The purposes of this literature review were (a) to describe the patterns of the existing research on physical education (PE) curriculum interventions, and (b) to determine the efficacy of these interventions. We followed a pre-established literature review protocol to search, identify, screen, and analyze the scholarship related to PE curriculum…

Game-Based Approaches (GBAs) have been advocated as a pedagogy to improve decision-making, skill execution, and physical fitness in physical education teaching and sports coaching. To date, no review paper has reported on the use of GBAs in competitive team sport settings. The purpose of this article was to review the research evidence conducted…

Kinesiology researchers have long had an interest in physical activity, fitness, and health issues and in the professional education and work practices of teachers and coaches. The professional development needs and practices of "fitness professionals," however, have not been a major concern for researchers in the field. The purpose of…

The Finnish education system has received worldwide attention due to the top academic performance of Finnish school students. Physical education, as an integral part of the Finnish education curriculum, potentially contributes to the overall success. The purpose of this article is to summarize Finnish physical education reform during the past…

The article outlines the physiological and measurement bases for the development of physical fitness tests, raising questions concerning physiological, psychological, and evaluation issues. (Author/CB)

The article explores theoretical and practical factors that support or challenge the effectiveness of various awards programs intended to motivate improvement in youth fitness, motivate youth to take fitness tests, and encourage active lifestyles. (Author/CB)

The article outlines recent theoretical developments in self-esteem research that have not yet been applied to the youth fitness problem, including concepts of self-esteem multidimensionality and hierarchical structuring, and personalization processes. Programmatical implications related to self-esteem promotion and exercise motivation are…

Uses philosophical writings, a novel about baseball, and a nonfiction work on rowing to analyze levels of meaning in physical activity, showing why three popular methods for enhancing meaning have not succeeded and may have moved some students away from deeper levels of meaning. The paper suggests that using hints taken from the three books could…

The article attempts to identify and define some of the most important criteria underpinning ecologically valid research in sport psychology. Vision and sport performance is used as an exemplary area for examination of issues. It is concluded that more debate must be stimulated concerning this important methodological principle. (Author/CB)

A review of the literature regarding gender differences in physical activity found that gender differences in motor performance were related to age in 12 of 20 tasks and suggested that gender differences prior to puberty may be environmentally induced, but after puberty may be influenced by a biology-environment interaction. (Author/CB)

Physical education should primarily promote health-related physical fitness, characterized by an ability to perform daily activities with vigor, and demonstration of traits and capacities associated with low risk of premature development of inactivity-related diseases. (Author/CB)

Although much more research is needed to determine the exact nature of health benefits derived from child physical activity, it is clear that physical education professionals must motivate students to incorporate physical activity in their daily lives to reduce their risk of developing inactivity-related health problems in adulthood. (Author/CB)

This article reviews research literature on mental practice and preparation for motor performance and research on the effect of specific mental preparation strategies on skilled performance. Strategies discussed include imagery, self-efficacy statements, attentional focus, preparatory arousal, and relaxation. (Author/CJ)

Developments in the biomedical sciences affect how people think about health and fitness, as do social and cultural factors. This paper examines two topics of interest to educators, physicians, and researchers in the physiological sciences from 1867-1950 (the phenomenon referred to as the athlete's heart and anthropometrical/growth and development…

A review of selected research in the area of exercise and self-esteem illustrates recommendations made for improving research in this area. Studies concerning self-esteem theory and static and dynamic relationships between exercise and self-esteem are reported. (CJ)