Course Outline: Physical Conditioning Course Description

Class:  Physical Conditioning
Instructor: Coach Stricker                                                                    

E-mail: matthew_stricker@myfsd.org
website

Physical Conditioning class is designed to empower students to achieve high levels of physical fitness through individual and group exercise as they learn and implement essential components of a physically fit lifestyle.  In addition, students will receive direct instruction in specific movements and activities that safely promote cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, quickness and agility, and overall physical wellness.

Expectations

Students are expected to participate in assigned activities each day in class.

Students will be required to wear Parks-approved PE clothes and athletic shoes (please clean off shoes before entering) to class each day unless otherwise directed.  Students will have the opportunity to change into PE clothes at the beginning of class and will also have ample time to change back into their school clothes at the end of the class period.  Failure to wear proper attire will result in loss of participation points for that day which will negatively affect the grade for the class.

Students are expected to arrive to class on time and to be seated in the assigned areas of the fitness room when class begins.  Because students are changing into PE clothes, they will have 5 minutes to do so after the bell rings indicating the beginning of the class period.  Students who arrive after the allotted time without a pass will be counted tardy.  Arriving late to class will negatively affect the grade for the class.

Equipment

Students will be supervised in organized fitness activities throughout the course of the semester.  In addition to body-weight exercises, students will have the privilege of incorporating stability balls, medicine balls, jump ropes, resistance bands, barbells and barbell plates, lightweight dumbbells, kettlebells, suspension straps, pull-up bars, benches, battle ropes, spin bikes, agility ladders, hurdles, plyometric boxes, punching bags and more into exercise routines.  Equipment is to be used in an appropriate manner at all times.  Safety is of the utmost importance and any misuse of equipment will not be tolerated.  Students who misuse equipment in any manner will be disqualified from the day’s activities and will be given no participation points for that day.  Students who consistently misuse equipment will be removed from the class.  

Procedures

The semester will be broken up into 6-day segments that go as follows:

Day 1:  Learn the exercises that will be performed over the next five days.  Students will also be placed into exercise groups in which they will work during that segment.

Days 2-5:  Workout!  Student groups will each perform exercises targeting different muscle groups.  See example below:

Day 6:  Circuit Training – 10 stations will be set-up around the conditioning room.  Students perform as many repetitions of the designated exercise as possible at each station for the allotted time with minimal rest time between stations.  Students will keep track of how many total reps they complete in order to track progress throughout the semester.

*We will break from the assigned segment each Wednesday in order to participate in a Yoga practice.  This practice will emphasise the importance of self-care and stress reduction, while simultaneously promoting flexibility and proper breathing, leading to improved overall athletic performance.

Grading

Students will have the opportunity to earn 2 participation points each day (10 points for a complete 5-day week).  Points are earned by coming to class on time with the proper materials (including appropriate workout attire) and participating in class activities with adequate effort.    If a student is removed from an activity due to misconduct, he/she forfeits the right to earn any participation points and will receive a “0” for the day.

Deductions in participation points are attributed but not limited to the following in-class behaviors:  Inappropriate use of equipment, horseplay, noncompliance, disruption during instruction, failure to wear proper attire, failure to arrive to class on time, choosing not to participate in the day’s activities, off-task behavior, and inappropriate use of the iPad.

Students will also be required to submit weekly reflections through Google Classroom each Friday.  Each reflection is worth 3 points and must be submitted on time and complete to earn full-credit.  

In addition, students will complete 3 Performance Assessments throughout the course of the semester.  PA’s are worth 30 points each.  Students will demonstrate proficiency in different exercises that are taught in class, while also explaining how to properly execute the exercises and detailing the muscle groups targeted by the movements.  See the rubric below:  

Grading breakdown

                55% - Participation

                28% - Performance Assessments

                17% - Weekly Reflections               

Final grades are then expressed by dividing the total points earned by the total points possible.  

Grading scale

                      90% - 100% =   A                                

                      80% - 89%   =   B

                      70% - 79%   =   C

                      60% - 69%   =   D

                      00% - 59%   =   F

Additional Information

• If a student is unable to participate in physical activity due to injury, he/she must present a note specifying the injury that is signed by a parent/guardian.  If an injury persists over a one-week period, a doctor’s note is mandatory in order to be excused from activity.

• Students will need to bring a charged iPad to class every Friday and on Circuit Training days.

• Students are not permitted to leave the Team Room during class without the permission of Coach Stricker.

Donations 

Maintaining a Fitness Room at the junior high level costs money.  We are excited for the equipment that we have, but we are always looking to add more.  In addition, the high usage rate of our equipment means that pieces often wear out or break.  Donations of any amount are eagerly accepted and appreciated.  If you would like to donate to enhance and maintain the Fitness Room here at Parks, please send a check made out to “Parks Jr. High” and write “Physical Conditioning” on the memo line, or click on this link to visit our “Wish List” page on the classroom website.  

*Donations are voluntary and are not required as part of the course.