Physical Education in Practice: A Case-Based Introduction - Timothy M. Baghurst

Physical Education in Practice presents a collection of carefully constructed case studies designed to prepare future physical education teachers for the realities of contemporary school settings. Drawing on true-to-life scenarios informed by current research, policy debates, and reported issues in schools, these cases invite readers to step into complex teaching situations that extend far beyond lesson planning and skill instruction. Each case highlights the ethical, pedagogical, social, and professional decisions that physical educators regularly face, including inclusion, behavior management, assessment, safety, equity, ethical issues, technology use, and relationships with students, colleagues, and families.

Written for a non-specialist audience, the book emphasizes practical reasoning rather than prescriptive solutions. Encouraging readers to analyze situations, weigh competing perspectives, and reflect on how their values and decisions shape student experiences. Guided questions and prompts support critical thinking, discussion, and application to teacher education coursework and field experiences. By engaging with authentic dilemmas before entering the profession, preservice teachers can develop confidence, professional judgment, work-life balance, and a clearer sense of their role as educators, advocates, and ethical practitioners in physical education.

Physical Education in Practice is key reading for physical education students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate physical education-teacher education (PETE) programs, as well as being well-suited for use by teacher educators, supervisors of student teachers, and early-career physical education teachers seeking structured opportunities for reflection and professional growth.