A team-based sport unit may have raised boys' enjoyment and effort in class

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   51 boys, about 14 years old, from one state high school in the north of England. 46 were White and 5 were Asian. The families had low to middle incomes.

2. 02

   What they did

   Both classes had eight weekly lessons. One class did a team-based unit, with the same team all along and roles such as coach and referee. The unit ended with a competition, and the other class had usual teacher-led lessons.

3. 03

   What happened

   Compared with the usual class, enjoyment and effort rose more in the team-based class. Feeling competent did not differ between the classes. Enjoyment and effort went up in the team-based class, but stayed about the same in the usual class.

What the study found

1. Helped

   Boys in the team-based unit enjoyed PE more than boys in the usual lessons.

   Small trial, groups not picked at random of 51 teenage boys in one English high school · vs boys in the usual lessons · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

2. Helped

   Boys in the team-based unit put more effort into PE than boys in the usual lessons.

   Small trial, groups not picked at random of 51 teenage boys in one English high school · vs boys in the usual lessons · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

3. No difference

   Boys in the team-based unit did not feel more competent than boys in the usual lessons.

   Small trial, groups not picked at random of 51 teenage boys in one English high school · vs boys in the usual lessons · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

Source