Beyond the Game: Mastering Social Impact in Physical Education
What does it take to create meaningful change in a PE classroom? For Associate Lecturer Sonja Maric, it starts with rethinking the way we empower students—and ourselves.
In her May 2025 masterclass, Beyond the Game, Sonja explored the intersection of social responsibility, student agency, and relational teaching. The session left participants inspired, equipped, and ready to embed deeper social impact into their PE practice.
Here are a few key takeaways from the session—plus highlights from the conversation that stuck with us.
💬 The Power of Preserving Relationships
PE teachers often lead with passion, energy, and a focus on outcomes. But as Sonja reminded us, how we interact with students in moments of challenge matters just as much as what we’re teaching.
“Preserving your student-teacher relationship might be the most time-efficient—and human-centred—classroom management strategy you’ll ever use.”
Sonja spoke about the importance of self-regulation for teachers. Rather than responding reactively in tough situations, she encourages educators to pause, breathe, and preserve the relationship. The time saved in not having to rebuild broken trust is invaluable—not just for behaviour management, but for meaningful learning to occur.
🧠 Student Choice Isn’t a Gimmick—It’s Pedagogical Power
Giving students responsibility in PE doesn’t mean chaos—it means ownership. Sonja shared a simple but powerful example of structured choice in movement tasks, showing how autonomy can boost engagement and motivation.
“Want to boost engagement? Let students choose. A simple shift to structured choice builds agency, ownership—and buy-in.”
It’s not about giving students free rein—it’s about giving them meaningful, scaffolded choices that let them feel in control of their own learning. This builds not only confidence, but a deeper sense of respect between teacher and learner.
🚀 Leadership Starts with Trust
Trusting students to take on responsibility can feel risky, especially when behaviour has been a challenge. But Sonja challenged us to reframe this as an opportunity—not a threat.
She reminded us that leadership doesn’t have to be grand or formal. It can start with handing over the whistle, asking for student-led demonstrations, or co-creating activities. These moments build trust, community, and positive behaviour in unexpected ways.
🌱 Missed This Session? Here’s How to Catch the Next One
The insights from Beyond the Game are just one example of the powerful conversations happening at ACHPER NSW Masterclasses throughout the year.
👀 Check out our upcoming sessions and secure your spot:
👉 View upcoming ACHPER NSW masterclasses
Let’s keep exploring what meaningful, socially responsible teaching looks like in PE—and beyond.