Strategies: A Journal for Physical and Sport Educators
Published 6 times a year, Strategies is SHAPE America’s popular bimonthly journal which delivers practical ideas, how-to information, and tips for sport and physical educators.
May-June 2026 (Volume 39, Issue 3)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Free Access Article
An Assessment Plan for the Affective Standards: Leading with Adventure-Based Learning
– Amanda McMurray and Jim Ressler
Adventure-based learning (ABL) emphasizes learner-focused immersion through hands-on experiences and promotes the development of personal and social skills. This model aligns seamlessly with the revised National Standards and makes it an ideal approach to enhance learning in the affective domain. This article offers practical assessment tools that help educators effectively evaluate affective skills within ABL contexts.
Articles
Applying the Sport Education Model to Extra-curricular Secondary Esports Programs
– Christina Villalon, Obidiah Atkinson, Derek Walton, and Sharon Bowers
Organized competitive video gaming, or esports, has has become commonplace in educational settings as an extra-curricular activity. This article presents an esports curriculum using the Sport Education model utilizing the game Rocket League to provide a starting point to create or enhance a secondary esports program aligned with International Society for Technology in Education Standards and the SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards.
The Effect of Player-Coach Relationships on Athlete Participation and Retention
– Mark Rerick
As competition continues to grow in both schools and private sports clubs, coaches and athletic directors need a greater understanding of the factors that drive athletes to participate. This article summarizes the purpose conflicts between school-based and private teams and reports participation and retention findings for one school district. Special attention is given to the relationship between coaches and athletes, and practical suggestions are provided for increasing retention rates.
Understanding Sexuality in Physical Education: Creating Safe and Inclusive Classrooms
– Nicola Böhlke, Daniel Rode, Benjamin Zander
Sexuality plays a significant but often overlooked role in physical education (PE), where the focus on students’ bodies creates a unique setting for its expression and negotiation. This article provides a definition of the multifaceted nature of sexuality, characterizes the unique conditions of the PE classroom, reviews key research on sexuality in PE, and provides practical recommendations for physical educators.
Utilizing a COMPASS to Navigate Coach-Athlete Responsibilities
– Jacqueline McDowell and DeAnne Davis Brooks
The coach-athlete relationship plays a pivotal role in an athlete’s motivation, performance, and overall well-being. This article is for coaches and sport administrators who want to better understand how to connect with athletes in ways that foster trust, motivation, and long-term success. Using two key frameworks—Jowett’s 4 Cs model and the COMPASS model—this article explores practical strategies for strengthening coach-athlete relationships.
Splash, Spin, Sprint: Implementation of Triathlon in Middle School Physical Education
– Stuart Evans
The multisport of triathlon continues to attract interest among students. A modified triathlon program can be delivered in school-based settings to provide middle school students with an opportunity to experience the three sequential sporting modalities of triathlon—swimming, cycling, and running. This article presents practical activities and pedagogical suggestions for developing a four-week modified triathlon program in a middle school setting.
Departments
COACH’S CORNER
Teaching Swimmers How to Perform a Flip Turn
– Marcus Lanio, Yiwei Min, and Jiling Liu
This article provides physical educators and swim coaches with structured, step-by-step instructions that can guide swimmers in building confidence to master the flip turn technique.
EDUCATOR’S CORNER
Kicking Off Global Learning in PE: Teaching History and Culture through the World Cup
– Mijoo Kim
This article presents an integrative World Cup unit in physical education that promotes holistic learning by combining physical skills with cultural knowledge and encourages teamwork, inclusion, and diverse contributions.
EDUCATOR’S CORNER
Enhancing Jump Rope Instruction in Physical Education
– David A. Robertson
Considering the many physical and cognitive benefits of jumping rope, this article offers resources and activity ideas for physical educators to incorporate jumping rope into their lessons and after-school programs.
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Position Statements for Advocacy: Bringing the SHAPE America Code of Ethics to Life
– Lisa Paulson and Jason Menoutis
The SHAPE America Code of Ethics serves as a shared foundation for educators committed to doing what is right for students. Understanding and applying the Code is essential for advancing and advocating our field.
THEORY INTO PRACTICE
Supporting Healthy Behaviors in Children from Under-Resourced Communities: A Model from the MANE Program
– Kara C. Hamilton, Melissa C. Powell, Shewanee Howard-Baptiste, Zachary S. Farley, Kori Hahn Maxon, E’tienne F. Easley, Melissa J. Graham, and Enjelica C. Reid
This article summarizes the research behind MANE (Methodical Approach to Activity and Nutrition Education), an 8-week pilot after-school program, and offers practical, evidence-informed strategies for implementing similar programs in other schools.
