何謂體育？體育是傳統五育其中一項元素，而香港教育局指體育是「透過身體活動進行教育」。體育幫助學生提升不同身體活動所需的技能，瞭解有關活動及安全知識，以發展活躍及健康的生活模式。
體育強調建立正面的價值觀和積極的態度，提升自信及發展協作、溝通、創造、批判性思考和審美等共通能力，是全方位及終身學習的重要基礎。由於體育教育對整體學習及生活極之重要，故教育局規定體育須佔中小學整體課時百分之五至八。
另外，國立台灣師範大學體育系亦指出運動教育學是一門從教育觀點出發，探討有關運動的教育理論與實踐。就語意上而言，「運動」泛指人類文化中有價值之身體動作、活動和遊戲，而「教育學」一字源自希臘文παιδαγωγία (paidagōgia)，” país”意指「兒童」，”agōgia”則意味著「引導」。整體來看，體育是對成長中的個體發展產生影響，進而提升人類生命品質的一門學問。
不論古今中外，皆認為體育不單令人強身健體(education of physical)，也強調透過體育運動能建立正面之價值觀和積極的態度(education through physical)。因此，本校不但提供設施讓學生使用，更視體育運動是整體教育之一部份，故對使用者參與體育活動有一定要求。
什麼人合適參與體育運動？
運動有其危險性，但透過現代科學，大部份人均可從參與運動中得益。如果你希望改善身體機能、建立正面價值觀和積極的態度，並願意遵從簡單規則及原則，你便適合參與體育運動。
為什麼運動時要穿著運動服裝?
合適的服飾不但可令自己及別人安全進行活動，亦可令運動時更舒適。運動時呼吸速度，提升血液循環增加，體溫亦會上升，需要透過皮膚表面血管舒張及排汗降溫。現時市場上所提供之體育服裝大多標明採用具透濕，透氣功能之衣料，此類衣料能夠加快降溫排汗過程並維持體溫。運動時，人體體溫上升，皮膚透過排汗功能使體溫恢復正常，運動服飾採用之物料如具有透濕、透氣功能的話，便能夠將排汗所形成的濕氣藉由織物滲透吸收再排至體外，從而有效調節身體溫度而避免身體有過熱之情況產生。
此外，運動時身體移動之速度及幅度較日常生活多，故體育服設計多為輕便並具備不同程度的拉伸性及回復力。穿著體育服除了感到舒適外，亦能保持活動自如以避免損傷。大部份體育服均沒有大口袋或突出之裝飾物；運動前應把衣服口袋清空，以免有硬物妨礙及限制運動時的動作，繼而令自己及其他正進行運動的人受傷。故此穿著繫上皮帶的褲或沒伸展性的休閒褲或牛仔褲均不適合進行任何形式的體育運動。
正如前文所述，參與體育運動亦是其中一種學習過程，從中可學會如何建立正面之價值觀和積極的態度。因此，我們希望參與者可尊重此學習過程，而穿著正確服飾體現了對體育運動的尊重。就如同學求職面試時會穿著整齊西服，畢業時須穿著畢業袍，我們對參與正式體育運動的同學所穿的服飾亦有一定要求如在英國全英草地網球和槌球俱樂部(All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club)，即大家熟悉之溫布頓球會便列明參與網球的會員必需穿著全白色之網球服。而參與高爾夫球亦有服飾限制，不符合有關規定之高球服飾將不被容許進行運動。如要進一步瞭解體育服飾之要求，可翻閱各項運動其正式規則。
我只使用手臂舉啞鈴，為何仍要穿著全身的運動服裝?
雖然二頭肌訓練集中上臂之活動，但血液循環及散熱是包括全身的。根據NSCA之健身活動指引，進行任何一項重量訓練，最安全是確保五點接觸姿勢：
- 頭後部及下頜；
- 頸背和肩；
- 胸部、腰背和臀；
- 髖部或大腿前部；
- 右腳、右手及左腳、左手
因此，全身之運動服裝確有需要，而穿著體育服亦是對體育運動的尊重。
什麼是合適的運動服裝?
由於運動服飾日新月異，款式及物料亦多不勝數，加上不同運動專項有不同的運動服飾，故很難一概而論，如登山運動服與體操運動之服飾差別很大。但在康樂體育中心內，主要於健身室及體育館內進行籃球、羽毛球及排球之活動，雖然種類不同，但共同之處亦不少。
- 鞋
由於都在室內進行，故一對適合室內地板之運動鞋便不可或缺。室內運動鞋之特性包括鞋底不脫色，能保護腳踝及腳趾不外露，中墊有足夠承托力以減輕腳部承受之衝擊及能固定腳部於鞋身內而不會過分寬鬆。
- 上衫及褲子
由於此類運動均涉及四肢大幅度伸展，故衣料以柔軟、透氣及有彈性為佳，價錢則豐儉由人。此外，衣服上亦不應附有妨礙活動或血液循環之配件，故大部份體育服均以彈性褲頭或索繩代替皮帶。試回想中學時體育堂之服飾，便是其中一款運動時的理想衣著。
雖然個別體育服飾是否適合在健身室或體育館內進進行運動很難一概而論，但甚麼服飾絕對不適合則較易劃分。牛仔褲、扯布褲等厚身衣料或西褲(裙)、恤衫等欠缺彈性之衣料將限制活動幅度故並不適合。而涼鞋、拖鞋等不能全面保護雙腳的鞋履；工程鞋、行山鞋等鞋底堅硬而限制腳踝活動能力及以致體育設施損毀的鞋亦不合適。
最後，對體育運動尊重，亦是體育精神的體現。現代體育精神強調在公平環境下、尊重自己、尊重對手、尊重規則下竭盡全力，爭取佳績。每一次的體育參與，均應作好準備，包括運動前充分休息、作適當熱身、用合適器材、穿著合適服飾、在適當的地方以適當方式參與，否則會影響自身及其他共同運動的人的安全及活動之進行。近年跑步比賽時，有跑手妄顧其他選手的安全在賽道中自拍而引起他人受傷，便是不尊重體育運動的其中一個例子。另外，沒有準備體育服飾便參與體育活動，會容易引致自己或他人受傷，亦違反場地規則，故我們亦建議規定各使用者均需穿著合適的體育服。
希望大家享受體育活動帶來樂趣同時，更要對體育活動有多一分尊重，令自己及他人的安全獲得最大保障。如對運動服飾有疑問，歡迎隨時與學生事務處（體育）職員聯絡。
A workman must sharpen his tools if he wants to do his job well. This also applies to sports activities. If you wish to take part in sports safely and productively, it is important to wear appropriate sports clothing. Not only can it ensure safety, but it is also a respect to sports.
What do we mean by “sports”?
Sports is one of the five dimensions of education. According to the Hong Kong Education Bureau, sports means “education through the physical”. Sports help students brush up on different motor skills, promote understanding of various activities and their safety knowledge, and eventually develop a healthy living style. Sports emphasizes the establishment of positive values and attitudes. It also helps boost many important traits and skills abilities, including self-confidence, cooperation, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and aesthetics. As Physical Education plays a significant role in both learning and life, the Education Bureau has made it compulsory that Physical Education is included in primary and secondary schools for 5-8% of the total lesson time.
According to the Department of Physical Education at National Taiwan Normal University, Sport Pedagogy examines how education is carried out in sports and respective theories “Sports” generally refers to meaningful body movements, activities, and games in human culture. “Pedagogy” originated from the Greek word, παιδαγωγία (paidagōgia). “País” means children, while “agōgia” means “leading”. As a whole, Physical Education gives a positive effect on the growing up of human and eventually improve their quality of life, the quality of life can be improved.
At all times and in all countries, people believe that physical education is not only the education of physical, but also the establishment of positive values and attitudes. Therefore, the college does not only provide facilities for students but also sees physical activities as part of education. Based on this belief, we have certain requirements for students when they take part in physical activities.
Who can join physical activities?
There is a certain danger in sports but through modern sciences, many can benefit from taking part in sports activities. If you wish to improve your body functions, establish positive values and attitudes, and are willing to follow simple rules and principles, you are suitable to participate in physical activities.
Why is it compulsory to wear sports attire?
Not only can suitable sportswear ensure the safety of users and people around, but you will be also more comfortable when doing work out. When you are exercising, the breathing rate will be elevated, the blood circulation will be increased, and the body temperature will be raised. Vasodilation on the skin’s surface will help lower the body temperature. Nowadays, sports attire is marked with moisture permeability to help ventilation. This kind of clothing can speed up the perspiration process and maintain the body temperature so that overheating can be prevented.
Moreover, the speed and range of body movements during exercise are higher than in daily life. Because of that, the design of sports attire is usually light and tensile.
Apart from feeling comfortable, wearing sports attire gives you greater freedom of movement, and you will not get hurt easily. Most sports attire does not have large pockets or prominent accessories. Before exercising, the pockets should be cleared to prevent injuries caused by hard objects’ hinder and restrictions. Therefore, wearing trousers with a leather belt or less stretchable is not suitable for exercising.
We hope that participants show respect towards the above sportswear requirements. It is just like the cases where students dress in business attire at job interviews and wear graduation gowns at graduation ceremonies. We have particular requirements towards the participants taking part in formal physical activities. For example, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which is also known as Wimbledon, states that it is a must for members playing tennis to wear all-white outfits. There are also some limitations towards golf players. Those who do not follow the dressing rules, they will not be allowed for playing golf. For further information, please visit the standard rules for each physical activity.
Why do I have to wear sports attire from head to toe when I just have to use my arms to lift dumbbells?
Although the focus of biceps training is only on the upper arms, blood circulation and heat radiation occur in every part of the body. According to the fitness instructions by NSCA, the safest way to do weight training is to ensure the posture of five contact points:
- The back of the head;
- The lower jaw, nape and shoulder;
- Chest, lumbar and back;
- Hip or front thigh;
- Right leg, right hand and left leg, left hand.
How do I know if what I’m wearing is suitable sports attire?
Different styles and materials of sports attire are available. There might be a big difference between mountaineering and gymnastics, but some sports have certain shared rules if students are only playing ball games like basketball, badminton, and tennis at the sports and amenities centres.
- Shoes
As the activities take part in indoor places, students should wear shoes that suit the indoor floor. They have to be non-marking, ankle protectable and toes not exposed. The middle insole should be supportive, shock absorbed and able to keep feet in place with suitable tightness.
- Clothes and Trousers
As this kind of physical activity involves a large movement of the four limbs, the materials of clothes should be soft, ventilated and flexible. There is a broad range of prices students can choose from. Moreover, the clothes should not have any accessories that hinder movement or blood circulation. This is also why most sports attire contains elastic waistbands or drawstrings instead of leather belts. The sports attire students used to wear in PE lesions in secondary schools can be one of the suitable attire.
Jeans, cords, thick clothing or suit trousers or dresses, shirts and those who are not flexible are not suitable. They may have restrictions on the range of movement. Sandals and flip-flops cannot fully protect feet. The bottom of engineering shoes and hiking shoes are too hard that ankle movement is restricted. They are not suitable and may cause damage to the facility.
Last, respecting physical activities is also the presentation of sportsmanship. Modern sportsmanship emphasizes a fair environment, respecting yourself and competitors and doing your best for good results. People should be well-prepared whenever they take part in physical activities including taking enough rest, doing suitable warm-up exercises, using appropriate equipment, and wearing proper clothes. Students should use the right ways in the right places to take part in the activities. Otherwise, it will affect the safety of themselves and the players as well as the activity happening. Let’s say – some runners ignore the safety of other runners and take selfies during marathons. Some might suggest their behaviour disrespects the event.
Moreover, not only joining physical activities without preparing proper sports attire may injure yourself or others, but it also violates the rules and regulations. Therefore, we suggest that every user has to wear suitable sports attire.
We hope that staff and students at HSUHK enjoy the process of joining sports activities. But at the same time, respect should be shown to ensure the safety of yourself and others. If you have any inquiries regarding sports attire, please feel free to contact SAO PE staff.
References:
http://www.edb.gov.hk/tc/curriculum-development/kla/pe/curriculum-doc/index.html