UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI

J. P. Rizal Ext., West Rembo, Makati City

COLLEGE OF HUMAN KINETICS

PHYSICAL EDUCATION 3
Course Code: PE 4
Topic 1
Title: PATHFIT 4 Recreational Activities
RECREATIONAL Module No. I
ACTIVITIES

Year :2020

SEMESTER: Second . Introduction To Recreational

Activity
b. Definition of recreation
c. Pre requisites to leisure
d. characteristics of recreation
e. What to consider in selecting
recreational activity
f. Importance of recreational activity

Prepared by PROF: MARIA THERESA C. SEE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Differentiate the terms associated in leisure and recreation
2. Classify properly what to consider in selecting leisure and recreational activities.
3. Show competence in explaining the importance of recreational activities to an
individual.

INTRODUCTION

“It’s time to take a break.” This is one of the most pleasant and most popular phrases
to a child’s ear. It means that you can now start laughing, playing and joking around with
your friends without the fear of being punished for disrupting studies. During break time,
some play games while holding conversations with their friends.
Leisure and recreation have always been part of life. In the dark ages (a period of
time between the 5th and 15th Century), people were subjected to hard labour and bad
weather, and there were many wars. Leisure and recreation were mostly used to train
people in certain skills such as the art of warfare. This is according to the article “Leisure
in the dark ages” by Chuck Chapa, a blogger and researcher.
In the article “The History of Leisure and Recreation”, Gary Pearson, an author
agrees with Chapa’s assertion. However, Pearson says that even with the hardship of
this period of time, many games such as chess and checkers were developed. It is also

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during this time that Greeks invented the Olympics which are now an important
international event.
Ancient Egypt was very developed regarding leisure and recreation. This is according
to the article “History of Recreation” by the University of Manitoba. There was a well-
developed class system where the upper class liked to be entertained while the lower
class participated in athletics and sports. Children played with marbles, bouncing balls
and other toys.
This is to say that the recreational games that you know and love today were created
a long time ago. Many studies show that most of the games originated from ancient
Egypt, Greece and Rome. Swimming, running, ball games and board games were all
developed by 641AD.
With increase in technology, there have been many developments and additions to
the list of recreational activities. For instance, you can now play computer games and
watch movies as a way to relax and entertain yourself.
However, scientists continue to advocate for outdoor and physical recreation. While
computer and phone games might sound cooler than outdoor activities, they do not
provide nearly as many health, physical and social benefits as outdoor leisure and
recreation activities do.

“All Work and no Play make Jack a dull boy” goes a popular saying.

WHAT IS RECREATION AND LEISURE?

Recreation and Leisure are terms often used interchangeably. Both relate to what
people choose to do in their free time; time that is not otherwise used for work, school, or
other activities like appointments and chores. Leisure time is any free time that can be
used to pursue personal interests. Recreation is an individual’s preferred pleasurable
and enjoyable activities in which they engage during leisure time.

Recreational Activities can be sedentary in nature, like knitting, chess, playing musical
instruments, or social networking in person or on the computer. It can also be active and
enhance physical fitness and well-being.

Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do

something for recreation" is an essential element of human
biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done

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for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun". The
term recreation appears to have been used in English first in the late 14th century, first in
the sense of "refreshment or curing of a sick person", and derived turn from Latin (re:
"again", creare: "to create, bring forth, beget"). (wikipediaNov.2020)
Recreation consists of activities or experiences carried on within leisure, usually chosen
voluntarily by the participant – either because of satisfaction, pleasure or creative
enrichment derived, or because he perceives certain personal or social values to be
gained from them. It may, also be perceived as the process of participation, or as the
emotional state derived from involvement.

PREREQUISITES TO LEISURE
Humans spend their time in activities of daily living, work, sleep, social duties and
leisure, the latter time being free from prior commitments to physiologic or social needs,
a prerequisite of recreation. Leisure has increased with increased longevity and, for
many, with decreased hours spent for physical and economic survival, yet others argue
that time pressure has increased for modern people, as they are committed to too many
tasks. Other factors that account for an increased role of recreation are affluence,
population trends, and increased commercialization of recreational offerings. While one
perception is that leisure is just "spare time", time not consumed by the necessities of
living, another holds that leisure is a force that allows individuals to consider and reflect
on the values and realities that are missed in the activities of daily life, thus being an
essential element of personal development and civilization. This direction of thought has
even been extended to the view that leisure is the purpose of work, and a reward in
itself, and "leisure life" reflects the values and character of a nation. Leisure is
considered a human right under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RECREATION

 Recreation occurs during leisure

 Recreation is as different as people are different; it is extremely wide and varied
 Recreation is activity; it is some sort of action as distinguished from rest
 Recreation must be voluntary; it cannot be ordered, imposed, or forced
 Recreation has no single form; it offers a variety of choices with endless
possibilities
 Recreation is flexible; it can be organized or unorganized; it can be enjoyed in a
group or alone
 Recreation to one individual may be work to another
 Recreation involves an individual's attitude, motive, and incentive
 Recreation may occur or not occur; a specific activity may be recreation for an
individual at one time, but not at another time
 Recreation is necessary in order for an individual to have balanced growth
 Recreation and work are not the same thing; although an individual may be very
happy in his job, it is not possible for that individual's work to be his recreation

WHAT TO CONSIDER IN SELECTING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY

How do you know which recreational sport is right for you? Though this is a simple
question, it may not have a simple answer. Before answering this question, it makes
sense to define what a recreational sport is.

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 Leisure is considered as time we spend on anything other than sleeping, working
(studying for students is consider as working), and eating (White, 1955). Activities that an
individual does in his leisure time are not because the necessity of that activity nor the duty
of that person, and they for the purpose of making money, however they come from the
from the responsibilities that are owed to individual’s family, society, politics, and so on,
which are done for free in order to satisfy one’s self (Dumazedier, 1967). Leisure activities
are done by the individual because of set of group of sociocultural factors, which in a case,
it is divided into personal factors, which are factors that are closely related to specific
individual in the society, like goals, subculture, individual’s situations in that moment, and
institutional role of the individual in that moment, age, sex, and gender of the individual;
social capital factors, like living in a capitalism society, individualism, and sociability; and
social class factors, like income, social class level, and occupation. All these factors
together affect one’s choices about her leisure activities, and it is not possible to say that a
single activity is done because of a single factor and not the other factors.
Other reasons associated with participating in a recreational sport includes:
fitness, health, socialization, competition and sport support among others.
There are several options of recreational sports available for all age categories
ranging from indoor to outdoor. Making the decision on which choice to pursue can be a
real challenge and this varies significantly from one person to the other. For former
professional athletes, the decision may be easier especially if they continue participating
in their particular former professional sports, only at recreational level. The big task of
choosing the right recreational sport is however on beginners. In order to make the right
choice(s) if you are a beginner, it is important to consider the following general
guidelines:

1.Choose a sport that you understand and passionate about: Recreational sport in a
way becomes part of your lifestyle and therefore needs to be entertaining and enjoyable.
Choosing something that you don't like or have no knowledge about can be frustrating
even if your friends adore it. It only makes sense to pursue something that you know the
rules and regulations of the sport or game. However, this does not mean one cannot
learn a new sport or game, but it easier to do so if you love the sport.

2.Consider your goals and objectives: As mentioned above, there are different
reasons that drive people into recreational sports. Choosing a sport that is in line with
your goals, for example losing weight will only enrich the overall recreational experience.
Some one looking for a recreational sport to aid in cutting down some extra body weight
may benefit from running, jogging, walking, hiking or swimming among other high calorie
burning sport activities as opposed to playing cards or video games. On the other hand
somebody looking for a recreational sport that favors socialization may benefit from the
latter.

3.Facilities, tools and equipment required: Different recreational sports may require
different tools, facilities or equipment or in some cases may require none at all. These
tools, facilities or equipment may also vary depending on the needs of every person. For
example if you want to play golf for recreation, you will definitely have to purchase a golf
club, balls and perhaps shoes. You will also need an available and accessible golf
course to play. In some cases if you have more than one favorite recreational sport, you
may have to choose what is more convenient based on availability of facilities. It makes
more sense to go running at a nearby track especially if you get off work late in the

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evenings than having to drive for several miles to get to a golf course (i.e. if you like both
golf and running).

4.Availability of time: Since a recreational sport is a pastime sport, choosing the right
one may be dictated by how much free time is at one's disposal. Some recreational
sports are more time consuming than others. Additionally some of these sports must only
be played outside. Where as some sports such as running, jogging, walking, playing
tennis, playing basketball or swimming offers both indoor and outdoor options, some of
them, for example playing golf, hiking, kayaking, surfing among other don't. The more
time one has, the more the options to choose from and the vice versa.

5.Seasonality: Though this may not be a big deal for people living along the equatorial
climatic regions, it definitely affects people living in areas with winter and summer
season. Some recreational sports such as those requiring snow may only be available
during winter and only in some parts of the world. So if skiing is the only favorite
recreational sport that one can participate in, it means there will be nothing to do for most
of the year i.e. during the other seasons. When deciding on the right sport for recreation,
it is advisable to have more than one option especially in a situation where one is
affected by seasonal changes.

6.Number of participants required: Whereas most recreational sports require

participation of more than one person at one time, some can be pursued individually. If
your schedule doesn't allow group or team participation, choosing a sport that will enable
you to participate alone is a good idea. Jogging, walking, swimming, biking and running
are great examples.

As mentioned earlier, this is not an exhaustive list of guidelines, but it is only meant to
give you an idea of how to pick the best sport and activity that will make your recreational
life a success. Remember the bottom line is fun and entertainment.

Some other factors to be considered when choosing activities to have a great

recreational sports life.

This study identified 4 factors to be considered when choosing recreational activities:

physical health, psychology, social climate, and place and cost.

In a study, twelve 12 key influential factors were determined: improving

physical ability, body building effect, required technical difficulty of exercise, self-
challenge, pressure relief, interest in exercise process, social needs, joint activities of
family, social popularity, comfort of exercise environment, traffic convenience, and cost.
The result showed that, when choosing recreational activities, people first
consider "improving physical ability"(importance degree 23%), and then consider "body
building" (importance degree 16.4%) and "pressure relief"(importance degree 11.3%).
The influence of the three influential factors accounts for more than 50%, showing that
people attach the greatest importance to their physical health, pursuing physical beauty,
and relieving mental pressure. Influence of the factors, such as social popularity, social
needs, and self-challenge, on choosing recreational activities is extremely low (only
6.3%).

Tips for choosing a physical activity

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Try to choose an activity you enjoy and that suits your lifestyle. Suggestions include:
 Choose an indoor activity if you are bothered by weather extremes such as heat
or cold.
 Enjoyment is the key to sticking to an exercise plan. Choose an activity you enjoy,
not one you think is ‘good for you’.
 Think back. Did you enjoy a particular physical activity as a child, such as cycling
or basketball? If so, give that activity another go.
 Keep your budget in mind. Some physical activities, such as skiing or sailing, can
require a big financial investment.
 Be realistic about your current health and level of fitness. If you are a beginner,
the physical demands of certain activities (such as running) may be too much at
first. Choose a gentler alternative and work your way up.

Considering different physical activities

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the following activities to help you decide
which may be best for you.

IMPORTANCE OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY

Leisure and recreation are very important aspects of your life because they
provide an opportunity to refresh your mind, discover and develop your talents and to
make friends.
Students, especially in higher education, now spend most of their time with
college friends and outside of home for various purposes and work. Hence, in the current
scenario, the best place to include recreational activities in one’s life is one’s place of
education rather than at home. This not only provides a chance to include recreations in
one’s life, but also helps students to socialize and become less dependent on one’s
parents.

Physical Benefits of Recreation

Taking part in recreational activities, especially outdoors, can greatly improve physical
health. People who take part in park activities such as walking, hiking, or skiing,
schedule fewer office visits, maintain lower body fat percentages, and have lower blood
pressure and cholesterol levels.

Mental Health Improvements

Mental wellness is critical to overall physical health. Participating in recreational activities
helps manage stress. Taking time to nurture oneself provides a sense of balance and
self-esteem, which can directly reduce anxiety and depression.

Improving the Quality of your Life

It’s all about balance. People are busier than ever. Finding a way to balance the
pressures of work and family with physical and mental wellbeing is important. People
who make recreation a priority are more likely to feel satisfied with their lives overall,
according to an American Recreation Coalition Study, 2000. In fact, 90 percent of
respondents who said they participate in regular, outdoor recreation reported satisfaction

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with their overall lives. Contrast that to 60 percent life satisfaction for respondents who
do not regularly recreate outdoors. It’s clear that simply going outdoors and moving your
body is a direct way to a happier, healthier you. So, don’t wait.

Moreover, coming to the point of including recreational activities in educational

curriculum, it can be said that the present generation spends less of their time in natural
surroundings leading to a weakening of senses both physiologically and psychologically.
Guardians, academic institutions as well as the government should find out every
possible opportunity to include recreations in a student’s life for an overall holistic
development of mind and body. If such opportunities are lessening in a home set up,
then it should be part of the educational curriculum where a student spends majority of
his/her time. In fact, recreational activities in an educational set up will be academically
more enriching for the student in many ways:

 Students are more enthusiastic to learn in outdoor learning activities as

compared to traditional indoor setting and also more motivated. They also
develop a better attitude towards the environment and more responsible
behavior
 It helps in building communication skills and team building as students have
to work in groups to solve problems. There will be more discussions of ideas
and feedbacks and helps students to resolve conflict among themselves
 It also helps in boosting memory as there is more practical experience and
the information can be soaked up wholly by the brain in a fresher and more
fascinating environment
 It also helps in moral development as students get the opportunity to
undertake leadership, question actions and regulations and accept
responsibility for their own behavior.
 Enhances peer relationships and interpersonal skills. Students can also excel
in areas other than academics where they have an interest. Recreational
activities can give a chance to discover talents other than academic
excellence which can later help one in the career and life as a whole.
Overall, it can be said that, recreational activities help in overall development of a
student’s physically, mentally, and emotionally. It not only helps to gather knowledge but
to use it ethically to lead a healthy and better life. It teaches one to think with reason and
live with a more practical approach to life. It also enhances ones all round development,
thus helping to achieve success in one’s endeavors.
ASSESSMENT

Name______________________________________Year/Section/Course_______
Name of Professor___________________________ Date____________________

Instruction:Write T if the statement is true, but if it’s false change the

underlined word or group of words to make the whole statement correct.
Answers should be typed in lowercase.
___________1. Leisure and recreation were mostly used to train people in

7
certain skills such as the art of warfare. This is according to the article “Leisure
in the dark ages” by Chuck Chapa. (true)
___________2. Many studies show that most of the games originated from ancient
Egypt, Greece and Rome. Swimming, running, ball games and board games were all
developed by 641BC. (641AD)
__________3. The term recreation appears to have been used in English first in the late
17th century, first in the sense of "refreshment or curing of a sick person", and derived
turn from Latin (re: "again", creare: "to create, bring forth, beget"). (14th century)
__________4. Taking time to nurture oneself provides a sense of balance and self-
esteem, which can directly reduce anxiety and depression. (true)
__________5. Recreational time is any free time that can be used to pursue personal
interests. Leisure is an individual’s preferred pleasurable and enjoyable activities in
which they engage during leisure time. (leisure, recreational)
___________ 6. Recreational sport in a way becomes part of your lifestyle and therefore
needs to be entertaining and enjoyable. Choosing something that you don't like or have
no knowledge about can be frustrating even if your friends adore it. (true)
___________ 7. Social wellness is critical to overall physical health. Participating in
recreational activities helps manage stress. Taking time to nurture oneself provides a
sense of balance and self-esteem, which can directly reduce anxiety and depression.
(mental)
___________ 8. Leisure and recreation are very important aspects of your life because
they provide an opportunity to refresh your mind, discover and develop your talents and
to make friends. (true)
___________ 9. People who take part in park activities such as walking, hiking, or skiing,
schedule fewer office visits, maintain lower body fat percentages, and have lower blood
pressure and cholesterol levels. (true)
___________ 10. Leisure activities are done by the individual because of set of group of
sociocultural factors. (true)

LEARNING ACTIVITY

Make an advance reading about types of recreational activities.

REFERENCES

1. Buhungiro, Elizabeth. The New Times. Rwandas Leading Daily. May 03, 2017
2. https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/211689#:~:text=This%20is%20to%20sa
y%20that,were%20all%20developed%20by%20641AD.
3. Family Connect. Recreation, Fitness, and Leisure and the Expanded Core
Curriculum. American Printing House for the Blind 2020.
4. https://familyconnect.org/education/expanded-core-curriculum/recreation-fitness-
and-
leisure/#:~:text=Recreation%20and%20leisure%20are%20terms%20often%20use
d%20interchangeably.&text=Leisure%20time%20is%20any%20free,they%20eng
age%20during%20leisure%20time.
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreation/ last edited on 12 November 2020.
6. Han-Chen Huang et.al. Analysis of Key Considerations of the Public When
Choosing Recreational Activities. International Journal of Computer Science &
Information Technology (IJCSIT) Vol 7, No 1, February 2015

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7. Bartlebye. Factors in Choosing Leisure Activities. 2020
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F3HYQJN4CDM6Sv

9. Better Helath Channel. Physical Activity- choosing the one for you.Victoria State
Government, 2020.
10. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/physical-activity-choosing-
the-one-for-you
11. Rotich, Phillip. Choosing the Right Recreational Activity for Yourself. Street
Directory. Com 2020.
12. https://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/40636/recreation_and_sports/choosi
ng_the_right_recreational_sport_for_yourself.html
13. Lisa Croff. Importance of Leisure & Recreation for Health. Huron-Clinton
MetroParks, 2019
14. https://www.metroparks.com/importance-leisure-recreation-
health/#:~:text=Mental%20wellness%20is%20critical%20to,directly%20reduce%2
0anxiety%20and%20depression.
15. Dev, Rituparna. The Importance and Impact of Recreational Activities in the Educational
Curriculum. Knowledge Review, November 2020.
16. https://theknowledgereview.com/the-importance-and-impact-of-recreational-
activities-in-the-educational-curriculum/
17. Dr. Larry Jackson. Leisure Lines. Southwest Baptist University; Bolivar, Missouri,
July 23, 2005 http://leisurelines.blogspot.com/2005/07/characteristics-of-
recreation.html