PDFE # 11

For PDFE #11 I observed a Cub Scout activity.  The kids in this troop range in age from 6 to 10.  There were twelve kids in all that were participating in flag football.  The den leader began instructing the kids on the game after they had been in a meeting for around 30 minutes, during this time the kids were sitting as still as they possibly could have.  The goal is to have the kids be active for 45 minutes during the meetings, introducing them to new activities and a physically active lifestyle.

From the time that the meeting ended and the game began approximately 5:00 was spent in management, getting equipment out, marking boundaries and finding the football.  Teams were assigned as well during this time, which was part instruction and management.  The kids took another 1:15 to quiet down enough in order for Patrice (den leader) to give them instructions about the game.  This segment took approximately 2:45, and at some points during the game instructions had to be reiterated a total of 4:45 at different segments.  Once this occurred the kids took their places on the field and that took up a total of 1:45 for them to begin playing.  The kids then began playing flag football.  They played for a total of 15:45 with intermittent breaks for rule clarifications.  The kids got a water break for about 2:30 but only about 5 kids actually got water or a drink, then they played for 8:30 more.   Every kid was activity involved in the game and running the entire time chasing down the ball. At the end of the game about 4:15 was spent in management rounding up the boundary markers and the equipment.  After this the kids were released to their parents.  

Approximately 54% of the time was spent in actual activity.  Management took up 24% of the time and instruction took up 17% of the time.  Waiting took up the remaining time, which was relatively low given the time frame and amount of activity. Too much time was spent on management which might have been because the kids had previously been sitting inactive and were difficult to manage but once they started to be active it was easier to control them.  If I were to change something it would be the before and after the game.  If everything was already set up then the kids wouldn’t have to spend time with that aspect adding a few more minutes onto their play time.