Participation, or lack thereof, has been a longstanding issue in physical education classes. Students that are not on an interscholastic team or have a contract are required to take physical education as a minor course. They are obligated to show up to class, but how much they take part in the class is up to each student and their willingness to get involved.

“With the new choices, people are beginning to feel more comfortable and we’re gaining participation,” Physical Education Department Chair Matt Russo said. “Their classes are going in the direction we had hoped.” As he spoke, Russo had to raise his voice over the thunderous commotion of the sixth graders who, while playing routine games of volleyball, played with an intensity that many teachers say is rarely matching in the Upper Division classes. There is a clear decline in participation and motivation to participate from middle school to high school, a trend that is affected by different factors in each class. Generally though, UD students have much more to worry about and gym classes fall pretty low on the list, he said.

Early classes, crowded classes, gender influences, or a general disinterest are all factors that seem to plague the P.E. programs.