Schools are an ideal setting to organize sport activities. Access to physical education, physical activity and sport in schools provides many benefits for children and youth, including:

• better health and quality of life;
• improved psychological well-being;
• improved behaviour and ability to learn;
• higher scholastic performance;
• good health habits; and
• an appreciation for physical activity and sport.

Introduction to various movement skills, presented in a fun manner, can be part of a well-rounded physical education, or what some call ‘physical literacy’. If you would like to organize a sport activity in a school setting you may want to draw on the expertise and resources of potential partners like local recreation centres and sport clubs.

Also, many national and provincial/territorial sport organizations are willing to establish links with schools and can be useful partners. A list of national sport organizations (NSOs) is available at www.pch.gc.ca/progs/sc/federations/index_e.cfm.

Provincial/territorial sport organizations are usually listed on the NSOs’ websites, but you can also get information about them from your SummerActive provincial/territorial representative.

Other useful partners to consider include:

• the Coaching Association of Canada (www.coach.ca) – check out their coaching tips;
• Canadian Sport for Life website at www.ltad.ca to learn how to deliver sport programs that are developmental age-appropriate;
• the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport (CAAWS) (www.caaws.ca) – look for Girls@Play;
• the Canada Games Council (www.canadagames.ca) – see their Canada Games Day resources;
• the Esteem Team (www.gov.on.ca/opp/crimeprev/english/esteem_team.htm);
• The Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) (www.cahperd.ca) – consider their Quality Daily Physical Education resources); and
• SportFit (www.sportfitcanada.com).

Other National Multisport Organizations with interesting resources are listed at www.pch.gc.ca/progs/sc/multi-sport/index_e.cfm.

Are you organizing or leading a sport activity in your community? This is a great occasion to inform parents and children of the opportunities and resources that exist to overcome barriers to sport participation, particularly for under-represented groups, such as girls and women, Aboriginal Peoples, persons with a disability, and the economically disadvantaged.

One example is the community-based Canadian Tire ‘JumpStart’ program, which helps kids in need participate in organized sport and recreational activities (www.canadiantire.ca/jumpstart).

Other helpful websites include:

• True Sport (www.truesportpur.ca) (check out the Bell Community Sport Fund);
• KidSport (www.kidsport.ca);
• the Aboriginal Sport Circle (www.aboriginalsportcircle.ca);
• the Canadian Blind Sports Association (www.canadianblindsports.org);
• the Canadian Deaf Sports Association (www.assc-cdsa.com);
• the Canadian Paralympic Committee (www.paralympic.ca);
• Special Olympics Canada (www.specialolympics.ca);
• the Canadian Wheelchair Sport Association (www.cwsa.ca); and
• the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (www.ccpsa.ca).

There is a sport for you! You can enjoy sports in an organized or a casual setting, through skill development programs or league games, at the sport club or recreation centre, and above all with your friends, in fun and spontaneous games outdoors!

Participating in sport is a great way to make new friends, to enjoy the summer and the outdoors, to relax and feel great. Take up the challenge and enjoy physical activity through sport!