Because fitness and physical activity both tend to decline as students enter their middle school years, it is important to try to establish protocols and interventions to make this student population enjoy being active. Further, it has been shown that shorter exercise sessions are more likely to be executed. Using a high-intensity interval…

The purpose of this article is to provide practical applications for eccentric focused RT through the lens of DI that K-12 PE teachers can incorporate within their curriculums. Within the DI framework, differentiated assessments are key to measure readiness and the product of learning. The Brockport Fitness Tests are presented as a strategy to…

The aim of this article is to explain how sport education, cooperative learning, and health-based physical education can be hybridized using an educative version of CrossFit as content in fifth and sixth grade to promote the abovementioned goals. The main features of the three models and the content used are fully described. Finally,…

Because children and adolescents are not just miniature adults, it is important to know that children might be vulnerable to injury and may not respond positively to certain types or intensities of training. It is also important to recognize how training can positively affect growth and development, so it can be judiciously applied at critical…

By definition, conceptual knowledge is rich in relationships and understanding the kind of knowledge that may be transferred between situations. Despite the lack of importance that Conceptual Physical Education has been given in previous physical education reform efforts, research findings have shown that Conceptual Physical Education along with…

There is every reason to believe that a new "principal principle" of physical activity education is emerging. In this article, the author talks about the new "principal principle"(#14) of physical education. Revisiting a historical milestone in the field's history to explain the origin of the term "principal principle," Dr. Arthur H. Steinhaus,…

Healthy child development relies on physical activity. New curriculum models are effectively integrating physical activity in education programs. The authors describe three such models: S.M.A.R.T. (Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training); Kids in Action, incorporating cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength and endurance,…

When students analyze and present original data they have collected, and hence have a cultivated sense of curiosity about the data, student learning is enhanced. It is often difficult to provide students an opportunity to practice their skills, use their knowledge, and gain research experiences during a typical course laboratory. This article…

The health benefits of engaging in regular physical activity are widely known: enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness, increased muscular strength and endurance, and favorable cholesterol and other profiles. Nevertheless, particularly in youth sports programs run by volunteer, and perhaps inadequately trained, coaches, many youth may not realize the…

In response to chronic physical training, the human neuromuscular system undergoes significant and specific adaptations. More importantly, these influences are the result of the type and quantity of physical activity. One of the simplest neuromuscular mechanisms is the spinal stretch reflex. The reflex system was previously viewed as inflexible,…

Although exercise and physical fitness programs for youth are required curriculum in most schools, the sport coach may not be properly trained in the physiological development of children. Some general guidelines are suggested for planning strength and flexibility exercises for youth in sports. (JN)

An overview of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) studies dealing with the effect of extended space flight on the human body is presented. The results of experiments investigating weight loss, posture change, sleep habits, limb size, and motor skills are some of the topics discussed. Bibliographies, source lists, charts, and…

The state of children's fitness is the responsibility of all who are involved with children. As early childhood professionals, they have a duty to educate the whole (thinking, feeling, "moving") child. Moreover, teachers of preschoolers can be more realistic than parents in their assessment of children's physical inactivity levels, and preschool…

Several simple performance tests are described for assessing an athlete's major energy-producing capabilities. The tests are suitable for mass screening because they are easy to administer, require no sophisticated equipment, and can be done quickly. Information for evaluating test results is included. (PP)

The Department of Health and Human Services, working with other governmental agencies, professional groups, and individuals, has identified general areas of concern for the nation's health. This report explains how physical activity and fitness have been prominent aspects of Healthy People 2010 (HP2010), the national health promotion and disease…