PRINCIPLES AND

PRACTICE OF SCHOOL COMMUNITY RECREATION

HKE 202

Definition of Recreation

Recreation consists of activities or experiences carried on within leisure, usually chosen

voluntarily by the participant, either because he perceives certain personal or social values to be
gained from them. It may also be perceived as the process of participation, or as the emotional
state derived from involvement.

When carried on as part of organized community or voluntary agency programmes,

recreation must be designed to meet constructive and socially acceptable. Goals of the individual
participant, the group and society at large. Finally, recreation must be recognized as a social
institution with its own values and traditions, structures and organization, and professional
groups and skilled practitioners.

Recreation as defined by Numeyer is any activity pursued during leisure, either

individual or collective, that is free and pleasureful, having its own immediate appeal, not
compelled by a delayed reward beyond itself or by any immediate necessity. Hutchinson defines
recreation as a worthwhile, socially accepted leisure experience that provides immediate and
inherent satisfaction to the individual who voluntarily participates in an activity.
 There are numerous definitions of recreation and the various definitions have included
the following elements: -

1. Recreation is widely regarded as activity including physical, mental, social, or emotional

involvement as contrasted with sheer idleness or complete rest.
2. Recreation may include an extremely wide range of activities such as sports, games, craft,
performing arts, music, dramatics, travel, hobbies and social activities. They may be
engaged in individually or in groups, and may involve single or episodic participation, or
sustained and frequent involvement throughout one’s lifetime.
3. The choice of activity or involvement is voluntary, free of compulsion or obligation.
4. Recreation is prompted by internal motivation and the desire to achieve personal
satisfaction, rather than by extrinsic goals or rewards.

5. Recreation is heavily dependent on a state of mind or attitude, it is not so much what one
does as the reason for doing it, and the way the individual feels about the activities that
makes it recreation.

Recreation

A. Objectives of Recreation

(1) Personal fulfilment: Recreation recognizes the need for people to become all that they are
capable of becoming and the contribution that recreation can make to this goal.

(2) Democratic Human Relations: Recreation recognizes that it has goals that contribute to
individual as well as to the democratic group socially of which they are a part.

(3)Leisure Skills and Interests: Recreation has the goal of meeting the interests of people and
developing skills that will provide the incentive, motivation, and Medium for spending free time
in a constructive and worthwhile manner.

(4) Health and Fitness: Recreation recognizes the importance of contributing to the alleviation
of stress and physical inactivity that prevail in many segments of the society.
(5) Creative Expression and Esthetic Appreciation: Recreation attempts to provide the
environment, leadership, materials and motivation where creativity, personal expression, and
esthetic appreciation on the part of the participant exist.

(6) Environment for Living in a Leisure Society: Recreation plays an important role in
encouraging such things as preservation of natural resources, construction of play grounds and
recreation centres, and awakening the population to an appreciation of esthetic and cultural
values.

B. Identifying Recreation

There are specific ways of identifying recreation which has characteristics of its own.
Among them are these:-

(1). Recreation is action: It always involves action or activity. Reference is made to action as
distinguished from rest, or being in a state of unconsciousness. The action may be physical,
mental or emotional or all three.

(2). Recreation has no single form: We express ourselves in many ways. Man is a complex
organism, a mixture of physiological and psychological forces which stamp him with an
individuality of his own. He is conditioned by his heredity but also by his environment. Man’s
interests, preferences, and capabilities are influenced by his intellectual and physical resources
by his habits and by the social actions and interactions which swirl about him. Because these
things do not remain the same recreation itself does not remain static. The form which it takes
changes with time and with changing interests of people.

(3) Recreation is determined by attitude and motivation: In accordance with the earlier
statement that it was mainly the attitude of the doer which determined whether or not an activity
was recreation, attention is drawn to the matter of motivation. That which determines our choice
or which moves us to act, which stimulates our will is our motivation. If the activity which the
participant undertakes during leisure is primarily motivated by his desire to enjoy him, the
activity is recreation. His over-riding reason for entering into the activity is to enjoy himself even
though in so doing he may improve his health, make new friends and gain in many other ways.
Indeed, it is possible for an activity to be both work and recreation for the same person at
different times. While work may or may not be enjoyed, recreation is always enjoyable.

(4). Recreation takes place in Leisure: Our hours away from work are hours of leisure. They
represent a kind of “free” or “spare” time.

(5). Engagement in Recreation is Voluntary: If, the individual is compelled to participate, the
activity is not recreation. Words such as compulsion, obligation, imposition are completely
absent from the world of recreation. Recreation must of necessity be an open road for the
individual to express himself freely.

(6) Recreation is universally practiced and sought: Evidence of man’s early interests along
these lines can be found in the records of his games, his dance, his arts and even his religious
rituals in earlier civilizations. Not only man, but lower forms of animal life can be observed at
play. Play and recreation have never known limitations of time, place or persons.

(7) Recreation is serious and purposeful: The very thing which man needs to live. And grow,
such as having healthy tissues, learning experiences, social interactions and emotional
contentment are the things which he often gains and strengthens in recreation and which make it
serious and purposeful to him whether he is aware of it or not.

(8) Recreation is Flexible: There is endless variance in what people do for recreation.

(9) Recreation has byproduct which can be used for worthwhile purpose beyond personal
satisfaction and enjoyment: Recreation has long been an important part of the armed forces.
Here, it is looked upon as a device for maintaining fitness, for boosting morale and for helping
create an efficient fighting force.

C. Values of Recreation

The self-satisfaction and enjoyment which people receive from recreation and
recreation’s own rewards. Nevertheless, experience shows that often there are values beyond
personal satisfaction which derive from wholesome recreation that is the kind of recreation
which is decent, good and constructive and which brings out the best in people. These are
rewards which accrue to the individual and often to society as a whole.
Recreation can be man’s best opportunity for an enriched abundant and satisfying life. It is the
principal opportunity for many to have an expressive and joyous life. Recreation can be a
remarkably potent factor in helping to bring the personality to its fullest development. More
specifically, it has the following values: -

(1) Promoting Sound Health: It is of little value to the individual if he does not have good
health. It is possible to remain alive if health is poor, but life cannot be exuberant and full
without it. Recreation has demonstrated its capacity for helping attain and keep sound
health. Physical recreation, particularly those activities which involve the use of the large
muscles, as in active games, sports, athletics and calisthenics help develop our physical
structure. In such activity strength and endurance as well as agility and motor
coordination are often improved, because digestion and elimination are aided, appetites
and nutrition are improved. The circulatory system is helped and respiratory activity is
increased. Recovery from fatigue seems to be more rapid and lasts longer. Nervous
tensions appear to be fewer and less devastating.

Recreation also plays a large role in mental health, in helping our emotional stability.
Recreation is used extensively not only in helping to prevent ill health and sustain good health,
but also in helping the ill and the handicapped regain their health.

(2) Education and Learning: Recreation opens the door to a whole new world of learning.
This is appreciated if one pauses to think about how much people learn when they are
reading books and magazines for pleasure, when they are traveling, when they are
collecting stamps or even when they are watching television.

If it is the purpose of education to stimulate thinking, to nurture appreciations and

interests, to impart skills, to help achieve sound physical and mental health, to help appreciate
beauty and understand the world and universe in which we live; if it is to enhance human
relations and broaden and deepen personality growth and development, then recreation is a fine
laboratory for the educational process to flourish.
 (3) Character and Citizenship: The values, habits and behaviours of individuals, and thus
to a large extent, their character, are shaped during leisure. When recreation is undertaken
in groups such as in clubs and on teams, the actions of one person are certain to cause
reactions in the others. The interests of the individual must often be submerged in favour
of the total interests of the group. Recreation is certainly a rich proven ground for testing
and influencing ethical codes and moral standards which in the last analysis are the strong
underpinnings of character, citizenship and democracy.

(4) Enhancing Individuality: While human beings are very much alike, all having ideals,
fears, beliefs and attitudes, these elements which grow from their physiological and
psychological resources and needs, are not all present within each individual in equal
form or degree, nor do they appear to be arranged exactly alike in any two people.

Leisure and recreative use of it can have a strong influence upon the individual’s desire to
be free. It is a reliable escape from the standardized environment of modern society, particularly
urban living. Leisure provides the opportunity; the recreation can be the means of giving free and
full expression to our daily living.

(5) Values to Society: As individuals benefit from recreation, so do families,

neighbourhoods, communities, states, nations, and society as a whole. There are benefits
to society which transcend those mentioned above. Some of these gains are of a political
nature. For example, recreation can be an effective means of bringing about a better
understanding among the people of the world. Travel, friendly competition in sports and
athletics, exchange of cultural programmes, and many other recreational pursuits are
typical. Recreation also has definite economic value. It is a means of creating new
industries, of providing jobs in the manufacture and distribution of goods and services, of
bringing in revenues through taxes, of making communities attractive to home owners
and business investors, of raising poverty values and of increasing production. The
worker who has opportunity for recreation off the job can return to the job refreshed and
ready to work.

D. Types of Recreation Programmes

 Some idea of the range of recreation programmes and services provided in organized
recreation systems can, be obtained from the following incomplete list of activities: -

 Arts and Crafts: Carving, drawing, painting, modeling, weaving, sewing, tooling,
silvers mithing, printing etc.
 Communication: Writing, speaking, broadcasting, television, etc.
 Dance: Folk or traditional dancing, social dancing, modern dancing, rhythmic games, etc.
 Drama: Plays, puppertry, pantomime, story tellingetc
 Hobbies: Collecting (e.g. stamps, coins, autographs, etc.) creative (e.g. composing,
inventing, designing) educational (e.g. astronomy, ornithology, horticulture), performing
(e.g. golfing, skating, painting, etc.).
 Music: Singing or playing instruments individually or in groups (such as in choruses,
choirs, or bands, or orchestras, listening (home music, records, radio and television, live
concerts etc.)
 Outdoor Recreation: Camping, hiking, picnicking, gardening, bating, exploring, bird
watching, hunting, fishing, etc.)
 SocialRecreation: Parties, banquets, dances, outing, club affairs, etc.
 Special Events: Festivals, exhibitions, parades, celebrations, carnivals, contest,
tournaments, etc.
 Sports, Games & Athletics: Low-organized games (e.g. circle tag), individual sports
(e.g. archery, riding, swimming, fishing) dual sports (e.g. tennis, badminton, squash, table
tennis), team sports (e.g. basketball, soccer, volleyball, hockey, etc.) and combative
sports (e.g. wrestling, boxing, fencing, judo, etc.)

Principles for planning recreation

Introduction

Experience with organized recreation in different kinds of settings, particularly, in the

community, has provided certain basic truths, or guiding principles which if adhered to, appear
to produce the most desirable results. The material which follows set forth these guideposts and
attempts to explain their meaning. Principles of course are meaningless, unless they are used and
applied intelligently.
(A) General principles

(1) Recreation is for everyone

Because recreation is a form of human expression essential to the growth, development

and survival of the individual, opportunities for participating in socially desired and acceptable
forms of recreation should be available to all. Race, creed, political, social or economic status
should not limit or deprive individuals of decent and attractive forms of recreation. Inequalities,
between and among neighbourhoods or between groups with different racial, religious, cultural,
and educational backgrounds should not block the premise that recreation is a part of everyone’s
life and as with religion which calls for a spiritual outlet, requires the opportunity for
wholesome, decent, and satisfying expression.

(2)Recreation is a continuing need

The need to express ourselves thorough recreation, or through play as it is thought of

during the childhood years is one which needs outlets continuously throughout the span of life. It
is not just something which children do during vacations or what adults find pleasurable when
they have holidays. Recreation is a daily need.

(3) Education for leisure is essential

The satisfying use of leisure requires preparation. People must learn how to use their
spare time just as they must be taught or prepared, for their jobs and professions.

Preparation for leisure however does not mean planning the other fellow’s leisure.It does
not mean standardizing leisure or even hinting at urging people to conform in their free time. It
does mean that persons must be stimulated, encouraged, assisted, and taught to use their leisure.
Different kinds of experiences must be available. Interest must be developed and skills must be
taught. It is the purpose of education for leisure to help make people recreationally literate.

(4) Knowledge of existing resources must precede determination of recreation needs

This kind of information is usually obtained by making a survey or appraisal. Information

includes the composition distribution and trends of the population, the housing and residence
situation, zoning regulations, economic factors, social problems such as ill health, accidents and
delinquency. The resources (including the facilities and services of the voluntary, private,
commercial and public recreation agencies and organizations).The legal situation (local and state
laws) and other characteristics of the community such as its history, geography climate and
cultural and sociological aspects. Of equal importance is knowledge of people’s recreational
interests and desires. The idea is to learn as much as possible about the local situation, to know
the community so that recreation plans be geared to local needs..

(5) Recreation requires planning

Adequate recreation opportunities designed to meet the needs, interests, desires, and
capabilities of the people do not just happen. They must be planned in advance of the time
that they are needed and in away which will yield the highest return from the least
expenditure of money and effort.

(6) Public recreation has its basis in sound recreation legislation

The powers which authorize and govern the establishment and operation of recreation
programmes facilities, and services supported by tax funds derived from the laws of the state and
the community. It is these laws which define the kind of body which shall be responsible for the
administration of recreation. Both the state and thelocal laws should be such as to not only
permit but also encourages communities to plan, finance and administer recreation opportunities
to meet adequately the needs of the population.

(7) Responsibility for Management of Recreation should be clearly and definitely fixed

Responsibility for managing, the recreation service can be assigned to an existing agency,
or a new one can be created for the purpose. Each locality should be free to choose its particular
kind of managing group, based upon local interests, conditions and preferences. Whatever the
form, the body should be responsible, primarily for establishment of policies and regulations to
govern the operations, and for the overall success of the enterprise.

(8) Recreation requires cooperative action

Cooperation is needed not only among the agencies and organizationswithin the community; it is
also needed in local state and national relationships. It is in the community of course; where the
people live that the gap between need and provision is bridged.

(9) Wide variety of functional recreation areas and facilities is essential

A sound recreation programme is possible only if there, are available outdoor and indoor
recreation facilities and property, equipment and supplies.

Reflection upon the large diversity of recreational interests within a single community
make clear that many types and sizes of recreation facilities are needed in different locations to
meet the facilities such as play lots are needed for the pre-school age group as playgrounds are
necessary for the elementary school children, teen centres for the youth, and other types of
recreation centre for the adults. Those who are interested in athletics and sports will want
playfields, athletic fields, swimming pools, gymnasia, rifle ranges, golf courses, and many other
facilities. The outdoor lovers will prefer camps, picnic area, nature trails, and the like. Think of
the people who like to read for recreation and therefore appreciate libraries. The craftsman
prefers the shop,and the art enthusiast the museum. It is not only a matter of diversified facilities.
Attention must be given to how much space? How many facilities of type and where? What
percentage of the total space should be allotted for any one purpose?

Cooperative planning, particularly among planning, recreation, park and school

authorities, is extremely important. This planning includes joint action as it relates to acquiring
property and developing and operating it. Schools should serve not only educational needs but
also after school recreational needs, too. Therefore they should be designed, located and
constructed with both purposes in mind.

(10) Success of organized recreation depends upon quality of leadership

Many kinds of leadership are needed in organized recreation. Theseinclude laymen who
serve on the governing boards; volunteers who help raise money, work on (committees, act as
officials, help arrange events, and perform the duties of clerks, receptionists, and programme
leaders; professionally prepared, career recreator at work full time in the field; part time and
seasonal programme leaders and the paid business, clerical and custodial personnel.
 Of all the essential requirements for high quality recreation service facilities, equipment,
and the like, none are more important than leadership. Soundly prepared, competent, and
dependable, leadership should have the highest priority. Careful consideration should be given to
selecting the person to prepare to enter the recreation profession. The individual should be warm
and personable and enjoy working with people of all ages and interests. He should be intelligent,
dedicated, resourceful, imaginative and enthusiastic. If he is to be a leader of others in socially
accepted recreation, he must, of course be a person of integrity, often serving as an example both
off and on the job.

The recreator must possess or acquire other knowledge competency, and skill, including
understanding the growth and development of the people of all age? He must learn the
philosophy and theory of leisure, recreation, and play. He must learn how to plan, organize, and
evaluate recreation services. He must know how to go about gathering the facts which will help
him learn the needs and provide for them. The recreator must know the principles of recreation
leadership, democratic group action, and programme methods and techniques. He should be
skilled in at least two activities such as sports, and athletics, crafts, music, drama, dance, social
recreation camping, nature lore, and the like. Caring for facilities and equipment is one of his
responsibilities.

(11) Sound, adequate financial support is essential

The benefits which come from well-planned, organized and conducted recreation
opportunities justify the claims which these services make upon the financial resources of
society. Funds are needed to plan, acquire, develop and maintain recreation areas and facilities,
to equip and supply these facilities and to provide the management and leadership. The cost of
organized recreation should be shared among government voluntary, social welfare
organizations, private interests, and individual. Society should provide the basic financial
resources through tax funds to meet the needs of public recreation funds for community
recreation should, be raised intelligently and spend wisely.

(12) Sound public relations are indispensable to success of recreation services

 Unless the public understands and accepts the objectives and values of recreation, unless
the people are aware of the opportunities which exist for their recreation, and unless they are
motivated to use the services and facilities which are available, it is not likely that the best results
will be obtained or that the public will give sufficient support to the work. Community recreation
requires a solid partnership with a well informed. Public. It is a partnership which builds and
holds goodwill and which interprets, honestly and accurately, through a variety of media, the
social significance and values. Of recreation.

(B) Programme Principles

1) Consideration should be given to the varied interests, physiological and psychological

characteristics and needs and capabilities of the individual.
2) Recreation should provide the opportunity for creativity and self expression.
3) Recreation should provide some opportunity for persons to be of service to others.
4) Recreation should provide some opportunity for a balanced leisure diet.
5) A recreation programme should be supported adequately in leadership, facilities and
finance.
6) The recreation programmes should mobilize and use all available resources.
7) Equality of opportunity is essential in recreation.
8) A recreation programme should be flexible.
9) Recreation programme should protect the health and safety of those who participate in
them.
10) Recreation should encourage good personal behaviour and conduct.
11) Recreation should not exploit the individual or group.
12) Recreation should be evaluated continuously in terms of its values to the individual and
society as measured against investment in effort and cost.

Agencies for sponsoring recreation

Community recreation is the sum total of all socially acceptable organized recreation
programmes, services, and facilities, within and supported by the community regardless of the
number and type of sponsors e.g. includes public recreation, the programmes of the voluntary
agencies such as those listed below, the country clubs, the theatres and commercial recreation
agencies.

a. Public recreation is organized recreation, primarily supported, in whole or in part, by

public usually taxes funds and available for public use, e.g. sports stadia, gymnasia,
community centres etc.
b. Voluntary recreation is recreation facilities, services and programmes provided by social
service or “group work” agencies, supported mainly by voluntary contributions and
usually designed to serve a particular group (as the Boy Scouts serve boys within a
certain age range or as the YWCA caters primarily to girls and women and often
providing service in a given part of the community. Theseagencies do not necessarily
consider themselves “recreation” agencies although recreation may be a large part of their
programmes.
c. Commercial recreation is organized recreation, operated as a business enterprise for profit
and opens to the public for a price (and includes motion picture theatres, night clubs,
amusement parks, professional sports and the like).

Other kinds of organized recreation are often identified with the settings in which they
occur. Among them are employee recreation (which takes place under the sponsorship of
industrial management union and employee groups), rural recreation (which is found in rural
areas and often under the auspices of either a farm organization or rural cooperatives and the
like), church recreation (under the auspices of religious organizations and frequently in the
church), institutional recreation (in such institutions as hospitals, nursing homes, youth detention
centres reformatories, penitentiaries, and the like), and armed forces recreation (referring to
programmes and services provided by the Department of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The techniques and methods, in some instancesthe purposes, of recreation may differ
between and among these settings and those found in community recreation, but the kinds of
recreation offered are basically the same. For example, sports and games are as much a part of
armed forces, recreation as they are community recreation.

School and community recreation

Objectives:

Reduction and prevention of delinquency

The long adage that the devil finds work for idle hands is still holding today and one of
the ways by which idleness could be curbed is through recreation. Recreation is an effective tool
to keep oneself busy during one’s free period or leisure. Failure to do this would result to
idleness. Idleness most of the time especially among children and young people can result in
delinquency. The mere fact that people are occupied is enough talkless of other values that they
can gain from recreation. All their activitiescan still be monitored and tailored positively and
their negative behaviours and habits influenced positively and adjusted through recreation.

Reduction and prevention of truancy in school

Many educators agree that truancy in school is caused by many factors such as ill health,
lack of recreational skills and social maladjustment. Recreation will definitely contribute to the
physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of school children (pupils and students)
and people of different ages in general. Intramural sports programme if properly planned and
implemented could turn to a very exciting and effective recreation. Thus the values of
aforementioned in respect of recreation can then assist in reducing and preventing truancy.

Sound health

Recreation contributes to the physical well-being of the individual and it promotes

physical growth of the young ones. It creates a special challenge and opportunity to help people
of all ages to maintain a high standard of all round fitness. This is very important when
considering increased in sedentary living in our society. Recreation-therapy programme has been
recorded as an effective tool for rapid recovery and rehabilitation to a normal life. Some
institutions in America embarked on this and came out with positive results. It was reported that
patients have learned through recreation activities, both directly and indirectly that they are not
hopeless invalids and can return to normal life.
 It should be noted here that recreation is not the same thing as health education. It is not a
part of health or a phrase of health education. Recreation primarily contributes. To the health
value of prevention of illness by contributing to healthful and happy living.

Mental health

Psychiatrists have the opinion that recreation possesses the very keys to emotional ill
health. Professor Lambo,aone time Deputy Director of World Health Organization in 1993 a
radio programme asserted in 1993 that about 85% of Nigerian populace and 90% of Nigerian
leaders were mentally sick. Similarly, in the 1970s America, mental illnesswas called the
nation’s number one health problem. In fact America estimated that 60 million Americans were
borderline schizophrenics or exhibits other deviant mental behaviour.

Recreation was widely used in America to combat mental illness especially in the mental
rehabilitation of the individual. This is not new because the Holy Bible even recorded such
incidents. Music was used as a soother of troubled spirit and used with success as a therapeutic
agent in institutions for mental patients. An example is David playing harp for Saul when he was
having mental problem (Holy Bible, Samuel 16:14 23). Other recreation activities such as dance,
crafts and hobbies are valuable. Recreation has played an important role in the treatment and
rehabilitation of mental illness.

Character Development

Recreation activities have the tendency of either being constructive or

destructive.Activities of a highly competitive nature tend to shape the attitudes and conduct of
participants positively or negatively. Some of these activities give room to either cheating or
honesty, cruelty or kindness, lying or truthfulness and all kinds of vices and virtues. Moreover,
recreation can permit expression of sportsmanship principles or violating them. However, there
are rules binding different activities and participants are expected to abide by them.

These rules tend to inculcate integrity and leadership ability, respect for rules, fair play,
courage, and ability to subordinate selfish interests to the welfare of the group.
 Besides, recreation activities require cooperation, loyalty, team play, recognition of the
right of others and freedom. Although character development is not a specific objective sought
by recreation, it is however a natural by-product.

Prevention of crime

Inasmuch as recreation can help or build character and prevent delinquency, it also has a
potential force or influence in the prevention of crime. Idleness is a source of evil and can only
be curbed through wise and judicious use of leisure. Comparativelylittle or no crime exists in the
rural areas where facilities at local standard are available unlike cities where facilities are either
unavailable or inadequate. Recreation helps in developing wholesome interests and furnishes
opportunities for whose pursuance thereby reducing the criminal tendency. Participation avails
outlets for the normal desire for recognition, success and achievement, and satisfaction in these,
needs no duplicate in unsocial ways.

Idleness is not an asset rather it is a waste of time and resources. It encourages criminal
acts. Law enforcement agents juvenile court records, and confessions from offenders confirmed
that lack of or inadequate recreation opportunities is one of the vital causes of delinquency and
crime. Recreation in addition to efforts from other agencies such as home, the school and
religious bodies will bring about prevention or elimination of delinquency and crime in the
community. Recreation will contribute tremendously by developing wholesome personalities and
sociable human beings with the aim of assuming a situation in which antisocial attitudes do not
flourish. It can be used as a correction device for prison inmate or juvenile home inmates by
encouraging them to use their leisure in a constructive and pleasurable way. This can always be
carried over to the outside world. It is important to note that recreation will only bring the best if
well planned, facilitated, supervised, protected, organized and administered. The recreation
centres should be well secure from misdemeanours.

Community solidarity

There is a continuous growing suspicion, distrust, ethnicity segregation, dislike of our

fellow men and a lack of neighbourliness. Recreation is void of discrimination and it affords a
common forum where differences may be forgotten in the joy of participation or achievement.
Activities in recreation are shared by all classes. For example the ability or skillfulness in sports,
drama or art is respected by people with such interest regardless of race, colour or status.
Recreation welcomes people from different professions, races, classes, in fact it always involve a
cross section of the community.

Recreation is able to generate tolerance, brotherhood, civil rights, fellowship and mutual
understanding.

Morale

Man naturally needs inspiration to uplift him. This is necessary in both time of favourable
conditions and unfavourable conditions. Inspiration is more needed during insecurity, depression
and unusual strain. This is when he should involve himself in these activities which bring
satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. He needs to be convinced that he can do a particular
thing well. Failure to feel this way will reduce his morale. Recreation provides an avenue for
this. It has such a place for the unemployed, the retired, and even the aged. Recreation in short is
a morale booster.

Safety

A well designed and carefully operated recreation area is safe and accident free and if at
all accident would be recorded it would be very minimal. Recreation areas are supposed to
provide proper supervision and opportunities for teaching and acquiring skills in all their various
activities. Safety regulations at recreation areas and facilities should be enforced in order to
prevent accidents.

Civil order

Butler (1976) reported that America used recreation as an elective panacea for the ills of
the Ghetto and primarily as antiriot devices in the 1960s in most of her cities. No wonder
America was able to produce some sports stars from Ghetto. Violence and civil disobedience are
common in areas with high rate of unemployment, poor housing, limited educational offerings
and substandard or lack of recreation services. These factors are enough frustration that can be
lapped or exploited for riot or civil disobedience. Availability of recreation facilities would go a
long way to get people in such environment occupied constructively.

Democracy

Recreation propagates participation in activity freely chosen for self satisfaction, creative
expression and self development. The principle behind this can only thrive well in democratic
society because democracy is committed to provision of opportunities for individual growth, self
expression, optimum development of potential and achievement of abundant life.

Where democracy is not in existence the programme would be regimented and

participants are just parts of the whole exercise and not as a free spirit. This does not mean that
recreation in this situation will not contribute any value. Values such as loyalty and physical
fitness would be derived but not freedom in its entity as it should be in recreation. Despite this,
free choice still counts in recreation more than any other area. Thus, individual and groups
should be given a large share in development and implementation of recreation plans in order to
maximize the democratic value in recreation.

Education: Although the objectives methods and programmes of education and recreation may
look similar, they are never synonymous. However, they are both complementary and
supplementary to each other with each having its own unique. Features. The two aim at the
fullest development of the individual but while recreation affords immediate satisfactions,
education aims at a more distant goal. Another contraction is the present of compulsion in some
aspect of education which is absent in recreation experiences. In addition, activities such as
sports, music, drama or arts which are common programmes to both are treated as areas in which
skills, understanding, and appreciation are to be acquired in education whereas recreation views
them as means of practicing and enjoying skills and interests already acquired.

In recreation, many activities involve learning process; hence, recreation leaders need to
become familiar with educational principles and methods. Similarly school authorities are aware
of the ability of recreation as an excellent medium for carrying on the learning process and for
achieving educational goals. Thus recreation plays a vital role in the school curriculum and
extra-curricular programme.
 This is the same in adult education programmes and recreation; the primary difference is
that of objective. Adults focus may be on self-improvement, acquisition ofnew skill or
knowledge often to achieve an economic or social advantage. A properly planned educational
programme should include a sound recreation programme, and a proper and effective recreation
programme is equally a sound educational programme.

Economy:The amount spend on provision of recreation is far too low when compared with the
amount spend yearly in preventing or reducing delinquency and crime. A life saved is more than
any costs spend on provision of recreation. If physical and mental health depend upon
wholesome recreation any, amount on recreation is justifiable since it will promote sound health.
Recreation is known to influence high productivity in workers if leisure is purposefully and
wisely spent. The presence of recreational facilities can be a contributing influence of attracting
companies, industries and businesses. Many literatures have confirmed that well maintained and
sustained, organized and administered recreation areas and facilities contribute a marked increase
in property values and have proved a factor in maintaining a sound economic condition, and a
high standard of liability in a community.

Community recreation personnel

Introduction

Community recreation centres are established to serve the people of the community.
These services cannot be provided, however, without the specialized personnel who understand
their functions and are capable of working in the organization. In this lecture, we shall examine
the required and desirable personnel, professional and educational qualifications of the personnel
that can be engaged to offer their services in recreation and park system.

Personal qualifications

There is no doubt that the professional and academic qualification actions expected for
each position shall vary, but there are certain “personal qualities” which are quite important to
“all positions of leadership” (Rodney, 1964). Even though these qualities by themselves do not
make for leadership, they cannot be relegated when it comes to influencing and motivating
people. Some of these qualifiers are: honesty,integrity, sincerity, sense of humour sense of
service and faith in people. These find other personal qualities form the foundation for a
successful job performance.

Types of positions

The need to provide recreation participants with varieties of activities has necessitated
specialization among personnel who function in the recreation types and number of recreation
positions found in various communities will vary, depending on the size of the community and
the areas and facilities available. In a small recreation center, the administrator may be the only
full-time employee, but as the center enlarges and functions increase. Two clear-cut areas of
work emerge and these are: that of programme operation (Rodney, 1964). It is at the stage of
expansion that specialization in the area of personnel now emanates from.

As mentioned above, as the community recreation center center expands, the functions
become specialized, and what happens is that the recreation agency separates administration
from supervision. At this stage, general and functional supervisory positions emerge. However
we should not confuse a general supervisor with a functional one. According to Rodney (1964) a
general supervisor is responsible for any or all phases of departmental operation, while a
functional supervisor will be in charge of specialized field or area such as athletics, drama, music
and so on.

In essence then, the kinds of positions and the responsibilities attached to them vary with
the size of the recreation and park agency and the level of services provided. In addition, the
function may also vary irrespective of the fact that the title of the position is similar.

Position Nomenclature

The need to standardize job titles in the area of recreation and parks is becoming
apparent. This position is very much supported by the various recreation organizations and
associations.

The title ascribed to a particular position in any organization, recreation and parks
inclusive, is very important, but one thing is clear and that is that positions can beclassified under
administration, supervision, leadership, maintenance upkeep, and trainee personnel” (SRPP,
1962).

Administration

Director of Administration: He is the chief administrative officer in a recreation agency and his
functions include the development of recreation areas and facilities, playgrounds and specialized
area and structures. In some countries, the title “General Manager” is used to denote the person
performing the above stated functions.

Administrative Assistant: He is to assist the executive head of the recreation board, and he is
responsible for some management functions which include budgeting, purchasing, personnel
management and related staff services.

Director of Recreation: He is the most senior officer in charge of recreation programme which
include planning, organizing, developing and managing of the, recreation services.

Assistant Director of Recreation: He is to assist the assistant Director of Recreation: He is to

assist the Director of creation and he is responsible for delegated authorities in administration,
planning, organization and supervision of recreation services. He is expected to act for the
director in his absence.

Supervision

Senior Recreation Supervisor: The supervisor is responsible for the professional supervision of
the works of others in all areas of the recreation programme in a particular area of community.

Recreation Supervisor (Functional): He is responsible for the professional supervision of

others in the planning and organization of an assigned function or specialized area of the
community recreation programme, for example, athletics activities for girls and women aquatics
camping, arts and crafts, drama, music and other specified areas.

Leadership
Senior Recreation Leader:This personnel is in charge of professional recreation work by
directing a wide variety of activities that are available in a recreation centre orplayground. He
also supervises recreation, leaders and other subordinates, as he himself is under supervision.

Recreation leader: He is responsible for planning, directing and conducting various activities in
specific small playground or centre or serves as an assistance in large playground or recreational
centre.

Assistant Recreation Leader: He works under the close supervision of the Recreation Leader,
and is made responsible for simple recreation activities with special emphasis in organizing and
leading children and occasionally, adults, in various activities.

Recreation Attendant: He works under the directive of a Recreational Leader, and he is

responsible for routine duties at a recreation centre, playground, camp or swimming pool.

Special-Activity Leader: He is responsible for the conduct of a recreation programme around a

special interest like arts and crafts, drama, dance, music, athletics or camping.

Trainee Personnel: These may be drawn from among high school or college Students.

Recreation Intern: He will be responsible for various administrative, supervisory, leadership

functions most especially in the areas of conferences, directed reading and examinations.

Student Recreation Leader: He is responsible is responsible for promotion, organization and

personal leadership of various recreation activities.

Junior Recreation Assistant: He is under close supervision helps Recreation Leaders conduct
games, special events, and other activities. He is expected to supervise free play activities at
areas like sandbox; play apparatus and swimming pool.

Duties and Qualifications

As we observed from above, standards have been established for recreation and park
personnel, and at times, qualifications required to fill these positions are already set out. We shall
 now examine the basic elements of each position that are already listed above. The under listed
are as found in standards of Recreation and Park Personnel (SRPP, 1962).

Director of Recreation

Job Description: It is the duty of the Director to manage comprehensive recreation programmer
“and the operational and developmental phase of recreation areas and facilities, playgrounds, and
specialized areas and structures (Kodney, 1964). Granted that the basic policies are laid down by
the governing board, it is the responsibility of the Director to administer the policies
professionally. He is the technical adviser to the community recreation board.

Examples of Duties

i. Organizes and directs the services of a recreation department in consonance with the general
policies established by the community.
ii. Prepares and defends the budget; controls and supervises departmental expenditures.
iii. Recruits, selects and employs the professional and other personnel.
iv. Ascertains present and future needs for areas, facilities and programme, prepares long-term
plans to meet these needs, including budgetary requirements.
v. Directs the acquisition, planning, construction, improvement and maintenance of all area and
facilities that are the responsibility of the recreation department.
vi. Develops and administers a broad programme of recreation activities for all age groups and
interests.
vii. Discuss with community groups and individuals to determine programme needs, area and
facility requirements and improvements, and to interpret scope and purpose of present
operations and point out programme efficiencies and areas in which expansion and
improvement are needed.
viii. Give direction and guidance to departmental staff by defining standards and principles of
operation, and together with staff, establishes agency goals and objectives.
ix. Discusses with other local, state and national government, and voluntary organizations
concerned with recreation, parks, conservation and other recreation resources, to formulate
cooperative planning and working relationships.
x. Establishes procedures to maintain files, correspondence, and records of the center provides
for a system for reporting, interpreting and publishing the work of the agency.

Required knowledge, Skill and Abilities: The Director must have thorough knowledge of
the principles, theory and philosophy of the recreation and park profession skill in organizing
the services of the department. These include planning for areas and facilities, level of
adequacy at which services are to be provided, development of long term financial plans and
formulation of plans for the development and replacement of personnel. He must understand
the recreation needs of the community and have the ability to meet those needs.
The Director shall be expected to possess the ability to guide direct the work of the
department and its personnel and to delegate tasks with dispatch and be able to supervise
specialized personnel. Must possess thorough knowledge (if the development, maintenance
and operation of recreation areas and facilities ability to inspire and work harmoniously with
peers and employees.
Director of Recreation
Job Description: He is to formulate and administer a broad community recreation
programme. He plans, organizes and directs the centre’s staff and activities and gives
immediate supervision of staff or major functions. He also encourages community
participation in the programme; his duties are controlled by the laid-down policy of the
governing board for recreation.
Examples of Duties
I. Formulates and executes a broad and varied programme of community recreation
activities.
II. In line with laid down policy, he selects and appoints recreation personnel.
III. The preparation and administration of the budget for recreation are responsibilities and he
controls expenditure.
IV. Plans construction, maintenance and operation of the recreation facilities.
V. He serves as the technical adviser to the community recreation board.
VI. Serves as secretary to the governing board.

Required knowledge, skill and abilities

 The Director of Recreation shall be expected to have thorough knowledge of the
principles, theory and philosophy of the recreation profession and should process the skill to
organize the services of the recreation centre in the areas of planning for areas and facilities,
development of long term financial plans, programme for the development and replacement
of personnel. He is expected to understand the needs of the community and possess the
ability to satisfy those needs.

The Director of Recreation shall have the where withal to control the activities of the
personnel and he should be able to delegate authority, if and when necessary. He should have
the required skill and techniques of public administration and ability to take decisions
executively. He should be capable of motivating others to work and enjoy good working
relationship with his colleagues and employees.

Assistant Director of Recreation

Job Description: He is to assist the Director of Recreation or acts on his behalf in the
performance of some of the following duties: -

i. Performance of detailed administrative work.

ii. Supervision and training of professional staff.
iii. Responsible for the conduct of one or more phases of the recreation programme.
iv. Plays leadership role in public relations, supervision of personnel or control of
expenditures.
v. Acts as chief administrator in the absence of the Director.

Examples of Duties

i. Assists the administrator by assuming responsibilities for important administrative

details.
ii. Complies and interprets date for reports and memoranda regarding operating
achievements and costs.
iii. Prepares and issues releases, bulletins, posters or other publicity devices.
iv. May represent the administrator at meetings.
 v. Conducts surveys to determine community recreation needs and evaluate present
services.
vi. Inspects areas, facilities and equipments to determine safety, adequacy and need for
maintenance.
vii. Conducts and regulates meetings.
viii. Organizes conferences, clinics and seminars to update the staff on administration of
community centres.

Required knowledge, skill and abilities

There is no difference between what are required of him and those of the Director. It
is for this reason that some recreation agencies to not operate the assistant director’s position,
rather, the duties and responsibilities are divided among several recreation supervisors. It is
not strange therefore, to have a general supervisor. The overlap of duties between the director
and assistant director is intentional, because in practice the functions may be assigned to
either class.

District Recreation Supervisor

Job Description: within an assigned area, he is to supervise professional recreation work

within the context of developing and directing various recreation activities. It is his
responsibility to establish and assess recreation programme and activities within
playgrounds, recreation centres, clubs and housing projects. He must also enforce adherence
to stated standards for facilities.

Examples of Duties

i. Assigns schedules and supervises the work of general and specialist personnel at
recreation centres and playgrounds.
ii. Inspects and assess adequacy of recreation programme and administers a community-
wide recreation programme.
iii. Develops training programmes for personnel.
iv. Makes recommendations for repairs and improvement of recreation facilities.
v. Prepares records and periodic reports on all aspects of the recreation programme.
 Required knowledge, skills and abilities: Must have knowledge of the basic psychology,
techniques and methodology of organizing groups in a recreation setting have the ability to
interpret the work of the staff effectively, have general knowledge of all aspects of recreation
programmes and must be able to have and maintain cordial relationship with fellow
employees and the public.

Recreation Supervisor Functional

Job Description: His duties include the planning and formulating an assigned major function
or a phase of the recreation programme. He is to supervise playgrounds and recreation
centres; he plans and administers the training programme for both full and part-time workers.
He conducts supervisory staff meetings and conferences.

Examples of Duties

Playgrounds and Recreation Centres

i. Plans and promotes various activities and events for various age special interest groups.
ii. Prepares activity schedule for playgrounds.
iii. Plans training programme for playground and recreation centre workers.
iv. Conducts staff meetings to discuss and evaluate programme content, techniques and
special problems.
v. Inspects operations at each playground.

Competitive sports

i. Organizes and encourages formulation of teams and individual participants in popular

competitive sports and games.
ii. Encourages interest in organized competition including league and tournaments.
iii. Encourages formulation of sport activities for children at the playground section.
iv. Directly promotes and organizes teenage and adult groups and arranges schedules and
facilities for competition among individual and commercial teams.

Arts and crafts

 i. To plan and supervise programme for arts and crafts which are participated in by. Adults in
one or more recreation centres, also to cooperate with and advise those in charge of
children’s programme.
ii. To organize and administer in service training for part-time and full-time special activity
workers and also supervise them on duty.
iii. To discuss with staff members the programme and course content and advise them on
problems of technique, evaluate and discuss with them the effectiveness of the method
employed.
iv. To organize training programmes for playground and entire staff members in basic arts and
crafts skills as they relate to children’s programme.
v. To plan and supervise special exhibitions or compositions.

Other Specialties

Depending on the communities’ needs and area of interest, supervisors could be provided
for in the under listed specialized fields of recreation:

i. Aquatics
ii. Golf
iii. Women’s and girls’ athletics activities
iv. Youth activities and clubs
v. Music and drama
vi. Nature centres
vii. Camping and outdoor education, and
viii. Special groups (handicapped, aging, housebound, and so on)

Required knowledge, skills and abilities: The supervisor must have knowledge of the basic
psychology, techniques and methodology of organizing groups in a recreation setting. Must
possess ability to train others, have thorough knowledge of various special recreation
programmes and willingness to offer leadership in all facet of the recreation programme and
should have good human relationship.
 In addition to the above mentioned positions, the other existing positions in a community
recreation centres are; Senior Recreation Leader, Assistant Recreation Leader, and Recreation
Attendant who performs duties that are similar, but of lower responsibility and authority. The
existence of these various positions depends to a large extent, on the size of the community’s
recreation centre.

Furthermore, positions can be created for Special Activity Leaders to take care of special
areas like Arts and Crafts, Dance and Drama. The Special Activity Leader for each area are
expected to be experts in their specific field.

Financing Community Recreation

Introduction

Procuring facilities and equipment for community recreation and the various activities
available to participants at the various playgrounds and centres involve a huge financial outlay.
The standard of the facilities and equipment will depend on the extent of the amount of money
available. In this lecture, we shall examine the sources of funds both in cash and kind that can be
available for financial community recreation project.

Need for Revenue

Establishing and maintaining a community recreation centre is an expensive venture that

requires money. Right from the stage of land acquisition through personnel, facilities, equipment,
services and other requirements, these are very expensive. It is the belief of the people that
recreation is a public function that should be wholly financed by government; however, there is
the realization that there are various interests struggling for financial assistance from the
government, hence the need for raising funds from alternative sources.

The main reason for revenue generation for recreation is the increasing cost of things
generally.

Increasing costs: Generally, the costs of things have greatly skyrocketed, community
recreation cost not exempted. With the increased interest of the people in recreation, the need to
 satisfy this interest of the required provision of facilities and equipment, and even provision of
new centres and playgrounds.

Like other government establishments, the recreation agency has to compete for public
funds. It should be noted, however, that even though the financial needs of recreation have
increased, the revenue from government purse is not able to meet the increased financial needs of
recreation. The dwindling contribution of the government according to Rodney (1964), can be
attributed to the following: -

i. The lack of interest of some government authorities in recreation services

ii. The lack of income resources to provide adequately for government functionsincluding
recreation.
iii. The difference in community structure and recreation needs of people.
iv. Lack of imaginative leadership in awakening a public consciousness of the need for creative
use of leisure time.
v. The size and population density of the community, state or nation.

The various area of recreation that have contributed to increases in recreation

expenditures include the following areas: -

1) The quality and quality of services offered have increased. There is now better leadership,
greater variety of programmes, present areas and facilities need expansion, while new ones
are even being added. In the past, community recreation comprised playgrounds for children,
but now, community recreation services comprise, apart from playgrounds, parks, playfields
area, structures, museums, zoological and horticultural gardens and so on.
2) With the increase in population, expenditures have increased, since more facilities areas,
leadership and conveniences have to be provided.
3) With the value of the naira depreciating, community recreation costs have also increased.
Salaries have more than doubled, and each financial year witness an attempt to maintain the
status quo with additional expenditures. It should be pointed out that ever increasing cost of
goods and services contributed to large extent, upon the increase in spending.

Community Recreation Revenue Sources

 Many sources are available to generate revenue for community recreation. The major and
the largest are public funds, in actual fact, 90% of the total revenue for the operation of
recreation services comes from this source, while the remaining are sources from fees and
charges, grants-in-aid, gifts, concessions or special money raising activities.

The problem of revenue is a big one for recreation bodies, and as the recreation body is
making efforts to get larger portions from the government purse, all efforts should also be made
to get out of the present allocations by: -

i. Eliminating sources of waste and

ii. Developing staff efficiency

It should be noted that wasteful expenditure cannot be tolerated in a recreation. System

and the management board should make it their responsibility.

Sources for community recreation revenues include

1. General Fund Appropriations

In most communities, cities and countries, the operating costs of recreation and park
departments are financed through appropriations made by the legislative body. On the basis of
the approved budget presented by the recreation department.

There are many advantages that accrue through financing recreation services and through
general fund appropriate, these include:-

a. Giving the chief executive officer of the community or city the flexibility to determine his
budget for overall community needs. Which means that each department will stand on its
own records and projected work programmes.
b. Creating opportunities for the recreation executive to prove the worth of his service being
carried out.
c. The recreation department will not be hindered from securing funds if the need arises.
d. The recreation department will not be subjected to fluctuating assessed property values in
determining its operating budget.
 The major disadvantage of securing funds through the general fund appropriation is that
recreation services are in danger if there is financial crisis in government. It is the areas that
those in government will look into for possible budget cuts. There is need therefore, for
recreation authorities to be on the alert to protect their source of income.

2. Special task levies

Another source of income for recreation and park authorities is through a special tax levy
and this is permitted by many states. The main reason for adopting the special tax levy to finance
recreation is that it provides a reliable source of income which is free from political control.

The money obtained through this source is kept in a special fund for recreation and it is
used mainly to finance recreation activities.