Investigated an alternative to full sit-up testing for middle school physical education. Students performed two 1-minute half sit-up tests and a 1-minute full sit-up test. Results found that the half sit-up test was reliable and could be incorporated as an alternative to the full sit-up test for examining middle school students' abdominal strength…

Examined whether college students participated in physical activities in which they had had positive prior experiences and felt competent performing, administering surveys on their reasons for taking physical activity classes and their perceptions of the quality of their high school physical education. Reasons for taking physical activity classes…

Examines 410 high school athletes' attitudes toward female coaches, finding that males were more likely than females to believe coaching style was dependent on the coach's gender and that coaching opportunities were more restricted for females. Both male and female athletes had stronger preferences for male coaches than for female coaches. (MDM)

Discusses the paucity of African Americans as administrators and educational leaders in college and university health, physical education, and recreation departments; suggests some barriers to ethnic diversity at such levels and proposes several strategies to open more leadership positions to African Americans. (MDM)

Examines the causes and nature of teacher-coach role conflict and discusses its impact on regular students and student-athletes at four-year colleges. Recent research suggests that it is difficult for student athletes to receive a quality education and that teacher-coaches are often indifferent to academic achievement. (MDM)

Examines the effects of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which mandates the inclusion of children with disaabilities in regular physical education programs to the maximum extent appropriate. Discusses the challenges that physical educators will face and the preparations they can make to proceed smoothly with inclusion. (MDM)

Describes a program to provide undergraduate sport pedagogy majors with more practice teaching opportunities before they begin student teaching. The students conduct classroom observations of core courses and teacher interviews to document effective classroom techniques and outline instructional profiles to implement in their own teaching. (MDM)

This study examined the effectiveness of the Coaching Analysis Instrument (CAI), which collects data and provides feedback on coaches' verbal behaviors as they organize and instruct athletes during practices. Practice sessions were videotaped and analyzed. CAI results helped modify the coaches' behaviors in positive ways. (SM)

Using data from the Chronicle of Higher Education, this study categorized job opportunities in higher education related to kinesiology/physical education and tallied opportunities within each category from 1988-92. Results indicated that a trend toward positions with a broader focus is likely to continue with increasing financial constraints and…

Reports a study that examined the consumer needs in higher education from 1991-94 in the discipline of physical education and athletics. Using data from the Chronicle of Higher Education (1991-94), the study examined and categorized types of positions advertised. Requests for exercise physiologists ranked first, followed by pedagogy,…

This paper presents strategies for making regular physical education settings and activities safe for all students, focusing on several key aspects of making inclusive settings safe (the needs of students with disabilities, the teaching environment, equipment safety, safe teaching techniques, and content). Checklists and information forms are…

Reports a study that systematically identified the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of certified physical educators in the area of multicultural education. Surveys of 348 teachers indicated that respondents had high knowledge levels and positive attitudes toward multicultural education. Teachers ages 31-40 years had significantly more…

This study examined the effects of four preservice teacher education courses (two in multicultural education, a field experience, and student teaching in urban areas) on preservice teachers' perceptions of their multicultural knowledge and attitudes. Findings indicated that subjects' perceptions of multicultural knowledge and attitudes were…

Reports a study that examined why high school students chose not to take elective physical education (PE) classes after completing their graduation requirement. Surveys indicated that students did not have enough time to take both elective PE courses and additional college preparation coursework. Secondly, students did not like PE. (SM)

The two types of programs investigated were required basic activity-based physical education and required conceptually-based physical education, both in small Christian colleges. Surveys indicated that real differences between the groups were small in respect to knowledge, attitudes, and habits. (SM)