May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month

April 30, 2009—May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month—a great opportunity to get students up and moving, and to encourage them to get involved in different fitness and sports activities they can continue over a lifetime.  Physically fit students not only stay healthier but also reap a multitude of additional benefits.  For example, a recent unpublished study by the Texas Education Agency found that schools with higher student fitness levels were correlated with higher state standardized test passing rates, higher school attendance rates, and fewer disciplinary problems. 

Schools can help students become and stay fit by providing them with a variety of opportunities to be physically active such as before- and after-school programs, regular physical education, in-class physical activity breaks, and organized sports such as intramurals and varsity athletics programs. 

Involvement in organized sports not only provides youth with opportunities for physical activity, but also helps with character building, self-esteem, and academic achievement.  A recent report from Team-Up for Youth highlights data showing participation in organized sports is associated with lower drop-out rates, higher test scores and grades, higher likelihood of attending college, better self-esteem, and feelings of being connected to a positive peer network.

To learn about ways your district can celebrate National Physical Fitness & Sport Month, visit the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) website.  To learn more about physical activity in schools visit the NSBA School Health Programs website.

Sources: “Physically fit students more likely to do well in school, less likely to be disciplinary problems,” March 9, 2009. Press Release, Texas Education Agency; “Learning to Play and Playing to Learn: Organized Sports and Educational Outcomes,” Team-Up for Youth, February 2009; NASPE website.