This article is intended to assist those leading the sport-specific physical preparation of athletes by providing a progressive approach to staging warmups. The approach encourages consideration of the movement and physical demands of the sport and collaboration with technical coaches. The approach includes utilization of specific movement primers…

The purpose of this article is to overview the cardiovascular fitness benefits associated with HIIT and speed training, as well as discuss specific ways coaches and fitness professionals can introduce and promote speed workouts as a viable, and creative, exercise alternative.

Sport coaches can agree that various levels of practice and play contribute significantly to the overall development of a young athlete. Coaches of young athletes need to also address issues related to strength and conditioning as part of the developmental cycle. Unfortunately, many sport coaches are not well trained in the science related to…

Schools around the nation are attempting to increase the amount of physical activity (PA) students receive through a variety of creative means. Recently, organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) have sounded an alarm about the lack of time children spend in PA participation. The purpose…

Developing students who are physically literate is one of the most important aspects of physical education (PE). As teachers, we introduce students to the concepts of health and fundamental movement skills like throwing, catching and using implements to allow them the skill proficiency to pursue an active lifestyle. This article focuses on the…

Many people grew up on the principle that a good workout consists of three basic components: warm-up, conditioning bout/activity, and cool-down. For those who participated in competitive athletics, the warm-up period seemed just as long as the activity or workout itself; but it was and remains the most important part of any workout. This article…

Historically, physical education has a stereotypical image as being neither very physical nor educational. NASPE [National Standards for Physical Education] Standard 2 indicates that students in physical education classes should be able to demonstrate understanding and movement concepts, principles, and tactics as they apply to physical activity.…

This article discusses the background of Zumba, the need for it as a result of its growing popularity, the national standards it supports, and the necessary steps that need to be taken to properly implement Zumba in physical education programs. When taking a closer look at the standards that Zumba supports, it is evident that Zumba can serve as a…

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during physical education class time started to be measured and questioned (Bar-Or, 1987; Lacey & LaMaster, 1990; McGing, 1989; Simons-Morton, Taylor, Snider, & Huang, 1993). Researchers suggested that the amount of time students spent in…

Exercise physiology seems to be a course that students love or hate. Many physical education students and others involved in the related areas of health, teaching, recreation, dance, athletic training, fitness, and motor learning and development find this course a requirement at some point in their curriculum. Inquiry-based learning is an…

Secondary students frequently disengage from participating in physical education and physical activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 60 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per day, as well as muscle and bone strengthening activities on three or more days a week for children (CDC, n.d.). Physical education may be…

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…

Suspension training is a relatively new strength training modality that has emerged in the past six years with the advent of the commercial TRX Suspension Trainer. The TRX trainer has entered the market along with a handful of similar products that can now be found in almost every adult fitness center. The same characteristics of suspension…

A fundamental objective for the physical educator is to provide students with effective, age-appropriate physical education (PE) in a safe environment. The importance of PE must be emphasized in light of the strong association between regular physical activity and health. Currently, 18% of U.S. children ages 6 to 19 are classified as overweight…

A collapse and cardiac arrest from Commotio Cordis can occur instantaneously from a relatively modest and nonpenetrating blow to the chest in the absence of underlying cardiovascular disease or structural injury to the chest wall or heart itself (Maron, 1998). It is important to note that this collapse could be instantaneous or proceeded by brief…