François Trudeau|Roy J. Shephard
Physical education, school physical activity, school sports and academic performance
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières|University of Toronto
purpose paper review relationships academic performance determinants participation schoolbased physical activities including physical education pe free school physical activity pa school sports linkages academic achievement involvement pe school pa sport programmes examined based systematic review currently available literature including comprehensive search medline 1966 2007 psychinfo 1974 2007 scholargooglecom eric databases quasiexperimental data indicate allocating additional hour per day curricular time pa programmes affect academic performance primary school students negatively even though time allocated subjects usually shows corresponding reduction additional curricular emphasis pe may result small absolute gains grade point average gpa findings strongly suggest relative increase performance per unit academic teaching time overwhelmingly majority programmes demonstrated improvement measures physical fitness pf crosssectional observations show positive association academic performance pa pf seem show association pa positive influences concentration memory classroom behaviour data quasiexperimental studies find support mechanistic experiments cognitive function pointing positive relationship pa intellectual performance given competent providers pa added school curriculum taking time subjects without risk hindering student academic achievement hand adding time academic curricular subjects taking time physical education programmes enhance grades subjects may detrimental health