How to Become a Physical Education Teacher

Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers give students instructions about sports, health, physical development, and proper nutrition. Physical education teachers have acquired a lot of knowledge about sports and health sciences. They teach students various immunity-boosting sports games and physical activities for muscles and complete body health. The role of physical education teachers in schools is to design the duration of their classes so that it becomes more engaging and fun for students to involve in physical activities and exercise-based learning. 

Physical education teachers have to be physically fit as they instruct multiple classes about physical activities. Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers teach students both indoor as well as outdoor game activities. A PE Teacher's job requires teaching the younger students how to play various sports activities and exercises. They are accountable for organizing the physical fitness classes that involve physical activities such as exercises and games, and preparation and maintenance of gym equipment. 

Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers must possess a strong background in sports and communication. Effective communication skills are required to engage in communication with students and instruct them on exercises in the physical education class.  Physical education teachers generally hold a degree in the specialization of teaching exercise, physical science, physical fitness or related subjects with a duration of four years. Many physical education teachers serve as faculty advisors for student clubs in schools.

Organization

A physical education teacher has to effectively organize fitness and sports equipment, space, and students. If a physical education teacher is conducting some activity, he or she needs to make sure the availability of students.

Adequate distribution

A physical education teacher holds the responsibility to provide adequate sports equipment to each child so it gets sufficient for everyone. Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers should make sure that every student is getting a chance to play and participate in activities.

Time management

Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers have to manage their time while instructing students and engaging in conversation with students to make them familiar with the importance of physical health. Inadequate time management can lead to a decrease in the number of students.

Planning activities

A physical education teacher has to plan activities that involve maximum participation in the practices. He or she needs to segregate the students according to their interests in sports. Activities that come under Physical Education are jumping rope, playing soccer, lifting weights, day to day activities such as walking and running.

Structuring

Physical education teachers have to structure the class to ensure the students are physically fit to learn more practices and exercises. Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers need to tell the importance of fitness and sports so that students can participate more and more in the activities.

Informing

Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers need to communicate with other class teachers and inform them of the needs and benefits of adding small physical activities to the school day. Physical education teachers need to inform the students if any activity is going to take place in the coming days so that students can prepare themselves accordingly.

In this section, we have discussed some of the types of a Phyiscal Education Teacher or Phyiscal Education Teacher career options. 

Nutritionist: The science that investigates physiological and metabolic responses of the body towards food and diet involving the causes, treatments, and prevention of diseases is known as nutrition. These types of physical education teacher jobs are to deal with people and suggest to them the best diet plans improve their metabolism and cure diseases caused by under or overdose of some nutrients in a regular diet.

Aerobics Instructor: Aerobic instructors train and assess people of different age groups, abilities and sports professionals in the best practices of aerobics. These types of physical education teacher's jobs are to provide guidance and help clients to attain physical fitness and maintain it. He or she choreographs or sets music for aerobic exercises to moderately low and high-intensity exercises.

Athletics Coach: Athletic coaches give instructions and guide athletes to prepare for competition. Coaches guide athletes with the best practices to play individually and in a team. Sports such as football, basketball, hockey, baseball, tennis, soccer and golf require team spirit for healthy competition. Athletic coaches instruct the best practices of team spirit for effective and healthy competition. Athletic coaches are considered experts in their sports in terms of strategies, techniques or rules of the sports. 

High School Teacher: A high school teacher can teach various subjects to students and physical education is one of them. These days there is an increased focus on sports, due to which there is a high demand for physical education teachers at the high school level. The primary job of a high school teacher who is teaching physical education to students is to teach them the technicalities of sports and athletics.  

Kindergarten teacher: Often a kindergarten teacher acts as a physical education teacher for young kids. They might not necessarily teach them sports or games, but the job entails them making students physically robust. This way most of the students get introduced to the world of sports and games. 

Also read: Career as Clinical Psychologist

The work schedule of physical education remains the same every day. Either physical education teachers instruct in a gymnasium or outdoor recreation areas of the school. Either they work in offices or attend school meetings. During summer break or mid-session break, they plan fitness classes for students and teachers as well.  Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers often stay busy in their offices completing paperwork. A physical education teacher’s responsibility includes maintaining and moving fitness equipment. Physically fit teachers are considered role models for students. 

Their responsibilities also include duties such as the supervision of lunchrooms and hallways during recess. Sometimes they may also perform bus duties if required. Physical education trainers attend faculty meetings as well as parents-teachers meetings. 

Does Physical Education Teacher require travelling?

Likely

Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers may occasionally require travelling. The purpose of traveling is to ensure the participation of students in sports competitions with students from other schools.

Employment Shifts

Full Time

Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers work full-time as per the school’s regular schedule. The career does not bring choices of part-time, hourly basis, work from home, or on-call work in the employment shift. PT teachers work from early morning to mid-evening. Sometimes their work hours may stretch due to participation in sports competitions.

Employment Nature

Contractual, Permanent

Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers work on contractual as well as permanent terms. Most commonly, physical education teachers are hired on contractual terms with a duration of one year.

Work Place

On-Field, Office

Physical education teachers work in an office and often stay busy with the completion of paperwork. PT teachers are hired in schools, gyms, and other fitness institutes to instruct the physical exercises and maintain fitness equipment. Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers work for seven hours a day and 35 hours a week. Their work hours may stretch during sports competitions with other schools.

Presence in Geographical Area

Semi-urban, Urban

Cities with a developed education system and awareness among parents about the complete physical development of their children ensure the employment of physical education teachers. Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Gwalior and other developing cities have flourished with employment opportunities.

Time Pressure

Not Likely

There is little to no time pressure in the profession. Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers are generally required to work six to seven hours per day and six days a week. The work schedule of physical education remains the same every day. Either physical education teachers instruct in a gymnasium or outdoor recreation areas of the school. Either physical education trainers work in offices or attend school meetings.

Overtime Details

Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers work in an office and often stay busy with the completion of paperwork. They are hired in schools, gyms, and other fitness institutes to instruct physical exercises and maintain fitness equipment. Physical education trainers work for seven hours a day and 35 hours a week. Their work hours may stretch during sports competitions with other schools.

Weekly Hours of Work

Min 35 Hours

Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers work in an office and often stay busy with the completion of paperwork. PT teachers are hired in schools, gyms, and other fitness institutes to instruct physical exercises and maintain fitness equipment. Physical education trainers work for seven hours a day and 35 hours a week. Their work hours may stretch during sports competitions with other schools.

When it comes to how to become a physical education teacher, the first thing that they should know about are the skills required to become a physical education teacher. Some of the essential skills we have mentioned below.

Learning skills: Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers should understand and learn the implications of new information for both current and future decision-making and problem-solving. To stay at a similar pace with rising industry patterns, learning should be an integral part of education.

Systems analysis: System analysis is essential because the different tasks associated with doing the research offer an opportunity for approaches within the framework. Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers should be able to determine and educate students on how environmental changes, changes in conditions and operations will affect the outcomes. 

Social orientation: Social orientation establishes reasonable and fair attitudes toward others in the workplace. Social orientation cultivates the esteem of teaching assistants and allows them to adapt to the learning environment. It leads to making instructional processes more efficient and successful. A physical education teacher should be able to perceive others’ emotions and reactions and understand the reasons behind such reactions.

Compassion: Teachers should have empathy, and compassion and also admire students for their achievements, asking for information regarding their weekends and vacation activities. Teachers should demonstrate sensitivity by eliminating classroom management strategies that embarrass or pressure students in a public place to tackle problematic activities. A physical education teacher should be compassionate to help people.

Persuasion: Persuasion and influence are indeed abilities of leadership or management but persuasion is not always about influence. Persuasion is to encourage others to do something you would like them to do. Influence on the other side is a part of your identity. A physical education teacher must have strong persuasive skills to make others change their mindset and behaviour.

Managerial skill: To be a successful expert in the field, an educator would need to improve management skills like teaching practice, classroom management, time management, interaction, student responsibility and self-learning management. Individuals who opt for a career as physical education teachers should be able to manage fitness equipment, motivate people, and develop, and direct people to physical activities.

We have mentioned below various certifications that Physical Education Teachers can opt to upgrade their skills.

Junior Phyiscal Education Teacher: A Junior Phyiscal Education Teacher is a professional who is responsible for taking care of the school or university's physical activities and coordinates with management. A Junior Phyiscal Education Teacher teaches the students about physical activities and encourages them to get physically fit and active.

Senior Phyiscal Education Teacher: A Senior Phyiscal Education Teacher is an experienced professional, who leads the team of junior Phyiscal Education Teacher and other team members. A Senior Phyiscal Education Teacher teaches and plans the physical activity-related assignments, tasks and events for the students. 

The question which always rises is that are physical education teachers in demand. The answer to this question is yes. There is an expected job growth of eight per cent in recent years for the physical education teaching career. Parents are being more aware of their child’s overall development. They demand physical education teachers in schools for the overall learning and growth of their children.

The PT teachers have an expert level knowledge of kinesiology and appropriate nutrition as per age level and have more lucrative opportunities in this career. The demand for physical education teacher careers is increasing with the increase in diseases caused by modern-day lifestyles and food habits. Nowadays, children are more prone to suffer from obesity and other diseases affecting their years of growth. The employment rate in this sector is affected by the enrollment of students. More the number of enrolled students ensures more employment opportunities for physical education teachers.