When asked to write about fall activities for this issue, I figured that not only was it a bit late, but it was also a no brainer. I mean, fall, what's there to think about? Doesn’t everyone want to be out on the field, getting their kids moving as much as possible? Wouldn't that mean field hockey, soccer, football, lacrosse, speedball, European Handball or cross country? But there is more. Here are four points worth considering:

Use a main unit. That means fourteen to eighteen lessons of one activity, not a day of this and a day of that, in fear that more would be boring. Let me assure you, leading your kids through a well planned unit won't be boring. It will be stimulating. Why? Because it takes time for what you teach to sink in. As your kids start understanding what they're doing conceptually, as they start controlling their bodies and equipment, as they start seeing that what they want to happen actually happening in a game, they'll want more, not less.

If you need help devising such units, take a look at COMPLETE PHYSICAL EDUCATION PLANS FOR GRADES 7-12. Each chapter has units for beginners, and since students should keep learning, most chapters include units for intermediate and advanced students as well. Frankly, if you don't set new goals for maturing students then you run the risk of boredom.

Think about your year's curriculum in the fall. The decision for what to do during the first quarter is not as easy as thinking, "its fall, let's go out."

Schools have issues. Lack of indoor facilities is a major one. My last school suffered from limited space, classes of fifty, and scheduling that too often placed three classes in the gym at once. To have a meaningful unit in pickleball, badminton, paddleball, or handball (against a wall) meant guaranteeing maximum participation. These classes needed access to the entire gym, and the only way to get that was to stay indoors while the other classes went out. In my case, I was able to set up 12 badminton courts which gave my kids their own doubles court for an entire period. That's worth thinking about!

Use the media to spice up your lessons. There is no time of year when so much of what you teach is in the headlines. Take advantage of it. The fall brings the US Open (tennis), the conclusion of the pro golf circuit, soccer and women's basketball seasons, the World Series, and the onset of football. Periodicals are filled with useful material. Using the stories, statistics, pictures and TV coverage to expand on what you're saying will improve motivation and your students' understanding.

And, if you haven't started a professional file, do. Clip all relevant photos for your bulletin board and don't throw them away when the season is over. File them so they can be used each year. It is true. "A picture IS worth a thousand words."

Last but not least, you can build enthusiasm for your unit, and increase school spirit by encouraging your kids to watch a game played by the school team. If your sport isn't played at school, have them watch a game on TV. Seeing a game helps students put the pieces together; the rules, the strategies, and the skills. Cheering for classmates can make students feel a viable part of school.

Whatever you do, I wish you a GREAT SCHOOL YEAR!

Isobel Kleinman
Secondary Section Editor

Head Injury
The recent collision between two Mets outfielders, and the head injury they sustained, highlights the case for protective head gear. Did you know that at the NCAA soccer quarterfinals last year all players wore protective headgear? You probably couldn't tell. The gear, which looks like a headband (but is not nearly as cheap) does not stand out as an unusual item, nevertheless, it is said to absorb 50% of the force generated during a typical head collision. Those of you teaching soccer, and heading in particular, might want to read "Headgear Gains Popularity, but Does It Do Any Good?" in The New York Times, November 20, 2004.

Hydration
For years we have talked about drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and heat stroke. Now we learn that drinking too much can also be harmful, harmful enough that it can kill you. "Brain-Dead From Sports Drinks," and "Study Cautions Runners to Limit Intake of Water" are two articles published in the New York Times (April, 14, 2005), and refer to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine, which concluded that marathoners can 'dangerously dilute the blood with an overdose of liquid, risking a coma and even death. The problem, detected during long military maneuvers, extended bike rides and blistering hikes through the desert,' clearly shows that fluid management is more complex then we thought. Too much or too little fluid has serious consequences. Be aware, the operative word is extreme.

If we perseverated on all the things that could go wrong while we play, we may never be able to ask students to extend themselves again. I will never forget the day that my perfectly healthy looking eighth graders had to accept the fact that one of their friends, a wonderfully vibrant looking athlete, ran a 100 yard dash in class and was dead at the finish line. That happened during my second year of teaching. It not only changed me forever, but changed how my school district did its medical screening.

In "Winning is Good, but Playing Safely is Better," New York Times, October, 19, 2004, the American College of Sports Medicine reported that 775,000 children under the age of 14 are treated in emergency rooms for sports injuries, and 300,000 athletes for heat related illnesses, half of which are avoidable. To stay abreast of preventable sports injuries and health risks, and to be able to teach our students how to avoid them, we need to be aware of them ourselves. Check out a three hour online safety course at SportsSafety.org. It is possible that your school district would pay its fee and offer you in-service credit.

Some people change their activities during rainy days because they can't go out. By doing so, they lose the momentum they've built up for their unit. Yes, you must alter how the activity is managed because the space is so much smaller, but you can stay on task and make the altered lesson beneficial. You simply must adapt.

You can:

	play the game by making the target/goal or people smaller.
	drill for accuracy.
	limit the amount of power exerted.
	aim for consistency.
	coach the game strategy using different skills.
	save the teaching of skills that can be covered in small spaces for rainy days.

Here are some specifics:

	Take away the power.
		Use a sponge ball, a whiffle ball or a shuttlecock.
		If there is a striking implement, use something smaller or narrower or the hand.
	Make the players smaller.
		Have the kids play while on scooters, all fours, or in a crab position.
	Make the target smaller:
		Use narrower and shorter goals.
		Use smaller equipment.
	Use the same game strategy and positioning, but differ the skills.
		For soccer, play on scooters, allowing the throw and catch as the pass and trap.
		Play the game off the walls.
	Think fitness while using game skills. Measure:
		cardio functioning
		steps used
		strength required

Give your class something new to play, but keep the teams intact so they can work together, learn to adapt to an unfamiliar game, learn to communicate, adjust to each others strengths and weaknesses, and work within the rules. Here's a game that is fast to learn and fits the bill. To see the Team Target Game in action, go to Revotarg.

Teach students to umpire. Referee/umpires have to move up and down the field in order to be in line with the play so they can make the calls. The students will not only get good exercise, but keep the games fair, and be encouraged to develop leadership skills and help the class maintain a sense of ethics during competitive play.

According to Dr. Spahn, students at risk for asthma should use a preventative inhaler daily whether they think they need to or not. Going back to school heralds in a vulnerable period for asthmatics; it increases their stress and exposes them to viral infection and indoor allergens, leading triggers for attacks. "Rescue inhalers" the students carry may not ward off serious attacks. Read full article. (NYTIMES, August 30, 2005)

Questions about your child's asthma - Very good, thorough information on asthma can be found at this site. See also Asthma & Allergies.

Athlete Burnout - This past month, as high schools and colleges kicked off their fall sports schedule, newspapers and magazines are reporting athletes calling it quits, and dropping out of sports that they perform well in. It happens every year at this time.

Pro-Anorexia Web Sites: The Thin Web Line
Are these web sites fueling an epidemic?

LIQUID CANDY - How Soft drinks are Harming America's Health. This is just not ANOTHER 'soft drinks are bad for you' article. It's a very informative, 46 page PDF handout, with a complete table of contents, showing just how harmful soft drinks really are. Print it out for later reading if you can't read it now.

The Quest Beyond the Pink Collar - Sometimes girls need some encouragement to become strong women. Learn about women's stereotypes and restrictions put on them that are propagated by the media. Enjoy the examples of strong women role models. Particularly touching is the story about Karen Carpenter, a talented and successful entertainer who died from anorexia. Read some… More.

Tackling the Teenage Crisis: Helping Parents Survive Adolescent Rebellion
Every parent wants to avoid teenage rebellion if at all possible, and for good reason. Who really wants to see their kids make bad choices and get themselves into trouble? And so I have parents asking me all the time, "How do I make sure my kid stays on the straight and narrow?" Read the rest...

Smoking and Teens Fact Sheet
November 2004 - Cigarette smoking during childhood and adolescence produces significant health problems among young people, including cough and phlegm production, an increase in the number and severity of respiratory illnesses, decreased physical fitness, an unfavorable lipid profile and potential retardation in the rate of lung growth and the level of maximum lung function. Read the rest...

Helping Your Children Navigate Their Teenage Years: A Guide for Parents, White House Council on Youth Violence.

Deadly Desires - Students will review statistics about teens and sexuality, learn about the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and research and write an informational brochure on STDs.

Adolescent Sleep - In this lesson, students will examine the arguments for and against changing the school start time for high-school students, based upon the findings of a scientific research study.

A New You! - (Grades: 6-8, 9-12 )
In this lesson, students research stem cells to learn how they function, the distinguishing characteristics of types of stem cells, and how stem cells may be manipulated by scientists to help bodies heal and regenerate unhealthy or damaged cells.

Weight Training (Grades: 6-8, 9-12 )
In this lesson, students conduct a class-wide survey collecting, compiling, and analyzing data about fitness, weight loss, and body image issues.

Stories of AIDS - Examine the physical effects of AIDS, study the plight of people living with AIDS and the effects on their families and friends, and you'll get totally engrossed in reading some very powerful personal stories.

Safe Driving - 1) Study the potential dangers, risks, and statistics associated with a variety of road safety issues: impaired driving, not wearing seat belts, speeding, distracted driving (eating and using cell phones), and drowsy driving. 2) Develop a public service announcement such as a poster, mock television or radio commercial, Web site, or brochure about a road safety issue.

Risky Business - Students will review the possible consequences of making risky choices, become familiar with statistics involving teens, and create and play a board game designed to show how bad choices can lead to setbacks.

Headaches - Students will review what they've learned about different types of headaches, their causes, and treatments; and work in groups to create a commercial for a headache treatment.

Depression - Students will review what they've learned about clinical depression and various treatments; and create a poster that highlights one common misconception about depression, and the truth behind that myth.

All Star Fitness - Students will understand the basic principles behind living a healthy life, establish goals to that will lead to a healthier lifestyle, and keep a record of progress toward reaching these goals.

Teen Depression; Warning Signs, Information, Getting Help - Depression is defined as an illness when the feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair persist and interfere with a child or adolescent's ability to function. This site is just so full of information, you'll really need to just go read.

Children and Depression - Although you may have read the information using the link above, review this site as it comes from a more personal perspective, rather than scientific. There does not need to be specific causes of depression. See also information on Dysthymia.

Adolescents & Sleep - a summary of what researchers know about teenagers' need for sleep and why sleep effects memory and learning.

Why Should I Care About Germs?
You may think germs are something you don't have to worry about - only the people selling toilet cleaners on TV are concerned with germs. But germs are tiny organisms that can cause disease - and they're so small that they can creep into your system without you noticing. You even need a microscope to see them. To stay healthy, it helps to give some thought to germs. Read the rest...

Hygiene Basics
Puberty causes all kinds of changes in your body. Your skin and scalp may suddenly get oily very easily. Every day it seems you have new hair growing in different places. At times, you seem to sweat for no reason - and you may notice there are odors where you never had them before. What should you do about it? Read the rest...

Acne.com
Learn all the facts about acne; the causes and effects, types of acne, prevention, and treatments.

Health & Hygiene
Although this site is Kotex.com, this site is for both the girls and the guys. Learn about how to practice good hygiene, and also about all the changes your body will go through.

Oral Health At Any Age - from Colgate.
What are the different risks involved with oral piercings? You may not be aware of the potential side effects of oral piercings. Find out.

Article: Women Better At Hand Hygiene Habits, Hands Down - 91% of American adults say they always wash their hands after using public restrooms. But just 83% actually did so, according to a separate observational study.

Teenage Pregnancy - Quick References and Fact Sheets. From the March of Dimes.

Teen Pregnancy - Frequently asked questions.