mustangfit sport education season

The rationale for this unit comes from multiple physical education teachers sharing one gym, other small spaces, and a long winter in Wisconsin.  We are always looking for different approaches to teaching in alternate locations through the winter months.  MustangFit (a variation of CrossFit) was a great choice of an alternative unit, because it works great in a small space, and the sport education season brings on a fun team competition.  Here are some other great thoughts about MustangFit.

This unit give us the ability to do real work movements of any type (cardio, strength, power, etc) for any specified amount of time (short, middle, or long durations).  This definition of fitness encompasses all types of fitness: cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. Athletes achieve this fitness through high intensity workouts that combine elements of cardiovascular conditioning, body-weight skills, and weightlifting. These workouts very constantly, so there is little repetition of specific workouts.  Here is a quick look into what MustangFit looks like at Merton Intermediate School.

Why is Mustangfit a good fit for physed?

• High Intensity functional fitness.
• The workouts are short (typically 5-20 minutes) but challenging.
• MustangFit workouts can make fitness attainable within the typical PE course.
• CrossFit is an open-source program, so every resource a teacher could ever need is provided for free on www.crossfit.com
• Equipment and space needs are simple and you can make it work with what you already have available and even works great in small spaces.
• You can easily modify if you have little to no equipment by using bodyweight exercises.

mustangfit as a sport education season...How will that work?

Pre-Season - Course Orientation, Fitness Pre-Assessment, and making of teams.
In-Season - Practicing as teams and working out as individuals on different skills (air squats, shoulder press, medicine ball clean, etc) and participating in a WOD (workout of the day).
Post-Season - One day or multiple days of of team competitions and or one day or multiple days of an individual competition
Teams - 4-6 students of various fitness levels with equitability across the teams.  A fitness assessment (health related and skill related) should be held before the unit to determine baseline fitness levels.
Scoring - Point awards must be balanced so the competitive aspect of the WOD is maintained, while providing opportunities for all students and teams regardless of skill and fitness levels. Points for competition place, WOD completion, performing team roles, sportsmanship.  With this setup, competition matters, but so does cooperation, fun, and fitness for all.
Culminating Event - Celebratory event such as a final tournament, or competition to crown a champion for teams or individuals. This could be a CrossFit Games Competition or in an Adventure Race Format. It could also be offered for parents and students. News stories, video coverage, and even nutritious food / snacks could be integrated into the event.

Mustangfit daily plans

Role Check - Students check what their role of the day is.  You can have coach, equipment manager, trainer, official, and record keeper.

Warm-Up - Dynamic warm-up exercises that have been taught through teacher-led instruction at the beginning of the season or have your teams create their own warm up.

Teacher-Led Instruction - Detailed instruction and guided practice on the fundamental skills (air squat, front squat, overhead squat, shoulder press, push press, push jerk, the deadlift, and the medicine ball clean).

Team Practice - Work on the skill of the day (task cards may help with this portion of the day)

Workout of the Day - Raleigh CrossFit Archives, More Archives
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Cool-Down

Mustangfit workouts of the day 

Culminating event

Someday I would love to host a massive culminating event where class champions and team champions would compete on a Saturday morning for the MustangFit Games.  It would be amazing to get parents to be a part of this culminating event as well, either as spectators or competitors as well.  I haven't done this yet, but one of these years I sure will!  Let me know your thoughts on this season!