum reflects the bicycling gem multi-faceted components to create the successful 4 to 10 week Unit. These are: a bicycle traffic safety presentation; multiple skills, drills and finally track racing events seen in the Olympics, all on school grounds.

Make your program successful

There are four needed components for a successful sustainable Physical Education Bicycle Unit:

1. A skills building curriculum with high reaching goals
2. Professional Development for Physical Education Teachers
3. Special low maintenance school bicycles and equipment
4. Community outreach to bicycle organizations and advocacy groups

• Free curriculum to Physical Education Departments who want to introduce YES-BLAST Vol.1 for middle/junior high schools and/or YES-BIKE Vol. 1 for high schools.
• YES-School Cycling Instructors certified to provide Professional Development for Physical Education Teachers to learn how to teach a program from skills to Olympic racing.
• Help identify where schools/districts can find grant funding for the program
• YES, Inc. recommends each school has a standardized Bike Fleet (35-65) to level the playing field
• Low-maintenance bicycles, helmet and support equipment

Request a copy of the presentation given at SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Educators) Southwest District Convention, by YES Executive Director, Tana Ball, and CAHPERD President, Chad Fenwick.