Incorporation of Physical Activity Challenges Within a Sport Education–Based Physical Education Class

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hairui Liu ◽  
Peter Hastie

This study examined the impact of including a formal requirement of achieving predetermined energy expenditures as part of students’ participation grades during a Sport Education–based college physical education class. Calorie consumption was measured using the Heart Zones Blink 3.0 sensor, and the percentage of students who reached the lesson target was calculated across a 15-week semester. The instructor kept a weekly journal and students participated in interviews at mid and end of term. Results showed that the average calorie consumption across the semester well exceeded the daily targets, while the percentage of students who reached the daily challenge cutoff ranged from 77% to 100% (average = 87%). Analysis of the journal entries and interviews resulted in the generation of four themes: students’ commitment to reaching the activity targets, group-based strategies for achieving physical activity targets, activity consequences of officiating roles, and activity challenges problematized skill development for some. Subscribe to TPE

Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare M Lenhart ◽  
Alexandra Hanlon ◽  
Youjeong Kang ◽  
Brian P Daly ◽  
Michael Brown ◽  
...  

Background: Adolescent females are significantly less likely to meet physical activity recommendations than males; this gender disparity is also evident among adults. Physical education class and sports teams represent an important opportunity for physical activity among youth. Females, in particular, may rely on these opportunities since they are less likely to be active during unstructured time as compared to males. This study examined the relative contribution of participation in physical education class and sports teams to overall levels of physical activity for females and males, independent of known correlates of physical activity in this group of adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional data was examined from 591 9 th −12 th grade students from Philadelphia public schools who completed the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Assessment. The relationship between the independent variables (participation in physical education class and sports teams) and other selected correlates (race, grade level, body mass index, depression symptoms and suicidal ideation, eating habits and weight concern, drug use, television watching and computer use) and physical activity was evaluated using chi-square tests. Variables with an association of p<.3 were entered into a stepwise regression model to estimate the relative association of each variable with activity levels. A final regression model stratified by gender was generated to estimate gender differences. Results: Sixty-two percent of the sample was female, 50% were African American, 19% were overweight, and 33% reported five or more days of activity in the last week. Females were less likely to be active than males (x 2 (2, N = 591) = 33.72, p = <.01): 27.9% of females were sedentary as compared to 10.6% of males. PE class was not significantly related to overall physical activity among males, while highly active females were seven times more likely to report participating in PE class every day than sedentary females (Exp(B)=7.06; p=.001). Playing on one or more sports teams was significantly associated with low-to-moderate (Exp(B)=2.14; p=.02) and highly active females (Exp(B)=3.24; p<.01). Among males, sports team participation was only associated with high levels of activity (Exp(B)=2.79; p=.05). Conclusions: Participation in sports teams and physical education class contribute more to overall activity levels in female than male adolescents. A more rigorous assessment of this hypothesis is warranted to inform efforts to promote adolescent activity levels, particularly among females.


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