EDGE Impacts National Physical Education Conference

Physical Education in schools is needed now more than ever, as the obesity levels of our nation’s youth are hitting epidemic proportions. With school funding being slashed, today's physical educators are on the hunt for low cost, lifetime activities that won't break the budget and that get our youth active outdoors. With this in mind, the Educational Disc Golf Experience descended into San Diego to present disc golf at this year's American Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Conference. Representing disc golf at the conference this year were EDGE Executive Director Jon Lyksett, equipment specialist David Shope, elite Professional disc golfers Desiree Reading, Jay Reading, Chris Brophy and the author of “A Good Walk Defined”, Justin Menickelli, Ph.D.

Jay and Desiree Reading kicked off the conference with a four hour instructional workshop on teaching disc golf with one hundred wellness professionals in attendance. In the afternoon, workshop attendees were shuttled to the famous Morley Field for real time disc golf participation. Morley Field is one of the original disc golf courses in the nation, created by PDGA Hall of Fame member Snapper Pierson in 1978. Morley Field is also well known as one of the busiest courses in the world with a group teeing off about every five minutes, sun up to sun down, seven days a week. Coupled with the limited course space available and the drastic changes in disc technology our group of excited new disc golfers made quite an impact that day. Most of the local disc golfers were courteous and patient trying to negotiate through multiple cards of new players. It was the teachers that made the day, though.  The pro player assigned to assist each group got to watch first hand how the game of disc golf can come alive after learning just a few basics of disc flight. The teachers in attendance will impact youth players around the nation for years to come. That is something special.

One other special conference moment came as Super Bowl MVP, Drew Brees was in attendance as a guest speaker for the President's Council on Fitness. With Jay being a Saints fan, he was given the go ahead to attend  Brees' speech where the packed ballroom was told the quarterback would be unable to autograph or take pictures. His speech was solid, but lasted all of ten minutes before he was whisked away to a few other private engagements. One of those engagements was to take pictures with fifteen lucky teachers that won a drawing the previous night. Unbeknownst to Jay, who was alone at the EDGE booth at the time, teaching a few educators how to putt, Brees walked by surrounded by a globe of security, points over, and exclaimed, “Now that looks like fun!”  Jay instinctively tossed Drew an EDGE disc, which he hurriedly putted, missed and off he went.  Floored at what just transpired, Jay was ready when Brees quickly passed through on his way back out and asked if he wanted redemption. Of course he did and this time he drilled his putt into the dead center chains as if he were rifling a pass to Marques Colston cutting across mid field. Yes, Brees has played disc golf before!

Another celebrity athlete in attendance at the conference, multiple Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno, graciously accepted an EDGE disc and information as he and Jon Lyksett reminisced about Apolo's friendship with EDGE curriculum contributor Muffy Davis.

If the enthusiasm at the conference about disc golf was any indication of how the sport is growing, look out! You can help spread the growth of disc golf by getting involved with the EDGE Tournament Charity Program either as a promoter or participant. Visit the EDGE website for more details.

www.edgediscgolf.org
EDGE Tournament Charity Program
“A Good Walk Defined”