Nurturing physical literacy: a facilitator framework for REFLECTive practice

The concept of physical literacy has garnered increasing global recognition as a holistic method for promoting lifelong engagement in physical activity and movement. While its philosophical and theoretical foundations are well-established, practitioners (physical educators, sport coaches, and activity providers) often struggle to operationalize physical literacy in physical activity settings, where traditional sport- and performance-oriented models frequently dominate. This article introduces the Physical Literacy Facilitator’s REFLECTive framework as a tool for bridging the gap between theory and practice for practitioners. The REFLECT framework articulates seven interrelated roles: Reflective Practitioner, Equity Advocate, Facilitator of Physical Activity, Lifelong Architect, Educator of Values, Community Builder, and Thoughtful Designer. Each role is supported by reflective questions that prompt practitioners to critically examine their practice, with a focus on nurturing meaning, value, motivation, inclusion, and long-term engagement. The framework encourages pedagogical reasoning and decision-making, challenging practitioners to embrace contextual responsiveness and adaptations, as well as a social-justice approach to improving inclusion, equity, and social action. By positioning practitioners as facilitators of holistic growth rather than only deliverers of sport technique, the framework aims to advance physical literacy theory by providing a tangible reflective framework embedded in action principles and practice.