March 2026

March Forward

Improving youth fitness through assessment, science and research.

World Tennis Day:

The Healthiest Sport for a Lifetime of Play

March 2nd marks World Tennis Day, a perfect moment to celebrate a sport that not only builds athletes, but also healthy humans. Tennis is often called the world’s healthiest sport, and for good reason. Research shows regular play lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression (Spring et al., 2020). It is interval training disguised as play, with students sprinting, strategizing, socializing, and recovering all at once.

For physical educators, tennis checks every box: lifetime activity, inclusive, adaptable, and scalable. It is a sport students can carry beyond graduation into college rec leagues, community courts, and family doubles nights. When movement feels joyful and social rather than punitive, students are more likely to connect fitness with lifelong wellbeing.

March is also National Women’s Month where we honor the women whose strength, skill, and leadership have shaped sports. This month, we celebrate Billie Jean King, a fearless pioneer whose decades of dominance and 39 Grand Slam titles did more than define women’s tennis; she transformed the sport itself. As founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and a relentless advocate for equal prize money and opportunity, King proved that sport can drive equity and social change. Her legacy reminds students that athletics builds strong bodies and strong voices.

Two cost-effective ways to bring tennis to your school:

1. Start small with modified equipment. Foam balls, portable nets, and taped court lines make any gym tennis-ready. Short courts lead to more rallies and more success.

2. Partner locally. Explore tennis grants and school resources through the United States Tennis Association (USTA) in your geographical area.

This World Tennis Day, remember that sometimes the healthiest investment in youth fitness starts with a racket, a ball, and the belief that play matters.

March 8th is International Women's Day

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women across the globe. For many women, the foundation for confidence, perseverance, and teamwork starts in youth sports. Strong girls often become strong women, and participation in athletics plays a powerful role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

Girls who participate in sports develop skills that extend far beyond the playing field. According to studies from the Women’s Sports Foundation, girls involved in sports demonstrate higher levels of confidence, improved communication skills, and greater resilience when faced with challenges. These experiences help young athletes learn how to set goals, handle setbacks, and work collaboratively with others.

The long-term impact is significant. A report by Ernst & Young and ESPN-W found that 94 percent of women in executive leadership positions played sports at some point in their lives. Participation in youth sports helps girls build discipline, confidence, and decision-making skills that prepare them to lead in classrooms, communities, and careers.

When we encourage girls to stay active and engaged in sports, we are doing more than promoting physical health; we are helping to cultivate the next generation of leaders. Investing in strong girls today helps shape strong women who will lead tomorrow.

Beyond the Gym: The PE Teacher's Playbook

Sleep is a Strategy: Recovery for the Professional PE Teacher

If you have ever fallen asleep mid-scroll while searching for new warm-up ideas, your body has already voted for rest. Sleep is not a reward for getting through the week. It is a professional strategy. Protect your recovery the way you protect instructional time, and you will show up steady, energized, and ready to lead.

All day long, your nervous system is on. You are scanning for safety concerns, responding to behavior in real time, projecting your voice, and transitioning 30 or more students from organized chaos to controlled movement in under a minute. That constant alertness activates your stress response. In small doses it helps. Without intentional recovery, your system never fully powers down.

Quality sleep is where regulation happens. Heart rate and breathing settle. Stress hormones rebalance. Your brain processes the rapid decisions you made all day. When your system is regulated, patience lasts longer. Directions come out calmer. Small disruptions do not feel personal during fourth period on a rainy indoor day. You cannot model composure if your system never resets.

Weekend Recovery That Works

Weekends do not need dramatic sleep marathons. Big schedule swings can make Mondays harder. Think rhythm and ritual.

1. Keep a consistent sleep window. Aim to go to bed and wake up within an hour of your weekday schedule. Consistency supports deeper recovery.

2. Create a simple recovery ritual. Choose one repeatable cue such as a long walk, light stretching, reading for 15 minutes, or a short Sunday wind-down routine.

Your ritual doesn’t have to be elaborate, just repeatable, so you can stay consistent and restful!

Brisk Walking for Exercise

March 30th is Walk in the Park Day, the perfect reminder to get outside and move with purpose. Taking time for a brisk walk in your favorite park is one of the simplest ways to support both your mental and physical well-being.

Brisk walking is packed with benefits, from boosting your mood and reducing stress to improving cardiovascular health and supporting a healthy digestive system. Research has shown that adding a 30-minute brisk walk into your daily routine can reduce your risk for serious illnesses, including heart disease and type II diabetes. It has also been shown to be an effective way to burn calories, strengthen your legs, and support a strong immune system.

This March 30th, lace up your sneakers, pick up the pace, and enjoy all the benefits of brisk walking. Taking care of your health really can be a walk in the park.