The physical activity potential and physiological and motivational benefits of active gaming have been a hot topic in the past few years. It is easy to see why active games are popular among certain populations, particularly those with prior or current video game experience. Video games are fun to play and challenging, give a player total control,…

In a previous "Advocacy in Action" article, Richards and Wilson (2012) discussed quality physical education (PE) as a precursor to advocacy. It was argued that, before PE teachers can be effective advocates, they must first develop a high-quality PE program for which to advocate. This article extends the points made by Richards and…

The importance of regular moderately intense exercise for overall wellness has been well documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Reductions in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis, and increased brain function can be achieved by being active throughout life. Quality…

The purpose of the article is to illustrate how a physical education program uses mobile devices to motivate at-risk girls attending an urban charter school. Permitting students to use mobile devices in physical education gives students a "technological freedom" that has been removed in other contexts. The apps described in this article…

A review of the literature identifies three main factors that influence student motivation to participate in physical education activities: (1) gender; (2) body image; and (3) enjoyment (Azzarito & Solmon, 2005, 2006, 2009; Lodewyk et al., 2009; Smith & St. Pierre, 2009). Males and females are motivated differently because of their…

Getting students to be physically active outside of school is a primary objective of physical educators. Teachers know that motivational tactics are instrumental and they would benefit from understanding the research that has investigated how and why individuals adopt and maintain exercise regimens. The Transtheoretical Model is one…

Many physical educators have asked "how do I help my students become skilled?" Most would likely respond with one word, "practice." Teachers' belief systems tell them if students practice sufficiently the product of more skillful play will be attained. It's likely that students believe this too. They know that in order to play the game better,…

For many coaches, motivation comes in the form of a great pre-game speech that fires up the athletes and inspires them to victory. While a pep-talk may certainly aid in motivating a team, its merits are often relied upon too heavily regarding its efficacy. Despite the tremendous amount of research that has been conducted, motivation still appears…

Physical education as a dynamic content area should motivate students to be physically active. In this article, readers suggest new ideas to kick off the new school year and get everyone "moving" in the right direction.

This article discusses exergaming, a groundbreaking type of video game which is creating a revolution in physical education. Exergaming combines physical activity and video gaming to create an enjoyable and appealing way for students to be physically active. An extremely popular choice in this genre is the music video/dance rhythm game (MVDG). One…

Both British and Finnish baseball are easy to introduce, as the specific skills involved in both sports are identical to those used in traditional baseball. If students have the skills to play traditional baseball, they have the skills to play British and Finnish baseball as well. After a brief overview of the unique rules and strategies of these…

Student motivation is a critical issue within all educational fields, including physical education. In regard to physical education, the term motivation is commonly defined as the "ability to energize behavior." Energizing behavior is imperative as student participation and engagement is deemed a critical component to the overall learning and…

Many physical education teachers experience frustration about student assessment because of issues such as overcrowded classes, scheduling conflicts, extensive record keeping, lack of planning time, or deciding what areas to assess. For these reasons, teachers may base the majority of students' grades simply on participation and behavior. Very…

The ever-rising rate of obesity and the need for increased physical activity for young children is well documented. Data suggests that today's youth are not participating in enough quality health-enhancing physical activity either in or outside of school. Heart rate monitors have been used by adult exercisers for many years to monitor and assess…

Motivating students to achieve learning goals in physical education is a challenge for physical education teachers. Dance, in particular, has long been considered an instructional unit in which it is difficult to motivate students. This article presents a practicing physical education teacher's reflection of her successful curricular reform and…