Physical education in schools throughout the United States gives students a chance to exercises and break up the long day of classroom study. P.E. teaches students how to remain physically active after they've graduated high school and important lessons for better overall physical health. There are several major activities students can participate in to enjoy their physical education experience.
History
Physical education in the United States can trace its roots back to 1820. At this time, schools had their students participate in gymnastics. After the Civil War, several states required their schools to implement a physical education program. Near the conclusion of the 20th century, many schools had added more elective courses to the curriculum and physical education took on a lesser role. However, physical education's popularity and impact in schools has grown in recent years due to concerns over obesity in the United States.
Basketball
Basketball is a major activity used in physical education. Since many schools hold physical education courses in gymnasiums and many of them have basketball courts, this is a natural choice. Some drills include dribbling, passing and shooting. Teachers should make sure their students execute these skills properly, such as dribbling with your eyes up and looking at the target when passing. The PE Central website has several different drills primarily designed for students between grades six and 12. Basketball offers a number of health benefits. It burns a high number of calories, improves concentration and helps build muscle and strength.
Soccer
Soccer can be played both indoors and outdoors. It is a very easy game to play because the only required equipment is a ball and two goals. The game features a great amount of running and is highly beneficial to a person's health when performed on a regular basis. You can play a game or have the students focus on individual skills. One drill involves three players on offense and two on defense. The offensive players work to keep the ball away from the defenders. If the defenders manage to take the ball away, every player switches positions and a new game begins. This drill can be done by students between the ages of 9 and 18.
Stance on Dodgeball
One of the more popular physical education games in the past was dodgeball. However, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, or the NASPE, believes it is no longer acceptable to practice this game between kindergarten and 12th grade in American schools. Dodgeball is a game where players are eliminated and the NASPE says players that are not as confident in their athletic abilities are targeted first in dodgeball games. The organization explains that these students need to develop confidence in their physical skills and that dodgeball does not aid their development. The sport is only enjoyed by the students who excel at the game and the NASPE does not want to endorse a game that involves hurting other students by hitting them with a ball.
Member Comments