Episode 28:
Adaptation Theory to Practice (Part 1)
Published: October 2012: Updated: August 2017
Partners: Yeshayahu Hutzler—Zinman College at the Wingate Institute of Sport Sciences, Israel.
In previous episodes we have considered various models that can be used to create opportunities for people with disability in sport and active recreation, such as TREE and STEP. In this first part of a two part series we will look at the work of Shayke Hutzler from Israel and his outstanding work on the SEMA model. This first part considers the theory behind the model.
One of the things we really like to take a crack at here at The Inclusion Club is translating theory into practice. Generally speaking, you can separate research based theory and practice into two camps. There is research and there is practice. Unfortunately, it’s often the case that the two things are quite different and separate from each other. They are isolated. Which is not the way it should be! Research and theory should inform practice.
With that in mind it’s a great pleasure today to introduce you to the work of a man that really does understand this and, most importantly, connects research and practice in a very positive way. His name is Yeshayahu Hutzler from Zinman College at the Wingate Institute of Sport Sciences in Israel. We’ll call him Shayke because his friends do!
Before we look at Shayke’s work in more detail, here’s a video on the Israel Sports Centre for the Disabled where Shayke has done a lot of work.
What we are going to look at is what Shayke calls ‘A Systematic Ecological Model for Adapting Physical Activities.’ Don’t be afraid. You’ll remember that we have previously considered a few practical models for adapting activities, such as TREE and STEP. Well, Shayke’s work provides a really good theoretical foundation for these models too as they are closely related.
We will try here to summarise, in a practical way, the basis for Shayke’s Ecological Model and explain it’s application to everyday settings. At the bottom of this episode you can download a paper that explains the Ecological Model in much greater depth.
First, take a look at this video where we try to outline the theoretical foundation of SEMA.
Download a transcript of this video by clicking on image below
This transcript is for Part 1 and Part 2 of this series so make sure that you go next to Part 2 on Adaptation Theory to Practice.
It will help if you also download the full paper from Shayke that goes into more detail—perhaps have this by your side as you go through Part 2 of this series.
Download the full SEMA paper below—click on the image
This article was published in Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 2007, 24. 287-304. Human Kinetics Inc.
Now all you have to do is have a look at Part 2 to see how this translates from theory to practice. Shayke’s paper goes into far more detail but we will outline the structure of how Shayke does this in Part 2.
See you in part 2.
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About the author: Peter Downs
Founding Director - The Inclusion Club
Peter is Founding Director of The Inclusion Club and Manager of Play by the Rules – a national initiative to promote safe, fair and inclusive sport. Peter has worked for over 25 years in the field of inclusive sport, disability sport and physical activity including 17 years managing the Australian Sports Commission’s Disability Sport Unit. In 2013 Peter was fortunate enough to receive a Churchill Fellowship to study models of best practice in inclusive sport and physical activity.
