This study investigated the stability of physical education teachers' attitudes toward four outcome goals for physical education over a 2-year period of time. The four outcome goals were physical activity and fitness, self-actualization, motor skill development, and social development. Participants for this study were 121 physical education…

A study investigated changes in children's physical fitness during summer vacation. Children's cardiorespiratory fitness decreased, as did their body weight, especially for boys. Fall curriculum offerings should be designed to accommodate detrained students. (PP)

Psychological and motor performance modeling research literature is reviewed to identify important factors involved in and affecting the modeling process as it relates to motor skill acquisition. Future research directions are discussed, and implications for physical educators and coaches who employ modeling as an instructional technique are…

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)

This study examined the validity and reliability of the Back Saver Sit-and-Reach test for middle school students. Students completed the test during physical education class. Results indicated that the test was moderately related to hamstring flexibility, but its relationship to lower back flexibility was quite low for both sexes. (SM)

Examined choices made by adolescent girls in physical education classes when allowed to select from nine walking activities reflecting four themes (social, exercise/fitness, game-like, or competition). Students were significantly more likely to choose social over exercise/fitness activities, game-like or competitive over exercise/fitness…

"The Fit Kids" program, which assessed the physical fitness level of more than 1000 students, resulted from a public school-university-business alliance. Development and implementation of the program are described, and guidelines are provided on how to use community resources to develop, promote, and implement a comprehensive fitness…

A description is given of a college physical education course, "Non-Traditional Team Sports," in which the affective goals assume primary importance. A secondary emphasis is placed on lifelong physical fitness as a by-product of the program. Topics discussed include student responsibility, student journals, discipline, and curriculum objectives.…

Finds that, for 120 boys and girls in a rural Maine elementary school, a 36-week physical education program incorporating dance and movement education produced significant improvement on a wide variety of fundamental motor, physical fitness, and balance skills. Contains 17 references. (SV)

Discusses four chronic diseases (cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma) that affect American children. Many have their physical activities unnecessarily restricted, though sports and exercise can actually alleviate symptoms and improve their psychosocial development. Physicians are encouraged to prescribe…

Identifies subdisciplinary fragmentation, academic elitism, and negative stereotyping as obstacles impeding the process of collaboration among different groups of professionals in physical education. The article presents examples of projects in which academics interacted among themselves and with physical education teachers, classroom teachers,…

Presents information about body composition assessment, including how useful the measurement is, how to conduct assessment, accurate skinfold measurement, body mass index versus skinfold results, interpreting results, standards for score interpretation, other types of measurement, how to approach skinfold assessment, and handling sensitivity and…

Children who hate gym grow into adults who associate physical activity with ridicule and humiliation. Physical education is reinventing itself, stressing enjoyable activities that continue into adulthood: aerobic dance, weight training, fitness walking, mountain biking, hiking, inline skating, karate, rock-climbing, and canoeing. Cooperative,…

Preservice teachers in an elementary physical education (PE) class were asked to recall their favorite and least favorite elementary PE experiences and discuss how to improve them. Most students had some positive feelings toward PE, but there were several concerns about specific activities and implementation. (SM)

To date, studies examining the Sport Education (SE) model have largely focused on gains in sporting performance and/or psychosocial development. The purpose of this study was to compare the health-related fitness benefits for pupils participating in SE and traditional multi-activity (MA) units of instruction. Participants were two preservice…