inspiring educational institutions to embrace cycling as a competitive sport
The YES-BLAST package includes:
Virginia’s Department of Public Health Prevention Connections provided the YES-BLAST Package to each of their 50 middle school 2012 “Safe Routes to School” Mini-grant winners. From YES-BLAST Vol. 1, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “Bikeology” was created.
A School Cycling Instructor (SCI) will visit your school and provide the Physical Education Teachers with professional development in the “sport of bicycling.” This course features a skill building curriculum with the National Standards and the Every Student Succeeds Act requirements satisfied.
Request a free sample of any YES curricula for your Physical Education Department.
To create sustainability in the program, the Physical Education Department must have a fleet of bicycles to conduct the bike lessons. This allows for a level playing field, all can ride and ensures less time is spent repairing student’s personal bicycles.
A school that receives Professional Development but not bicycles will likely see their Bicycle Unit forgotten when personnel change over. Schools with good, low maintenance bicycles will teach the course annually. For example, Marina del Rey Middle School in California has maintained a bicycle program since 2002.
Step 1 – presentation: “The Bike Channel” DVD uses a fun pretend newscast showing young bicyclist involved in a vehicle crash. The news reporter calls on experts to explain how the crash happened. The newscast has fun bicycle commercials, sport report and updates on the crash. Questions are provided in the BLAST Vol. 1 to engage the viewers in bicycle safety discussions after watching “The Bike Channel”.
Step 2 – practical: 2 to 5 week Skills and Drills, outlined in the BLAST Vol. 1, a fun way to learn the seven motor-skills (biological physical mechanics) needed to correctly execute: looking over their shoulder for cars; signaling a turn and then executing the turn.
Step 3 – practical: 2 to 5 week BLAST Vol. 1 Group Riding will keep engagement by introducing the next skill level – beginning competition. After learning the seven mechanics of a turn, next is learning bicycling proximity from skills causing close riding by others will develop necessary judgement in traffic. BLAST Vol. 2 introduces competition via track racing.
Each youth completing the BLAST Practical will receive a “Certificate to Ride”; a school requirement before allowing transporting by bicycle to school.
Ten best arguments for teaching the “Sport of Bicycling”
Bicycling is FUN!