Why PE Teachers Should Get Out of the Classroom (Sometimes)

As this post goes live, I’ll be mid-air—on my way to showcase Performance Pathways at conferences in China and Thailand.
It’s a routine I’ve come to really value. Not just for the chance to share what we’re building at Performance Pathways, but for what I learn every time I walk into a room full of PE teachers from different countries, different contexts, and completely different challenges.
And that’s the point of this post:
Sometimes, the best way to move your program forward is to step outside of it.

Why conferences matter more than we think
In PE, it’s easy to become isolated. There’s no textbook roadmap, no single way to structure a program, and often, not a lot of external support. PE teachers are expected to build everything—lesson plans, team culture, personal development frameworks—and then deliver it all, week in, week out. That’s why conferences matter. They’re not just about sitting through presentations. They’re about recharging your professional battery.
It’s where you:

Hear how other departments are solving problems you’ve been stuck on
See what high-performance really looks like in other schools
Reconnect with the ‘why’ that got you into PE in the first place
It’s also where you realize: you’re not the only one trying to build something better.

What I’ve noticed over the years
Every time I speak at a PE conference, a pattern emerges. The sessions that spark the most energy aren’t always the most polished—they’re the ones that speak to real classroom experience. The ones that give teachers something to try next week, not next year.
And more often than not, the biggest breakthroughs come from the conversations between sessions, not during them.

That’s where ideas evolve.
That’s where networks form.
That’s where change begins.

A gentle push (if you need one)
If you’re the kind of teacher who’s always putting others first—your students, your colleagues, your department—it’s easy to convince yourself you don’t have time for events like this.

But the truth is, stepping out of your school for a day or two might be the very thing that helps you transform it.
You’ll return not just with notes, but with clarity. With momentum. With a renewed sense of direction.

And in a subject like PE—where purpose and energy go hand in hand—that can make all the difference.
So keep your eyes open for opportunities.
And when the right one comes along, get yourself in the room.
Because PE is better when we build it together.