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NATIONAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT WEEK  GETS STUDENTS MOVING FOR THEIR HEALTH
May 1-7 Begins National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Date, City of School, State – Almost half of young people aged 12-21 and more than a third of high school students do not participate in vigorous physical activity on a regular basis, a contributing factor to obesity over a lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). "Keeping children and teens physically active is one of the biggest obstacles parents run into," says Your Name, Name of Your School.

          As part of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is kicking off National Physical Education and Sport Week May 1-7, encouraging parents to help their children explore a wide variety of physical activities to determine what they like and encourage them to participate in those activities on a regular basis. The physical activity-inspired week begins National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.

          This year, the theme for the week is "Let's Move in School," NASPE's public initiative to ensure every school provides a comprehensive school physical activity program, with quality physical education as the foundation. NASPE recommends that schools and families incorporate at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity into each child's daily routine. For more information on Let's Move in School, visit www.LetsMoveInSchool.org.   

         "Research shows that quality physical education programs can contribute to students' regular participation in physical activity and can increase moderate to vigorous physical activity. The challenge is to help students identify a sport or activity that he or she enjoys as much as watching television or playing computer games," says NASPE President Lynn Couturier, of SUNY at Cortland. "As part of our Let's Move in School initiative, our goal is to urge every school in the country to coordinate a physical activity event during National Physical Education and Sport Week which will help motivate students to jump start or stimulate their personal physical activity routine."

          During this special week, students of all ages will have an opportunity to participate in a wide-variety of physical activities, created specifically for each age group.

          Some of the lesson plans include "The Dynamite Dance," designed especially for high schoolers who will forget they're even in class, as they kick it into high gear dancing to the song, "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz. Another planned activity is called "Go for the Bones." It involves physical education exercise allowing young children to learn about the major bones and joints that make up their body. Middle school students will leave class understanding their major body components, where they are located, and how they use them in daily physical activity. 

          NASPE also suggests that parents limit the amount of time their children spend in front of the television or computer to less than two hours a day. Activities and other resources teachers and parents can use during National Physical Education and Sport Week can be found on the NASPE web site: www.naspeinfo.org.

NASPE

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a nonprofit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE's 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).  For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

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