The purpose of this study is to reconsider a medium of instruction in physical education. For that purpose I would like to consider athletics as a medium of instruction in this paper. It has been shown in most studies on this subject that the experience of athletics (identified with sports, in general) have a potency as a medium of instruction. Therefore many sports disciplines has been incorporated into the field of physical education. However, athletics have a goal (winning)-orientated principle. There is some possibility that this principle of athletics cause educational problems. So this study examines both good points and bad points of the experience of athletics.
The results of this examination were as follows:
1. The experience of athletics leads students to set a goal, to work very hard towards this goal and to achieve this goal. These experiences are interpreted as the achievement of a person which serves as a contribution the development of personality. This is the significant experience. Although, at the same time, the experience of athletics leads students to learn that the achievement of a goal (winning, in case of athletics) is most important thing in our society.
2. The experience of athletics leads student to learn the importance of playing by the rules and playing one's role as a member of a team. Thus athletics provide an educational field for exercising and learning social rules and management of role contacts. Although, at the same time, the experience of athletics leads students to learn the efficiency of cheating in a game and taking advantage of his opponent's weak point.
Thus it follows from this that experiences of athletics with both good and bad educational effects are, so to speak, a double-edged sward. It was concluded that for a farther stage of discussion about a medium of instruction in physical education, it is necessary to examine the experience of physical activity that is not called ‘Sports (Athletics)’.