NFL: KEEP GYM IN SCHOOL CELEBRATION             

As many of you know, during the last weekend of April the National Football League (NFL) Draft took place in New York. For football fans, Saturday’s player selection was the weekend highlight. But for special guests from grant winning schools in Phoenix, New Orleans, Wichita, Annandale, VA, and Gatesville NC, the main event occurred a day earlier. TV football watchers have probably noticed commercials promoting a program called Play 60. Designed to encourage kids to get at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity, Play 60 has been a great boost to student health promotion, and of course only possible through the support and advocacy of the NFL Network. NFL players have also been active in community outreach, often visiting schools and publicly calling for increased physical activity and more physical education.

This past year, the NFL Network sponsored a competition between schools in cities with NFL teams for four $55,000 grants and one $10,000 grant to improve school physical education. Named Keep Gym in School, these grants funded school facility, equipment, instructional, and program improvements. Additionally, students within the selected schools were challenged to improve their physical fitness and show a commitment to healthy living.

On Friday, the four special student winners, together with school leaders and parents came to NYC to be recognized. And what a time they had! It began with a trip to Central Park to play in a football clinic organized by the NFL Network. Joining them were 9 of the top first round draft picks and dozens of students from New York schools. The soon-to-be football millionaires thrilled the young participants by participating with them in various drills. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and former football superstar Deion Sanders then presented each of the Keep Gym in School winners with a huge trophy, a handshake, and then posed for photographs that will surely be the envy of their friends back in school. And that was just the start of the day!

A special ceremony recognizing the winning students and their schools was then hosted by NFL Network staff in a Times Square restaurant and immediately followed by a special tour of Radio City Music Hall in the throes of construction for the following day’s NFL Draft. The students and their guests eagerly posed for photos at the tables of their favorite NFL teams, albeit reluctantly abiding instructions not to touch the glass jar of team-colored M&M’s adorning each table. Saturday, the Keep Gym in School winners were then among the lucky ones to have VIP tickets to attend the draft.

The NFL Network plans to continue its Keep Gym in School program into 2010. If you live in an NFL team location don't miss the opportunity to apply and be aware that regardless of the grant, many NFL players are interested in supporting kids' health and physical education. An invitation to them from your school would be a great way to promote your programs.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MAY'S pelinks4u

This month pelinks4u features 6 great articles. Here’s a brief summary of each:

Health and Fitness Highlights - Debra D’Acquisto, Physical Education Activity Program Director at Central Washington University, shares the latest information about what’s happening in the fitness industry. Physical educators can learn much from what’s proving popular in the nation’s gyms. Some of these innovations probably have a place in our school programs. Read about Debra’s conference experience.

The Biggest Little Team in Basketball - Physical educator Bob Burke begins with the question, “What benefits can a basketball ball handling exhibition team bring to your students, school, and community? Learn about a wonderful program designed to teach skills, build school spirit, and give all kids the chance to perform in front of an audience. This article includes a link to a dvd in which you can watch students in Bob’s program demonstrating their skills.

Quality Physical Education Versus Mere Physical Activity - What’s the difference between physical education and physical activity? In this era of worsening obesity support for increasing daily physical activity is increasing. But clearly the goals of quality physical education are much broader than simply getting students to be active. Creator of many of the materials in the EPEC (Exemplary Physical Education Curriculum), Glenna DeJong highlights some of the characteristics of quality physical education.

Spreading the Word - In the current economic downturn, advocacy for physical education is going to be more important than ever. In truth, most of us are poorly skilled in program advocacy. It’s not something we were taught in college and frankly it’s easy to find more enjoyable things to do. Unfortunately, this failure has severe consequences and already we are starting to hear about physical education program reductions. Author Clive Hickson shares effective and easy-to-implement ways we can all become better physical education advocates. Good advice for all of us.

The Challenge of Creating Environments that Fully Engage Every Child - As hard as we try it‘s tough to teach physical education lessons that meet the needs of all students. In this article, noted author GS Don Morris examines the needs of students in physical education classes, and describes ways in which teachers can modify the instructional environment to better meet individual needs. Learn more about how instructors can benefit by changing their instructional strategies and the language they use with their students.

A Solution “FIT” for Internet Generations - Is technology a blessing or curse in promoting healthy lifestyles? Writer Anna Marie believes that new uses of technology bring opportunities for us to motivate students to become more physically active. In this article, she introduces us to a program known as “GoTrybe” that has been tested in Indiana schools and homes. Read more about a program that promises to introduce students to fitness promoting “Active Screen Time.”

NFL: Keep Gym in School Celebration - If your school hosted a special event to celebrate National Physical Education and Sport Week please let me know. You can contact me at any time with news items, comments, suggestions, and questions via email - steve@pelinks4u.org. Enjoy the rest of spring and make plans for an active and healthy summer.

Steve Jefferies, Publisher
pelinks4u