Jimmy H. Ishee

Perceptions of the Adequacy of University Coursework for Teaching

Some researchers have suggested that the lack of appropriately prepared teachers in physical education is contributing to the decline of physical education in the schools. Whether or not this is true, the fact remains that todays society lacks appreciation for physical education. Because physical education needs to increase its credibility, it is essential that colleges and universities supply the best possible educational experiences to students. Keeping in mind the current predicament that faces physical education, Hill and Brodin (2004) surveyed current physical educators to gain information that may be useful to PETE programs. A questionnaire was administrated to 350 public and private school teachers within Washington state. Questions were answered on a five-point Likert scale. The respondents indicated

The Influence of Motor Skill Interventions on Disadvantaged Children

Fundamental motor skills (FMS) serve as the foundation for more advanced movements, such as sportspecific tasks. Researchers suggest that children must have a competency in FMS in order to participate successfully in these tasks later in life (Seefeldt, 1980). However, FMS do not naturally occur in children; instead, they develop through the interaction of the following variables: (1) the specific skill or task, (2) the childrens individual characteristics, and (3) the environment. Based on this view of motor development, biological and environmental constraints may prevent certain populations of children from developing appropriate FMS during early childhood. Children with disadvantages may be one of the groups that typically face both environmental and biological risk factors. Goodway and Branta (2003) examined the role that an intervention program played in remediating developmental delays in children with disadvantages. Specifically, they studied the locomotor and object control skills of these children and the changes that were made between preintervention and postintervention tests. The researchers selected 59 children who were enrolled in an urban compensatory preschool program consisting predominantly of African Americans. The motor skill intervention (MSI) group (n = 31) included both male and female children taken from two preschool classrooms in separate urban elementary schools. The control group (n =28) also included children who had similar demographics and were taken

Benefits of High School Athletic Participation

Reference Marsh, H. w., & Kleitman, S. (2003). School athletic participation: Mostly gain with little pain. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 25, 205-228. Additional References Marsh, H. W. (1993).The effects of participation in sport during the last 2 years of high school. Sociology of Sport Journal, 10, 18-43. National Center for Educational Statistics. (1996). NELS: 88 manual technical report (NELS: 88/94) methodology report (NCES 96-174).Washington,

Aerobic Endurance Training Improves Soccer Performance

Aerobic EnduranceTraining Improves Soccer Performance S occer is a sport that requires physical performance skills as well as tactical and technical expertise; however, many training programs designed to improve soccer performance focus only on technique and tactics. Helgerud, Engen, Wisloff, and Hoff (2001) cite findings that indicate a significant correlation between maximal oxygen consumption (V0 2max) and elite soccer team performance (specifically that teams with higher rankings also have higherV02max measures), but they note that no studies performed to date indicate whether this correlation is a cause-and-effect phenomenon. These researchers proposed to determine whether an aerobic-endurancetraining protocol could improve soccer performance, measured in terms of distance covered, work intensity, number of sprints, and number of involvements with the ball during a match.

Nonverbal Peer Pressure Teaches Adolescents to Avoid Risk

Abstract The teaching of nonverbal com munications, which would help build better social skills in adolescents, needs to be added to schools’ health curriculum. In their article, Duryea, Herrera, and Parkes (2002) cite research that suggests that peer resistance interventions can help adolescents better understand, identify, and manage nonverbal messages that exert health-compromising pressures. These past studies indicated that students are taught very little, if anything, about nonverbal message transmission and decoding.

Engaging Alienated Youths

ngaging alienated youths in E physical education classes can be a difficult task for teachers. Halas (2002) reported on a case study of a physical education program that was designed for troubled youths attending an adolescent treatment center. This program was selected for study because it was an alternative program that succeeded in helping students feel comfortable participating in a physical education class.

A Practical Test for Predicting Maximum Oxygen Consumption

Low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity are correlated to coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers. The single best indicator of CRF is the direct measurement of maximum oxygen uptake (V0 2 max) during a graded exercise test (GXT). According to the American College of Sports Medicine, V0 2 max tests are costly and time-consuming. Therefore, these tests are usually administered in university laboratories or medical settings, which are not available to the average practitioner. Submaximal prediction tests that have been de-