Lifelong Fitness Beats Team Sports

I love competitive sports. I live for the championship game. But not every school kid adores team sports. Heck, I knew many who cringed at the thought of gym class.

Teaching team sport skills has been an important part of America's physical education curriculum. However in one Long Island school district, only 15-18 percent of the student body are athletes. Nationwide, 16 percent of six-to-19 year olds are now overweight or obese. In response, districts across the area are moving away from the sports model and targeting nonathletes with creative offerings in fitness and wellness, adventure-based learning and lifetime skills. Finally, gym for everybody.

Of course, competitive sports are still in the mix -- to the relief of P.E. teacher jocks -- along with an exciting new wave of noncompetitive offerings. Yoga, Pilates, and Dance Dance Revolution. Just imagine studly Coach Johnson laying aside his whistle to teach DDR to a class of freshman. Agility stations including jumping rope, elliptical machines and medicine ball moves to music. Fitness walking, lifeguarding, cardio kickboxing and even Red Rover and Kick the Can. I love this concept. Not only does everyone play, if students find enjoyment in just a couple of these, they are developing fitness habits for life.