National Physical Education and Sport Week: May 1-7

May 1-7 is National Physical Education and Sport Week. For those of you working with players in elementary school, below are some interesting stats.

• School-age youths should participate daily in 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity that is developmentally appropriate, enjoyable, and involves a variety of activities.1,2,3
• Muscle-strengthening: As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week.
• Bone-strengthening: As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include bone-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week.

Tennis has many health benefits, but it also fits right into the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Aerobic: Most of the 60 or more minutes a day should be either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, and should include vigorous-intensity physical activity at least 3 days a week. Quality youth sport experiences provide important developmental opportunities for children and youth. Quality sport programs provide a positive, safe and self-enhancing experience for all participants. Well-qualified and educated coaches are the key to quality sport experiences.

References:

1. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2003). National poll shows parents and teachers agree on solutions to childhood obesity [News release]. Princeton, NJ: Author.
2. Strong, W. B., Malina, R. M., Bumkie, C. J. R., Daniels, S. R., Dishman, R. K., Gutin, B., Hergenroeder, A. C., Must, A., Nixon, P. A., Pivarnik, J. M., Rowland, T., Trost, S., & Trudeau, F. (2005). Evidence based physical activity for school-age youth. Journal of Pediatrics, 146, 732-737.
3. U.S. Department of Agriculture & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000). Nutrition and you health: Dietary guidelines for Americans (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.