HOPSports
HOPSports.com
Yet another way to get kids active. Visit the Web site for videos, photos, and details. But heed their warning, PRODUCT MAY CAUSE EXCESSIVE FUN!
- Carol Goodrow
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 HOPSports Partners with Catawba County Schools in Inaugural County-Wide Adoption to Improve Student's Health and Wellness
Carol M. While Physical Education Grant allows school system to implement high tech, high energy HOPSports system in rural North Carolina to fight childhood obesity
Maiden, N.C. (February 5, 2009) - HOPSports, creator of a revolutionary fitness program, and Catawba County Schools are on a mission to improve student's health and wellness through a recent grant awarded by the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP). The HOPSports Training System infuses DVR technology, celebrities and fun into physical education and fitness activities that encourage healthy living. Kicking off the program today at Maiden High School, Catawba County will become the first school district in the nation to adopt the fitness program county-wide in 27 schools- impacting about 17,500 students in rural western North Carolina.
"North Carolina children rank 5th in the nation in overweight and obesity-and we see it first hand in our schools," said Mike Hefner, grant manager for Catawba County Schools. "By implementing heart-healthy, consistent and entertaining physical activity using a unique and innovative approach we are investing in the health of our youth and promoting lifetime fitness."
Like many communities in the South, Catawba County has a high percentage of students with poor nutritional behaviors, low physical activity and socioeconomic concerns. In a recent effort to evaluate the health of its students, Catawba County school nurses screened all seventh graders to measure their Body Mass Index (BMI). They found that an alarming 37 percent of the seventh graders were overweight. Realizing the tremendous threat to the youth, the school district partnered with HOPSports to help reduce their student's risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, asthma and other health issues. Moving forward, BMI and overall activity will be measured routinely to evaluate the success of the program.
 The HOPSports Training System incorporates video fitness lessons with various professional league mascots and players from the NFL, NBA, WNBA and MLB. Additionally, the Ringling Bros., the Harlem Globetrotters, the Stuntmens Association and choreographers from the hit FOX show "So You Think You Can Dance?" are a few examples of the content partners of the system. The fitness lessons and activities are delivered through a multi-screen format to integrate nutrition, fun facts, anatomy instruction and educational messaging in a fun and exciting experience.
"It's amazing to see the transformation that HOPSports is making in physician education," Cindy Sisson Hensley, president of HOPSports. "Our program is not designed to replace physical education teachers; instead it provides them with an interactive teaching tool to help get students involved and enthusiastic about exercising regardless of their current level of fitness."
As part of today's kickoff event, two notable Hollywood stuntmen, Loren Janes and Tom Morga, along with 150 students from Sweetwater Elementary School, Jacobs Fork Middle School and Maiden High School demonstrated the recently adopted HOPSports Training System. Janes and Morga flew from Hollywood for the event to demonstrate their support for health and fitness programs that can be both fun and physically rewarding.
The Carol M. White PEP provides funds to local educational agencies and community-based organizations to initiate, expand and improve physical education programs for students. Allowing the school system to implement the high tech, high energy HOPSports curriculum, the grant will also help enhance the physical, mental, social and emotional development of students. From instruction in healthy eating habits and good nutrition, to developing positive social and cooperative skills through physical activity participation, HOPSports will help students make progress toward improving their health for life.
About HOPSports
HOPSports is a multi-media instructional tool for physical education teachers and fitness instructors, delivered through DVR technology. The multi-screen format provides fitness lesson plans that meet state and national standards while integrating nutrition, fun facts, anatomy instruction and educational messaging in a fun and exciting environment. HOPSports delivery mechanism is simple to use and is a great tool for K-12 physical educators and fitness instructors to teach along with HOPSports' host of exciting trainers. HOPSports is currently installed in schools and youth community sites in 31 U.S. states. For more information, visit www.hopsports.com.
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