Physical activity has numerous positive and psychological benefits. Therefore, a physically active lifestyle benefits both the individual and the society. Nevertheless, many people drop out from their sport or exercise regimen. In this inquiry three motivational factors in exercise adherence, including predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors, were studied from a cross-cultural perspective. A total of 235 male (n=151) and female (n=84) volunteers (mean age=21.4 ± 2.6 years) from Hong Kong (n=112) and United Kingdom (n=123) completed an exercise habits inventory and the Physical Activity Adherence Questionnaire (PAAQ). All participants were physically active, of whom 132 have once quit a sport/exercise in the past whereas 103 never quit. Results revealed that differences exist in predisposing and enabling motivational components of exercise adherence in both cross-cultural and gender comparison studies. Participants who quit a sport or exercise report lesser reinforcing experiences than those who never abandoned an adopted sport or exercise. It is concluded that reinforcing factors play a crucial role in the long term maintenance of a sport or exercise and that both cultural and gender differences need to be taken into serious consideration in the course of facilitation of various exercise/sport behaviours.
[Copyright © 2003 Department of Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University.]

This paper is concerned with a qualitative study of how 15 pre-service PE teachers, who are taking the two-year full-time teacher training course, develop professionally in their second field experience. With the interpretive research paradigm as conceptual framework, data were collected through interviewing and writing of reflective journals. Groups of pre-service PE teachers were found possessing different professional learning experiences concerning their conceptions and socializing strategies. Their professional conceptions included "educating pupils to learn", "seeing PE as catharsis, discipline and having fun". Their socializing strategies composed of finding means to improve teaching, and adopt social tactics for managing pupils and defensive attitude for handling crisis. The study provides an understanding of pre-service PE teachers in the Hong Kong Institute of Education and their learning-to-teach processes. The findings serve as the backdrop for recommending possible pedagogical changes for facilitating desirable professional development of pre-service PE teachers.
[Copyright © 2007 Department of Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University.]

The purpose of the study was to describe the teaching behaviours of Hong Kong physical education student teachers. Thirty-two local pre-service and in-service student teachers were videotaped teaching two lessons in their own schools or in the allocated school during their final practicum. Each videotaped lesson was coded using the Physical Education Teacher Assessment Instrument (PETAI). Data generated by the PETAI were entered into a SPSS programme to produce further statistical analysis. The results were comprehensive described and comparison were made between the in-service and pre-service student teachers' behaviour categories by employing the independent t-test. Results indicated that the in-service student teachers had significantly higher percentages of the response presentation and the total teacher instructional time than the pre-service group. Whilst the pre-service student teachers spent significantly more time in planned presentation, equipment management, organization, behaviour management and overall management time than the in-service group. It is likely the different experience in physical education lesson teaching in school environment of the groups give account for the differences of their teaching behaviours. Findings of the present study implied that there were different teaching behaviour patterns and needs of pre-service and in-service student teachers during their practicum.
[Copyright © 2000 Department of Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University.]

Young children learn a great deal as they move about, explore, experience and interact with the world. Movement is seen as contributing to the total development of young children in preschools. It is an integral part in early childhood curriculum. The aims of this paper are threefold. It firstly examines the constraints of developing early childhood physical education (ECPE) curriculum in Hong Kong. Secondly, it advances a new curriculum approach in ECPE for enhancing whole-child development in early childhood settings in Hong Kong. The key elements of this approach are Creativity, Integration, Fundamental Movement Skills, and Movement Education Concepts. Thirdly, it investigates the effectiveness of the effectiveness of the new approach as implemented in a Hong Kong preschool. The findings of the study have supported that the approach as implemented in a Hong Kong preschool. The findings of the study have supported that the approach is appropriate for ECPE curriculum reform in Hong Kong.
[Copyright © 2008 The Hong Kong Institute of Education.]

This study aimed at examining the instructional practice of Hong Kong primary physical education student teachers. Twenty student teachers were videotaped teaching two lessons during their practicum. They were coded using the Physical Education Teacher Assessment instrument. Data generated were comprehensively described. Three randomly selected student teachers participated in the second phase of the study. They were observed teaching two lessons and attended two pre-lesson and post-lesson interviews. Results indicated that the student teachers spent 73.18% of their time in instructional behaviours and 26.82% of their time in managerial behaviours. They held common features in instructional practice during teaching.
[Copyright © 2008 The International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance.]

The aim of the present study was to examine the source of sport confidence among secondary crosscountry athletes. Ninety four athletes (47 males and 47 females) with a mean age of 15.26 (S.D. = 1.87) completed the Sources of Sport-Confidence Questionnaire (SSCQ) after a major competition. It was found that athletes perceived that ‘‘social support’’ was the major source of sport confidence. Significant gender difference was observed that males perceived ‘‘demonstration of ability’’ as more important. Also, significant age differences were found that younger athletes perceived that ‘‘mastery’’ was more important, whereas, older athletes believed in ‘‘ability’’. The findings of this study allow coaches to develop confidence among young athletes.