PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN EUROPE
A. GERMANY
1. Johann Bernhard Basedow established the first school called Philanthropinum where
physical education was part of the curriculum.
2. Johann Christoph Friedrich Gutsmuths who is considered the real founder of physical
education, and “grandfather of physical education” legitimized the P.E. profession and
believed in the promotion of people’s health to have a strong nation.
3. Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel established the theory of play and believed that play in
the form of PE was a wonderful mechanism for stress reduction, and character and moral
development.
4. Friedrich Ludwig Jahn whose system of gymnastics was more political in nature established
the German Turnverein Movement in the spring of 1811. He was called turnvater – father of
gymnastics. The word was coined from the extinct Teutonic word – turnen – to perform
gymnastics exercises.
5. Adolph Spiess believed that the P.E. program should be progressive that is, from simple
exercises to more difficult and advocated exercises combined with music for free expression,
and believed in marching exercises as aid in class organization, discipline, and posture
development.
B. SWEDEN
1. Per Henrik Ling instrumental in the rise of PE in Sweden by which he strove to make PE a
Science.
2. Lars Gabriel Branting devoted most of his time to the area of medical gymnastics where his
teachings were based on the premise that activity causes changes not only in the muscular
system of the body but also in the nervous and circulatory system.
3. Gustaf Nybleus specialized in military gymnastics and include women in school.
4. Hjalmar Fredrik Ling organized educational gymnastic in Sweden and responsible for
making PE as a school subject.
C. DENMARK
1. Franz Nachtegall was acknowledged the father of physical education in Denmark.
2. Niels Bukh introduced primitive gymnastics and attempted to build the perfect physique
through a series of exercises that were performed without cessation of movement.
D. GREAT BRITAIN
 Football (soccer) is one of the oldest of English sports.
A. Archibald Maclaren devised a system of PE for the British Army. His works or books
pointed out that the objective of PE should consider:
 health as more important than strength;
 physical training and mental training are inseparable;
 PE should be organized and administered effectively so that all its
potentialities will be realized.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION in AMERICA
1. Dr. Dudley Allen Sargent became known for his work in teacher preparation, remedial
equipment, exercise devices, college organization and administration, anthropometric
measurement, and experimentation as basis for activity and scientific research.
2. Thomas Dennison Wood emphasized game and game skills and introduced his new program
under the name “Natural Gymnastics”.
3. Clark Hetherington emphasized children’s play activities in terms of survival and continued
participation, athletics and athletic skills.
4. Jessie H. Bancroft influenced the development of physical education as a responsibility of
homeroom teachers in the elementary schools, and contributed much to the field of posture
and body mechanics.
5. Jacob Riis- symbolic of the playground movement in New York.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
PRE-SPANISH PERIOD
 Cockfighting, introduced by the Malays and considered a favorite sport was popular.
 Dancing was a religious activity with several purposes and officiated by a priest or a priestess.
 Bathing and swimming were important part in the lives of the natives.
SPANISH PERIOD
 Cockfighting continued to be a favorite sport and found its way to the other places in the
archipelago.
 Dancing became a major activity enjoyed by the people.
a. The Fandango, the Jota, the Curacha of Spain;
b. the Polka, and Mazurka of Central Europe; and
c. the Lanceros and Rigodon of France were introduced by the conquistadores to lure the
Filipinos to be converted to Christianity.
 Recreational games such as the juego de anillo, juego de prenda, and the duplo (a poetic joust)
were introduced.
a. Girls played sungka, siklot, piko, luksong tinik, and hide and seek.
b. Boys played patintero, sipa, and kite-flying.
c. Older women played card games.
AMERICAN PERIOD
 1901 – Physical exercise was one of the subjects introduced in the public schools, and regular
program of athletics was developed.
 1905 – Baseball and track and field were introduced and taught to young boys.
 1909 – Athletic program for the schools emphasized the playing of western sports and coaching
of tennis.
 1910 – Basketball was first introduced as a game for young girls at the Carnival Meet held in
Manila but was later discontinued in 1914 because it was found very strenuous for the girls.
Later, indoor baseball, tennis, and volley- ball were introduced.
 1911 – The “Athletic Handbook” was published by the Bureau of Education where the first part
prescribed few simple games and relays; the second part contained the rules for baseball,
basketball for girls, volleyball, indoor base- ball, track and field, and lawn tennis.
 1914 – In cognizant to the implementation of the “play for everybody” policy of the Bureau of
Education, the Teacher’s Vacation Assembly started in Manila to give special training to Filipino
teachers to be able to conduct various physical activities, and in turn recipients of the special
training taught at the provincial normal schools. March 5, 1919 – A syllabus entitled “Physical
education: A Manual for Teachers” was published as a result of the plan in 1918 for a definite
course of study in Physical Education, submitted by a special committee of superintendents.
 1920 – Physical Education was made a required subject in all public schools. A rating of 75%
which was based on attendance in the required exercises is necessary for promotion every year
from grade four to fourth year high school. However, the grade was not included in the
computation of the general average.
 1928 – A Summer School for Coaching was opened by the Office of the National Physical
Education Director in cooperation with the Bureau of Education to help the public-school
teachers who are in- charge of athletics to improve their coaching methods.
 1937 – Physical Education was made a curricular subject in the secondary schools where the
grade was not only based on attendance but in proficiency in skills as well. The grade was
included in the computation of the general average.
 1939 – Women’s track and field was added in the program of the National Inter- Scholastics.
THE PHILIPPINE SPORTS COMMISSION
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) was created through Republic Act No. 6847 in 1990 to
serve as the “sole policy-making and coordinating body of all amateur sports development programs and
instructions in the Philippines”. It was mandated to provide the leadership, formulate the policies and
set the priorities and directions of all national sports promotion and development, particularly giving
emphasis on grassroots participation. Increased participation in sports by Filipinos (Grassroots Sports);
excellence in sports performance by Filipinos (Elite Sports); and national unity and solidity through
physical fitness and sports are among its objectives.
THE PHILIPPINE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
The Philippine Olympic Committee, the umbrella organization of all national sports associations
(NSAs), is affiliated with the International Olympic Committee (OIC) and is recognized in the PSC
Charter as the National Olympic Committee (NOC) for the Philippines. It is a private organization and
autonomous in character, similar to its accredited and affiliated sports organizations. It is primarily
responsible for activities pertaining to the country’s participation in the Olympic Games, Asian Games,
Southeast Asian Games, and other international athletic competitions in accordance respectively with
the rules of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, the Southeast Asian
Games Federation, and other international sports bodies.
MEDALS and HONORS
1. Efren “Bata” Reyes was dubbed as “The magician”, when he became the 1985 Red 9-Ball Open
champion for his ability to execute brilliant shots.
2. Eric Buhain was a bronze medalist in swimming in the 1990 Beijing Asian Games.
3. Eugene Torre became Asia’s first grandmaster at the age of 22.
4. Elma Muros was the only track athlete who won in different events in the Southeast Asian
Games. She was hailed as the Southeast Asian games’ heptathlon queen in 1997.
5. Francisco Pancho Villa Guilledo was Asia’s first world champion in boxing and dubbed as
the greatest flyweight of the century.
6. Gabriel “Flash” Elorde was dubbed as the greatest Filipino boxer of all time.
7. Gerald Rosales was an Asian Games silver medalist and Southeast Asian Games two-time
champion in golf.
8. Jennifer Rosales was a five-time champion in golf in the ladies’ Amateur open (1994-1998)
before she turned professional.
9. Lydia de Vega was Asia’s fastest woman in the 1980s. She brought home the gold medal twice
in arrow in the Asian Games in the 100-meter dash and the silver medal in the 200m run.
10. Manny Pacquiao won the International Boxing Federation super bantamweight championship
at the age of 23.
11. Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski is the accomplished equestrienne who bagged the gold medal for
the Individual Show jumping competition in the 2002 Asian Games.
12. Paeng Nepomuceno is an all-time greatest international bowler with six world championships
to his credit; some considered him as the greatest Filipino athlete of all time for making it to the
Guinness Book of World Records.
13. Ramon Fernandez was the Philippine Basketball Association’s first four-time Most Valuable
player and played in the league for a record of 20 seasons.
14. Robert Jaworski was one the Philippine Basketball Association’s 25 greatest players of all
time. At his time of retirement, he was the oldest professional basketball player in the world.
15. Toni Leviste was part of the Philippine Team that won silver medal in the 2002 Asian Games
show jumping competition.
16. Alvin Patrimonio was a four-time Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player, two
of which were won back-to-back in 1993 and 1994.
17. Bong Coo made her mark in the bowling world when she delivered nine consecutive strikes in
1979.
18. Carlos Loyzaga led the Philippine Team that won bronze medal in the 1954 World Basketball
Championship and four golds.
19. Dorothy Delasin is the Filipina who has become the youngest Ladies’ Professional Golf
Association Champion in the last 25 years.
THE ORIGIN OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES
 The first recorded Olympic game was in 776 B.C. held at the foot of Mount Olympia in ancient
Greece The Games were held every 4 years. Although Greek cities had continuous wars,
hostilities were suspended during the Games for 1 month and later extended to three months as
they were sacred festivals in honor of Zeus.
 At first, it consisted only of one event called the stade, a 192-yard foot race. Koroibus of Elis
was recognized as the first champion. Only male citizens could compete and watch the Games.
 Women were not allowed to observe and participate as athletes, except for the priestess Demeter,
who observed the Games. Women caught observing the Olympic Games were taken to Mount
Tympaion and thrown to their death.
 Other events were added thereafter. The Games were held for 1169 years until 393 A.D. Running
and jumping events, discus and javelin throwing were held at the stadium.
 Horseback and chariot races were done in the hippodrome or race course. An open space in
front of the altar of Zeus was the arena for boxing and wrestling.
 The games were abolished by Roman Emperor Theodosius in 394 AD in the belief that the
games were pagan in nature.
THE MODERN OLYMPIC GAMES
 In his quest to revitalize the youth of France, with his family being a well-to-do member of the
French aristocracy, and an impeccable social and political connections the FRENCHMAN
BARON PIERRE DE FERDY DE COUBERTIN established the modern Olympic Games.
 Its underlying concept is called Olympism, which is defined as a philosophy of life, the way of
mankind within the Olympic charter.
 Three Latin words “Citius, Altius, Fortius” meaning “Faster, Higher, Stronger” were
adopted with permission as the Olympic Motto.
 The Olympic Flag designed by Coubertin himself in 1914 was used in1920 Antwerp Games in
Belgium.
 Five colored rings from left to right in blue, yellow, black, green and red symbolizing unity of
5 continents of the world were set against a white background which is symbolic of peace. It
was also in this year that the Olympic oath was introduced.