Physical educators can help students set goals to achieve maximum physical fitness. Educators should continually assess students' progress toward their goals, repeatedly updating goals and activities for reaching the goals. The article explains how to determine students' fitness levels and includes a fitness components activity sheet and class…

This article describes successful efforts by physical education teachers at Elberton Elementary School (GA) to construct an affordable pull-up board that could be used to help improve students' arm and upper body strength. An explanation is given of how to use the machine, and the benefits to students are briefly discussed. (IAH)

Discusses how to choose physical activities with psychosocial objectives in mind in order to create avenues for practice and support for new behaviors, highlighting seven psychosocial dimensions of change (socialibility, spontaneity, self-motivation, aggressiveness, competitiveness, mental focus, and adventurousness). The paper examines the…

Strength training can be fun, safe, and appropriate for young girls and women and is an important component of any fitness program when combined with appropriate cardiovascular and flexibility activities. Concerns and misconceptions regarding girls' strength training are discussed, presenting general principles of strength training for children…

A rationale for adding health-related physical fitness to the learning domains of physical education is presented, with suggested instructional strategies for including this domain in the physical education curriculum. (IAH)

The health and fitness program for school staff at Deerfield High School (IL) is described. Program development, facilities, costs, activities, and staff are outlined. (IAH)

Classroom teachers can understand the importance of fitness by experiencing the benefits first hand. The paper explains how to start and implement a worksite fitness program for teachers, discussing how to maintain interest by inviting guest speakers, highlighting different issues, measuring success, and providing incentives. (SM)

Data collection and analysis helps coaches ensure that they conduct practices and make decisions based on objective and consistently recorded information. The article discusses how, where, and when coaches should collect data on athletes, noting data collection should emphasize include training loads, body weight, sleep, health, and injuries. (SM)

Describes how to include a parents' fitness night in fitness education courses in order to gain parents' support of comprehensive fitness education and fitness for life, outlining one such program that has been successfully employed in Texas junior high schools which has helped parents understand fitness programs and become more involved in their…

Describes a weight training program, suitable for the general student population and the student-athlete, which is designed to produce improvement in specific, measurable areas including bench press (upper body), leg press (lower body), vertical jump (explosiveness); and 40-yard dash (speed). Two detailed charts are included, with notes on their…

Describes how providing a well-designed injury prevention program that includes attention to growth and development, training and conditioning, protective equipment, and emergency care can minimize youth sport injuries. (SM)

Swimming teachers and coaches can improve their feedback to swimmers, when correcting or refining swim movements, by applying some basic biomechanical concepts relevant to swimming. This article focuses on the biomechanical considerations used in analyzing swimming performance. Techniques for spotting and correcting problems that impede…

"Jog around the World" is an interdisciplinary, schoolwide activity. Each class collaborates to jog the equivalent of the earth's circumference during the school year, learning about the different areas as they go. The program develops cardiovascular fitness, builds responsibility, and is a unifying force within the school. (SM)

Increasing the aerobic nature of tennis drills in the physical education class may be necessary if tennis is to remain a part of the public school curriculum. This article gives two examples of drills that can be modified by teachers to increase activity level. (IAH)

Fitness runs are planned activities that make running more interesting. The paper outlines five types of fitness runs, all of which can be modified to conform to different facilities, age groups, or available time. The activities have students playing detective, playing cards, deciphering words, learning about calories, and playing wolf. (SM)