Okay, my "kids" (both my own two and my college students, too!) talked me into getting a Nintendo Wii because they promised it made you physically active in order to play the video games. Not being much of a "gamer" myself - I was skeptical. Not anymore.

I bought it and we all play it! My own kids play with it at home and my "college kids" play with it during a weekend physical activity camp we run for local schoolchildren. We use it as a station activity and play the Wii Sports games. (For those of you with a Wii, we found the boxing and tennis the most fun for younger children. Both the golf and bowling games were a bit too difficult to play successfully. The baseball game was pretty easy to pick-up, but not nearly as interactive as the boxing and tennis games).

I've already purchased both Wii Play and Wii Playground which comes with classic games such as tetherball, wall ball, and (no kidding) dodge ball, among others. And candidly, the dodge ball game is pretty fun and it doesn't hurt nearly as bad when you get hit! Both the tetherball and wall ball games are pretty simple, and you work up a pretty good sweat.

And in the multibillion dollar industry known as video games, more and more interactive games are on the horizon. They've even added new words to our language. Type in "exergaming" or "exertainment" into a internet search and you'll see exactly what I mean.

Nintendo has already confirmed release of its Wii Fit game for the holidays. Unfortunately, this release is only set for Japan, but Nintendo has committed to a North American release, but no date has been confirmed. Wii Fit will come bundled with the Wii Balance Board which allows players to stand upon, dance across and over, do push-ups on top of, and even balance, Pilates and yoga activities! The board will also calculate body mass index and save data so that progress can be charted and checked over time.

A little research suggests that over 40 health-related activities will be available with Wii Fit.

So despite my claim at the top of this column noting that I am not really a "gamer," well... I guess I am now. My kids are officially on-notice that daddy wants Wii Fit for Father's Day.

Jon Poole
Secondary Section Editor

Several years ago I visited a local high school, and the physical educator called me over to his office (the classic glass surrounded office space in the interior of the locker room). He wanted to show me the new white board he had installed next to the door.

He had taken my advice that I had passed along from a wise veteran teacher, who had told me that the white board (or chalk board many years ago) was the "best piece of PE equipment I have ever bought." That was because this veteran teacher used it to list the daily PE activity to end the incessant questions of, "Hey Coach, what are we playing today?" And sure enough, I watched in amazement as the students streamed into the locker room, and not a single one asked what they were playing in PE class. That was a first for me. I decided I would share this veteran teacher's advice to me to any and everyone who would listen!

My friend the local teacher, however, took it one better. On the white board he had permanently written:

1) Warm-Up Activity _________________
2) Fitness Activity ____________________
3) Lesson Activities___________________
4) Game Play _______________________

Then at the beginning of each day he would write in the specifics such as 1) jump ropes, laps, etc. for the warm-up, 2) partner push-ups, jumping jack tag, etc. for the fitness activity, 3) basketball stations, etc. for the lesson activities, and 4) 3v3 half-court basketball games, etc. for the game play activity.

Initially, he said, students would still ask about the daily activities and he would simply point at the white board, or tell the student to go look it up on their own. Eventually, he noted, they stopped asking and simply knew where to go look. He laughed when he told me that "it was the best piece of PE equipment he had ever bought!"

So now you know one "gift" I hope you receive from your school this holiday season.

FunAndGames.org - online resource for all those looking for ideas, games and things to do for children and youth, or just looking for ideas in general for parties or events.

The Grandparent’s Grab Bag of Age -Appropriate Activities - If you're lucky enough to be hosting your grandchildren for a visit - whether it's a regular weekly date, an occasional sleepover or a long summer stay, you'll want to check out these age-appropriate activity suggestions from several grandparents if you're looking for ideas about entertaining your grandchildren.

A-Better-Child.org - This is a site I believe you'll want to bookmark, and the information that can be found here is immense. Look it over and see what is of interest to you. This is a great page for finding play activities for colder weather. And this is a fun activity site you should review. Lots of ideas here! Suite101.com

Many secondary physical educators play Ultimate Frisbee outside when the weather cooperates, but how many play inside during the winter months? The regulation Ultimate field (at least according to the UPA - Ultimate Players Association) is roughly the size of a football field including the end zones. That is, the 120 yard field is divided into two 25 yard end zones and 70 yards of "field." And while regulation games involve seven players on a side, indoor modifications would involve playing smaller-sided mini games within the confines of the gymnasium.

MINI-GAMES

Because Ultimate tends to be a very fast paced, non-stop movement endurance activity, "mini-games" of 3-5 minutes can be played with teams rotating in to allow maximal participation and minimal waiting, yet still some limited rest time. Consider playing two smaller games across a full-sized gymnasium with 4-5 players per team. Depending on class size, one or two teams can be waiting at each "field." We did this recently with one of our university classes with 38 students enrolled.

STATION TEACHING

As a big advocate of station teaching, consider spending the first part of class working in 5-6 stations to promote small-group practice. One or two stations could also be fitness stations with jump ropes, etc., as Ultimate requires a high demand on aerobic fitness. Another station might be a cognitive knowledge station requiring students to read over rules &/or game play strategies then completing a short worksheet. In addition to serving as an assessment piece, it provides a rest station. The primary skill focus stations require students to throw and catch the flying discs while moving similar other invasion activities such as soccer, floor hockey, lacrosse, and basketball. Stations typically last 2-3 minutes before rotation.

SMALL-SIDED MODIFIED GAMES

Game modifications can vary many different ways depending on your learning goals. Requiring a "sideline" pass, for example, tends to get student thinking in terms of moving the disc from side-to-side down the field/court. Conversely, allowing students to "cherry pick," and not fall back on defense, tends to get students thinking in terms of throwing long passes (which are rarely successful) the length of the field/court to an awaiting player.

Instead, consider requiring a minimal amount of passes before a score is allowed, and also consider requiring all students to pass mid-field/court before a score is allowed. Personally, the "all-touch" rule where everyone on a team must touch it before a score is allowed, seems to rarely work as well as planned. Instead of involving everyone in class (most notably the lower-skilled young people you are trying to attract), it tends to single out the less assertive youngsters, as teammates scream at him or her to get open so they can get the final touch needed before one of the higher-skilled grabs the disc back and throws into the end zone.

Obviously, the modifications could go on and on, but instead, here are a couple of places to get more information as you consider bringing the outdoor game into your gym: Ultimate Players Association, and World Flying Disc Federation.

Lynn Bode is a certified personal trainer specializing in Internet-based fitness programs, who recommends the following tips to stay healthy and active during the cold winter months.

Get Warm First - A proper warm-up is critical. Cold temperatures can make your muscles tight, and therefore they are more prone to injuries. So, it's important to get them warmed-up prior to engaging in intense physical activity.

Insulate Your Body - The best approach to dressing for outdoor exercise is with layers. Layering provides the most effective heating method, plus it allows you to remove the top layer if you get too hot. The layer closest to your skin should allow moisture to be wicked away. The top layer should be both wind and water resistant.

No Sweat - Don't assume that you have to sweat in order to get a good workout. You should avoid sweating that causes the clothing layer closest to your skin to get wet and cause you to be chilled. Instead monitor your intensity through a heart rate monitor or the Rating of Perceived Exertion.

Don't Strip When You Get Inside - While you may be tempted to immediately remove your layers when returning inside, give your body time to adjust.

Drink Up - It's just as important to stay hydrated when exercising in winter as it is in summer, even though you might not feel as thirsty.

Lighten Up - If possible, it's best to exercise outdoors during daylight areas. But, with shorten days that can be difficult to do. If you exercise outdoors when it is dark, wear reflective materials to ensure that you can be seen.

source: Winter Exercise Tips

...TO OURSELVES AND OUR STUDENTS

As we close in on a new year it is the time to look toward New Year's Resolutions that positively impact our personal and professional lives. And what could be more important than improving our own health? Further, as advocates of leading physically active lifestyles, our improved personal health enhances our professional life as we serve as a role model for our students.

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends professionals at all levels (including coaches, K-12 teachers, and higher education faculty) participate in regular physical activity at a level sufficient to promote health-related physical fitness.

NASPE Position Paper: Physical Activity and Fitness Recommendations For Physical Activity Professionals

Behaviors of models can influence the learning of others. NASPE encourages teachers to see themselves as powerful role models (albeit less powerful than parents). That is, research is cited in this position paper reporting that teachers and coaches are the most frequently cited non-family member adult role model.

Participation in regular physical activity is an essential behavior of physical educators. NASPE encourages teachers to model "lifestyle physical activities" in their own community. This modeling promotes credibility among parents and colleagues, and prominently demonstrates the value that physical activity plays in the life of the teacher.

Achievement and maintenance of health-related physical fitness is an appropriate expectation for all professionals. NASPE encourages teachers to maintain and exhibit acceptable physical fitness levels as it is a professional expectation. And research is cited in this position paper reporting that individuals responsible for the hiring of physical education teachers state that applicants perceived as being unfit have a much greater chance of NOT getting hired.

NASPE notes that little research has been undertaken to determine whether or not a teacher's fitness level actually affects student learning and behavior or teacher effectiveness. Yet, the potential powerful influence on youth that we can have as physical fitness role models must not be ignored.

Source: National Association for Sport and Physical Education. (2002). Physical activity and fitness recommendations for physical activity professionals [Position paper]. Reston, VA: Author.

How the Wii is creaming the competition - Business 2.0 Magazine tells the inside story of how Nintendo outfoxed Sony and Microsoft and got itself back in the game. And, everyone has an opinion. The disgruntled gather here.

A darker side of WII - "Manhunt 2:" Most Violent Game Yet? Critics say new video game is too realistic; players must torture, kill (what kind of market is this game supposed to sell to? The logic behind the creation/selling of this game is strange.)

Here's a fun game: Try to buy a Wii - As shopping season kicks off, store-stalkers turn to Internet. A year after the Nintendo Wii started out a distant third to Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3 in the video game hype wars, the tables have turned.

Wii attracts gamers outside the realm the Xbox and PlayStation - Apart from September, when Halo 3 temporarily gave Microsoft the monthly console sales crown, it's been a Wii world almost since the console was released last year. So everyone and his grandma must be cheering the success of Nintendo's little white box, no? Well, that "grandma" thing is what's causing the problems. Find out more.

H2O? Oh No! - This is a story of a woman who died after a water drinking contest, trying to win a WII. This story is added for the value of teaching that drinking too much water just isn't good for you. More on this.

New Nintendo Wii Stories Website Launches - Nintendo has set up MyWiiStory.com. It's a place where Wii owners and their friends and family have been gathering to post real-life anecdotes about the way that Wii has changed their social dynamic or even their opinions about video games.

Is the Wii Really Good for Your Health? - A week after Nintendo's Wii debuted in November (2006), the Wall Street Journal reported that the gaming console was leaving some users as sore as the gym often does. In Wii Sports, a game that comes with the console, users mimic the motions used in sports like bowling, tennis and baseball. In other words, the game may be virtual, but the physical exertion is very real. Find out more. Here's a bit of extra: 'MySims' focuses on little kids not teens.