General Principles for Planning Facilities and Equipment

Penman listed a number of general principles that are essential in the planning of facilities and equipment. Most of the principles have also been listed by Ezersky and Theibert (2009), Daughtrey and Wood (2008), Hyatt (2009), The Athletic Institute

According to the Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (2013), the general principles are:

1.                 Establish a priority for use of the facilities and equipment.

2.                 Design facilities that .are compatible with the unique characteristics of the community.

3.                 Consider the age for which they are planned.

4.                 Project the population growth rate in the early planning stage.

5.                 Planning for a new school should be designed for 50 years of use.

6.                 They should be designed for efficient supervision.

7.                 Eliminate unnecessary duplication of facilities in the same neighbourhood.

8.                 There should be working relationship among members of staff with regard to facilities.

9.                 New concepts need be incorporated in the facilities.

10.            Physical educators should have adequate knowledge of facility planning

11.            Consider the physically handicapped in planning.

12.            The maintenance of facilities after construction must be considered

13.            Facilities should not be copied from other facilities because of the unique needs that characterize each situation.

14.            They should be planned primarily for participants

15.            A model of the proposed facilities should be built.

16.            Physical educators should attempt to obtain the best possible facility, recognizing at the same time that compromise may be necessary.

17.            Planning for schools should recognize the different types of activities in the programmes at each educational levels.

Besides the already listed principles, the following points are also essential guides for the planners:

v    Accessibility: Facilities should be readily and directly accessible to the individuals who will use them.

v    Beauty: Facilities should be attractive and aesthetically pleasing with the utilization of good colour dynamics and design.

v    Departmentalization: Functionally related services and activity areas should be continuous or adjacent for greatest economy and efficiency.

v    Durability and Maintenance: Durability, easy and economical maintenance of facilities must be considered.

v    Economy: It is essential to consider the best use of funds, space, time, energy, and other essential factors as they relate to the planning of facilities and equipment.

v    Flexibility and Expansibility: There should be consideration for future and programme changes.

v    Isolation: Planning should reduce distractions, offensive odours, noise, undesirable activities and groups to the barest minimum.

v    Safety, Hygiene and Sanitation: The maintenance of proper health standards should be a major concern in the planning.

v    Supervision: The need for proper supervision should be considered, visibility and accessibility are relevant here too.

v    Utility: Facilities should be adaptable for different activities and programme without affecting such items as safety and effective instructions.

v    Validity: The standards for space, structure, and fixtures must be compatible with the rules that are essential for the effective conduct of the programme.

The importance of facilities and equipment in the teaching of physical education are obvious. There is therefore a great need for the development of facilities and equipment in the schools. The existing handicapping situation of dearth of funds and high costs only call for belt tightening and double efforts. The physical educator’s technical-know how is also very essential in making the development a reality. The problems we experience today should challenge the thinking of anyone who considers the development of physical education of facilities and equipment. An open mind alertness to changing situations and innovative solutions are crucial.

All legitimate avenues should be explored to secure funds for the development of the facilities and equipment. The state government should provide sufficient money for the project. Assistance should be secured in form of donation from the parents, industrial organizations, financial houses, and philanthropists. Physical educators should see the development of facilities and equipment as their professional responsibilities and therefore put in their best in order to achieve the set goals. All the essential steps and principles should be considered, only highly skilled and reputed experts should be engaged to serve at the various stages of the development. Improvisation of equipment should be intensified so as to augment those provided.