Measurement of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity of Middle School Girls, Using TriTrac Activity Monitors During Small-Sided, Game-Based Lessons

The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of time middle school girls spend performing moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during small-sided, game-based lessons and to assess whether the lessons were consistent in providing the recommended amount of MVPA to achieve cardiovascular fitness. Sixty 8th-grade girls participated in 2 small-sided, game-based modules (24 lessons). A TriTrac R3D??activity monitor was used to measure the intensity and frequency of physical activity of each girl during small sided games. Results revealed that, during small-sided, game-based lessons, middle school girls of low, intermediate, and high ability levels performed MVPA for greater than 56% (7.7) of lesson time, which was enough to elicit cardiovascular fitness gains. Furthermore, an intraclass correlation coefficient revealed consistent results between the 2 teaching modules (soccer and floor hockey, R = .84) and across lessons within each module (soccer, R = .87; hockey, R = .85).