Energy Drinks: Friend or Foe?

Energy drinks have surged in popularity over the past quarter of a century, particularly among the younger segments of the population. Concerns regarding adverse events associated with these drinks have arisen. Recently, the American College of Sports Medicine issued a Contemporary Issues paper on the topic of energy drinks. Read on to learn more!...

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Calories Out, Calories In: Physical Education and Nutrition Fuel Up To Play 60 Style

Establishing long term relationships makes it possible to influence each student in ways that lead to lifelong behaviors. Are you looking for ways to strengthen relationships and to influence healthy habits within your curriculum? In this month’s blog, New England Patriots NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram® champion Timothy Scandale shares several creative opportunities he implemented through the Fuel Up To Play 60 Healthy Eating Plays while promoting physical literacy and so much more…...

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Exercise…Your Right to Vote

Everyone has a voice, and when a group of passionate volunteers come together and use their voices collectively, change happens. Imagine a world in which our youngest generation never experiences early onset type 2 diabetes, never faces having to work in an environment that is a health hazard due to secondhand smoke exposure, and where daily physical activity is simply a way of life. This is a reality that is not only possible, but entirely within our reach. This is the reality that The Cooper Institute® fights for every day. We’re asking you to join us in this fight as well by exercising…your right to vote....

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Fuel Up to Play 60: Physical Activity Plays

Fuel Up to Play 60 is a key component to the NFL Play 60 FitnessGram project, and there are so many ways to get started on implementing the various facets of the program. In this month’s blog post, Seattle Seahawks champion Krista Winn shares her innovative strategies for incorporating Fuel Up to Play 60’s physical activity plays at her school. Strategies include Family Fitness Nights, Peace Pals, effective uses of grant funding, and more. Read on to learn about how Krista’s school engages students, families and staff to create a culture of activity that promotes lifelong fitness....

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What if kids felt empowered by a focus on fitness?

"Gym class" conjures up a wide array of memories for most adults, who either loved it or dreaded it. We know now that physical education is one of the most important classes a student will ever take, as scientific research has shown us just how critical physical education and literacy are to the whole child from health to academics and beyond. Read on to learn more!......

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How Fitness Testing Can Make a Positive Impact on Any Quality PE Program

Too often, physical education teachers are faced with dwindling resources, limited time and a lack of support. One of the most powerful tools PE teachers have at their disposal today is FitnessGram data. Understanding how to use this data to garner support and yes, even funding, for your PE programming can make a substantial difference in how you teach physical education and most importantly, the impact you have on your students and their development of lifelong healthy habits. Read on to learn more about maximizing success with fitness assessment data from Fort Worth ISD’s Director of Health and PE, and FitnessGram Scientific Advisory Board member, Georgi Roberts....

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Des Moines Public Schools and FitnessGram

Acquiring the ideal setup of roster integration with the FitnessGram software is key to streamlining and minimizing time spent managing rosters. With the right technology and support, importing FitnessGram rosters can become an efficient and smooth process that meets the needs of physical education teachers. Des Moines Public Schools shares their unique solution using Infinite Campus....

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Appropriate Warm-Up. Leave the “Old School” Thoughts Behind.

What is your preferred method of warming students up for activity? Running laps, jumping jacks, or static stretching? Your answer should be “none of the above”. This fit tip is going to focus on the appropriate way to get the body ready for physical activity....

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Cooper-Ready

Dr. Jeremy Lyon joins The Cooper Institute as the first president of the Cooper Youth Division. Lyon spent 31 years in the public education sector, advancing from teacher to coach then on to principal, and for the last 14 years as a superintendent. Most recently, Lyon helmed the Frisco Independent School District in Texas, one of the highest performing, fastest growing school districts in the nation. Lyon shares his vision for the future, building a healthier generation, and being Cooper-Ready....

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NFL Play 60 FitnessGram Project Champions Summit

The Cooper Institute® hosted its annual NFL Play 60 FitnessGram® Project Champion Summit in Dallas with some very special guests including Champions from 18 different NFL markets. The special event featured professional development training, guests from Fuel Up to Play 60 and the American Heart Association, and a special dinner at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys' World Headquarters in Frisco. The dinner also welcomed special NFL guests including former players Tommie Harris, Jacob Lacey, Shaun Smith and current NFL player Valerian Ume-Ezeoke for an all-star evening. Read on to learn more about the Summit, the program, and our impact on youth health....

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Building a Healthier Generation through Fitness Assessment

The generation we teach today are facing a serious health crisis. This is about as real as it gets – our youngest students are the first, ever, to be predicted to NOT outlive their parents. As physical education teachers, what we do today, and more importantly, how we do it, will make all the difference in the lives of countless students who cross our paths. It’s not just about checking the “PE” box, it’s about ensuring our students actually attain the physical literacy they need to be strong adults....

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Cooper Capitol Day

For many, childhood memories were full of games of tag, capture the flag during gym class, or unknowingly learning conflict resolution during recess, away from the watchful eye of a teacher. Today, many children are collecting far different memories. Instead of daily gym class, one in three children struggle through each day with obesity or being overweight. Instead of building social skills during recess, children are learning to manage type-2 diabetes....

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