Motor Activity Clinic
Building coordination and problem solving through a block-stacking activity designed to improve motor skills and coordination
Final Session- celebrating progress, confidence, and connection
First Session- building rapport and introducting movement
My Experience
During my time in the Motor Activity Clinic, I worked one-on-one with my client. He is extremely outgoing, imaginative, and always brought a lot of energy to every session. Each session included both a pool and gym component, where I planned an led activities based on improving motor skills, coordination, and confidence through movement-based activities. In the gym, I planned activities such as scooter relays, balance challenges using wedges and foam blocks, and target-throwing games with beanbags or hula hoops. In the pool, I incorporated engaging activities such as diving for rings, jumps in the pool, and kicking games that kept him active while also building stamina in the water. One challenge that I did encounter during my time was maintaining full engagement throughout the session. I learned after the first week that having a basic exercise plan was not enough, it needed to be fun and engaging for my client. I often had to change the exercise in the moment based off of my client's energy level and focus.
My client being awarded as "Client of The Week"
Skills Developed During the Motor Activity Clinic
-Patience
-Flexibility
-Creating engaging, client-centered sessions
-Adaptability
The Motor Activity Clinic helped me to realize that adapted physical activity is about meeting the client where they are at. Teaching adapted physical activity requires patience, observation, and especially creativity. In terms of teaching, I learned the importance of keeping instructions clear, demonstrating movements, and breaking down tasks into smaller steps. These skills made a huge difference in motivation and success for my client, and I saw a drastic difference when the exercise was geared towards his interests. For coaching, I was able to learn how to adapt quickly when different tasks were not working. Being able to modify activities in the moment was a key skill that I developed. Overall, this experience showed me that effective coaching is not just about knowledge, but how well you can support the individual in front of you while creating an environment that meets them where they are.
Reflection
Leading a balance and coordination activity using a beam to support stability and confidence
This experience changed the way that I view success and progress. My biggest takeaway was thar progress looks different for everyone, and it is not always linear. Focusing on what a client can do instead of what they cannot makes a huge difference in their confidence and willingness to participate. Working with my client taught me that patience and adaptability are important. There we no two sessions that were exactly the same, and I had to consistently adjust based on attention, ability, and energy. I also learned a lot about myself through this experience. I realized that I can be extremely creative and flexible when tasks do not go as originally planned. Instead of getting frustrated, I learned how to quickly adjust to keep the session engaging while still focusing on the original goal. Moving forward, the ability to stay calm and adapt is something that I will carry with me. This experience also changed my perspective on coaching and exercise. Before the Motor Activity Clinic, I focused more on programming and structure, but I was taught that engagement, connection with the client, and confidence are equally as important. This experience directly connects to my future career in exercise physiology. I will be working with individuals in different settings who have various abilities and needs. This experience helped me to build a strong foundation in adapting exercise, prioritizing the individual, and communicating effectively, which will be essential in the path that I take.