Many school districts have removed recess and gym class as required courses.  Studies suggest exercise improves brain function in kids. A recent study1 reported in Psychology of Sport and Exercise studied the immediate effects of exercise on the brain in 7- and 10-year old boys.  Boys in each age group were assigned to either a no exercise (control) or exercise group.  Two tests which measured reaction time and decision making ability were given to both groups.  All boys performed a practice session to become familiar with the tests before the first official testing session.  Then both groups were tested before and after one of two conditions.  One group rode the bicycle at a heart rate of 130 beats/minute while watching a TV show. The other group sat on a bike and watched the same TV show for 30 minutes (control group).  Both groups scored the same when tested before 30 minutes of exercise or sitting on the bike.  However, reaction time and decision making skill improved in both the 7 and 10-year olds after exercise.  There were no changes in brain function in the group that sat on the bike for 30 minutes. 

The better test scores after exercise suggest that exercise has an immediate positive effect on the brain.  Exercise breaks during the day and after school seem to be a “brain booster”.  This supports the results of two studies released this year.  They studied 2.4 million public school students in Texas (March 9 press release) and 1.1 million students within the New York City Department of Education.  Studies showed higher fitness levels were related to higher test scores.  Higher fitness levels are also related to better school attendance and fewer negative school incidents. 

The Cooper Institute and NFL Charities have partnered to improve health and prevent obesity in children.  If your school would like to be involved in the NFL PLAY 60 FITNESSGRAM project* please call or email below) to be placed on a waiting list.

Call: 1-800-635-7050
 E-Mail: NFLPLAY60FG@cooperinst.org
*This is not a guarantee of acceptance into the project
*If selected you will be contacted by a participating NFL team.


1 Ellemberg, D and St-Louis-Deschenes, M. The effect of acute physical exercise on cognitive function during development. Psychology of Sport and Exercise (2009), doi: 10.1016/psychsport.2009.09.006