A gymnasium with various zones, colors, and asymmetrical shapes on the floor and walls. The PLAYCE indoor concept has been gaining popularity in recent years. What have the experiences been so far? Sportaccom took a tour of the facilities in Rotterdam, Zevenaar, Amersfoort, and Leeuwarden. “Every day, I’m still thrilled when I look at this space.”
SPORTACCOM April 2024
By: Robert Hesen
Versatile movement is the central theme of the Athletic Skills Model (ASM). Using this practical and scientific model, people develop a broader motor foundation. As a result, their physical ability later in life is higher, the risk of injury is lower, and their enjoyment of movement increases. The ASM focuses on ten basic movement skills. These pillars, such as balancing and falling, climbing and scrambling, and walking and running, are consistently integrated into exercise programs and the design of sports facilities.
Over the past three years, more than forty ASM facilities have been completed. These facilities are characterized by their unique designs, the use of walls, and colorful layouts. They immediately invite children, as well as other age groups, to engage in physical activity. Sportaccom took a tour of four facilities that have been using a PLAYCE, an indoor space designed by ASM, for several years.
Zevenaar
Femke Riphagen is the principal of Sterrenschool in Zevenaar. She is proud of the new ASM gymnasium, which was completed in 2021. A large window at the school’s entrance offers a direct view of the space, used by students from grades 1 to 8. “I often stand there for a few minutes, just to enjoy what’s happening inside. Every day, I’m still happy and proud when I look at this PLAYCE,” Riphagen says. “I always mention during tours: no one else has a gym like this. We frequently receive visits from other school communities who are curious about our experiences.”
A few years ago, Sterrenschool was forced to relocate to a different location, which was a setback, but it also provided the opportunity to rethink the gymnasium. “At our previous location, we had a standard gym, suitable for games like baseball, dodgeball, and block soccer. But whether that truly qualifies as physical education is debatable. For us, movement had to become a real subject, just like math and language,” Riphagen explains.
Lining up
This approach led Riphagen to connect with the Athletic Skills Company, the social enterprise behind the ASM. It resulted in a custom-designed gym, where children are encouraged to move. “The days of kids standing in line to jump over the vault once are over. Now, you see children constantly in motion,” Riphagen explains. She also notices that students are being challenged. “The lines, zones, and colors on the floor and walls make it easier for teachers to individually challenge students. We already do this in subjects like math and language, and now, thanks to this gym, we’ve made that step in physical education as well.”
Stickers in the hallway
In Zevenaar, the initiative didn’t stop with the gymnasium. The school also installed so-called ASM floor graphics in the hallways. It’s not unusual at Sterrenschool to see children hopping across colored zones as they move through the corridor. “It’s great for kids to burn off energy this way. At the same time, teachers use it in their lessons. Learning words or practicing multiplication works well when combined with movement. Another benefit is that we usually go outside a lot, but during bad weather, this gives us a way to still engage children in versatile physical activities,” Riphagen explains.
Amersfoort
Jeffrey Lindenboom is the Education Manager at Fit Academie Bokkeduinen, the largest sports complex in Amersfoort. In total, around twenty different groups use the various spaces, including students from the Sports and Movement Academy in Amersfoort. Since February 2022, these students have been trained in the new PLAYCE. Lindenboom explains, “We have spaces spread across three halls. In this hall, which was previously a gymnastics room with straightforward markings, we wanted something different. We were doing the same things here as in the other rooms, and we wanted to change that, offering a more varied experience for the different users.”
The facility has now had an ASM gym for over two years. What has the experience been like? Lindenboom says, “We can do much more than before. Instructors and students report that they are more agile in their lessons. Young instructors, in particular, who are creative and flexible, are having a great time. They have more options available. And just to clarify: volleyball, soccer, and handball are still possible, but the traditional court markings have disappeared.”
Lindenboom explains that the layout of the hall invites children to move. “Children immediately start playing in this gym. In a traditional gymnasium, they just run around. But here, they see different zones and colors, which triggers them to engage more. A key element is the walls. By using those as well, they become more creative, which they find a lot of fun. Developing that creativity is beneficial for their motor development.”
Increase in usage
The number of groups finding their way to the hall has significantly increased over the past two years, which Lindenboom attributes to the ASM gymnasium. The hall is now rented out five days a week, a substantial increase from before. “Care institutions are now bringing in seniors, and because movement educators are also being trained at this location, they conduct those sessions. It’s a win-win for everyone. We’re making a social impact while also getting seniors moving in a versatile way.”
Rotterdam
Lisa van de Gevel is a subject teacher at Kindcentrum Blijvliet in Rotterdam. She teaches physical education three days a week in the gymnasium developed by ASM. This is not just any PLAYCE; it is the space with the most movement prompts per square meter. The gym, which has been in use since 2022, features a new design for the sports floor and acoustic wall coverings. Additionally, the design incorporates branding from Sportbedrijf Rotterdam.
Van de Gevel was also involved in the development process. “We, the PE teachers, wanted a clear division of the hall into three sections and a line for playing dodgeball. This was included in the design. It was great that we, as subject teachers, were allowed to contribute our ideas. We benefit from that every day.”
Structure
In her lessons, Van de Gevel notices that the design provides clarity for the children. “The lines and zones in different colors are clearly visible, which gives structure. Why is this important? Children play outside less these days. They come up with fewer games and find it more challenging to figure out solutions when a rule isn’t entirely clear. This design helps with that. An example is the ‘soccer field’ on one side of the gym. In the light green area, the goalkeeper can use their hands; outside of that area, they cannot. Previously, we had to use cones that would fall over all the time. The structure on the ground gives children a sense of security.”
As a PE teacher, Van de Gevel didn’t need much time to adjust to the new gym. On the contrary, it came almost naturally. “The transition was quick. I was inspired to come up with new games and take advantage of the extra possibilities. It was really rewarding to teach the children new things.” She notices that the kids now enter the gym with more enthusiasm. “The kids see the zones on the floor and come in hopping. With all the variety on the floor and walls, they immediately create their own games. Does this gym encourage children to move with more joy? Yes, absolutely!”
Leeuwarden
There is also a PLAYCE in Leeuwarden. Sanne Vermeer, a judoka from Team NL and ambassador for versatile movement for the municipality of Leeuwarden, inaugurated the brand-new PLAYCE in September 2022. The ten fundamental movement skills are incorporated in various ways. For example, the former storage area has been transformed into a judo section, and the hall features a mirrored wall that challenges children to move to music, while various asymmetrical shapes and colors stimulate them to engage in diverse physical activities.
‘Monkeying around’
Sido de Schiffart is the team leader of bv SPORT in Leeuwarden. This organization manages and operates the sports facilities in the municipality of Leeuwarden. He shares that there was a lot of enthusiasm during the opening. “Children immediately started playing and exploring. Some said, ‘It feels like we’re monkeying around.’ While that doesn’t do the PLAYCE justice, it shows how much fun they were having.”
De Schiffart emphasizes that simply installing the PLAYCE is not enough. “To help people make the most of the PLAYCE, various exercises and game formats are shared online. This way, the space can be used even more effectively and diversely.”
Activity level
The PLAYCE in Leeuwarden is primarily used by educational institutions, sports clubs, and physiotherapists. “We want more and more organizations to use this space and embrace the philosophy of versatile movement. This way, we create connections between people and clubs, and we aim to raise the activity level of our residents. This is urgently needed, as the activity level of children has decreased in recent years. I hope that with this PLAYCE, we can contribute to improving the motor skills of our residents.”
