What is Physical Literacy?

“Physical literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.” (Canada’s Physical Literacy Consensus Statement, International Physical Literacy Association, 2015)

Physical literacy lays the foundation for participation in physical activity across an individual’s lifespan. All adult influencers (such as teachers, coaches, early childhood educators, and health professionals) have a role to play in nurturing, supporting, and encouraging each person’s unique physical literacy journey.

To learn more about how teachers, coaches, early childhood educators, health professionals, and recreation providers can help build physical literacy across the City of Greater Sudbury and Sudbury and Manitoulin districts, visit the Active Sudbury website.

A guide for public health professionals

Physical Literacy for Communities: A Public Health Approach

The Physical Literacy for Communities: Public Health Approach (PDF, 1.33 MB) serves as an exemplary guide for public health professionals to work collaboratively and efficiently within a multi-sector, community-based partnership to address physical literacy.

The approach provides ways in which public health can work with other sectors (for example education, sport, and recreation) towards building a physically literate community. The guide was developed based on our experience implementing the Physical Literacy for Communities (PL4C) strategy, which was created in partnership with Active Sudbury under the guidance of Sport for Life.


This item was last modified on May 16, 2024