Among the body's mechanical systems that contribute to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, hamstrings, quadriceps, and knee flexor muscles are the most prominent components. A strength imbalance to any of these muscles can cause damage to ACL-associated ligaments (Takahashi et al., 2019). To reduce the incidence of such injuries, it is…

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…

Research indicates that resistance training provides many health and fitness benefits to children and adolescents as long as proper guidelines and training provided such as increased, muscle strength, muscle power-endurance, bone mineral density, improved motor skill performance and reduced sport injuries. As a result, resistance bands training…

Pitching velocity is a crucial factor in effective baseball pitching performance. Upper-body-focused training is prevalent in baseball training to increase pitching velocity. However, significant pitchers, including youth league baseball players, suffer from upper body injuries due to the heavy training load of the throwing arm. This article…

Due to lack of time in physical education class as well as the decreased amount of physical education class students have a week, students are not receiving adequate amounts of daily physical activity. This article describes a solution to this problem, by describing an after-school weightlifting program where students can learn how to do…

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…

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…

Once the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in the United States, social distancing measures that included closing sport facilities, recreational facilities, schools, restaurants, entertainment venues, and so on were put in place to decrease the spread of the virus. This posed a unique challenge for physical education (PE) instructors as they were left to…

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…

Effective coaches have the ability to recognize and use their athletes' strengths while at the same time finding ways to improve their weaknesses. An essential part of coaching effectiveness and expertise is a coach's ability to be introspective and reflective with an "open mind" that allows him or her to critically look back at past…

Assessment is vital for a quality physical education program and for students' development toward becoming lifelong movers. The purpose of this article is to explore proficiency-based learning and evidence-based grading as assessment strategies that are both timely and meaningful. This article will first explain proficiency-based learning and…

The new SHAPE America standards and grade level outcomes for high-school physical education focus exclusively on physical activities that are suitable for lifelong participation. Some of the fastest-growing physical activities for adults in the United States are non-traditional multi-sport events and obstacle course races. As "Healthy People…

Over the past decade many muscular strength and endurance routines have been introduced to children and adults toward improving overall health and fitness. When performed correctly, there are countless benefits to performing weight bearing resistance-type exercises to develop the upper, lower, and core areas of the body. The National Association…

This article discusses Impact Circuit Training (ICT) which combines dodging and striking movements to create a workout that increases physical fitness levels in participants. Participants of ICT will strike a heavy bag, mitts, and a speed bag, jump rope, throw and catch a medicine ball, and jog as part of their exercise program. No contact is made…

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…