The FUNdamentals

All individuals need to participate in fun physical activity and games to develop the fundamental movement skills and sport skills that make up physical literacy. Ideally, children develop these fundamental skills prior to puberty and the growth spurt.

However, some persons with disabilities may not learn the FUNdamentals and physical literacy before puberty. Some may require assistive devices or aides. Everyone involved in providing sport and physical activity for athletes with disabilities must consider this.

Children with a disability may have difficulty acquiring fundamental movement and sport skills for a variety of reasons:

• Parents have not been encouraged to enroll their children in sport and activity programs that are fun and safe.
• Not all schools systems feature well-adapted physical education.
• Some coaches and programs do not welcome children with a disability to their activities because they lack knowledge about how to include them
• It takes creativity to include a person with a disability into a group activity where FUNdamental skills are practiced and physical literacy is developed.

The physical literacy skills needed by children with a disability should include all of the fundamental skills (adapted as required). Children may also require training and practice with assistive devices or with training and competition partners.

It is critical that individuals who acquire a disability learn the necessary physical literacy skills to participate in a wide range of sports and recreational activities.