Clippard students keep fit with Tiger Power program

Whether it's jumping rope, dancing or balancing a pink foam noodle in one hand, 63 Clippard Elementary School students are staying fit.

The group is part of Tiger Power, a program created by physical education teacher Darren Neels that meets Wednesdays in the Clippard gym.

"We've had different after-school clubs in the past at Clippard," Neels said. "This was sort of combining everything I like to do. I like combining sports and games."

Clippard still has recess, but as students get older, they don't get as much recess time. "So this is a good outlet for them," Neels said.

In addition, Neels said, "there are stacks and stacks and stacks of studies" that show physical activity correlates with good academics.

Clippard Elementary student Leliyan Hughes stretches Wednesday during the Tiger Power fitness class in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

In Tiger Power, third- and fourth-grade students are divided into orange, black and white teams. The teams, which stay in place all year, earn points "to make it competitive," Neels said. Points are earned weekly for performance, attendance and effort, Neels said.

"For example, today when we do a one-mile run, we will award points to the teams of the top three finishers," he said in an email Wednesday. "At the end of the year, we will have a final championship competition where our final points will be awarded and we'll announce the overall winners during the championship celebration party with healthy snacks, drinks, music, and dancing.

"We'll also hand out awards at the final party for the winning team, as well as individual awards like hardest worker, most spirit, fastest boy/girl, strongest boy/girl, etc."

During Tiger Power, youngsters are put through their paces in aerobics, circuit training, yoga, dance, long-distance running, sprint training and plyometrics -- exercises involving jumping and hopping that are meant to build strength, balance and coordination.

"We do everything that I feel confident teaching," Neels said.

With circuit training, students do pullups, basketball toss and "battle ropes," or tug-of-war ropes that can be used for many exercises. The ropes are anchored to volleyball standards in the gym for makeshift battle ropes, Neels said in an email.

"They're a great exercise because they work so many muscles and require explosive movement," Neels said in the email. "It's a great way to build power, explosion and strength, as well as increase endurance and stamina. But my favorite thing about the battle ropes is that they are fun, and the children love it."   

For the basketball toss, basketballs are used as lighter medicine balls. One student lays on a mat doing crunches or sit-ups while another tosses them a basketball to them as they sit up, Neels said.

" ... This exercise breaks the monotony of old-school sit-ups and crunches. Put a ball in a child's hand and nearly any exercise becomes more fun," Neels said. "… It's great for building some core strength, which I believe is very important for children as their bodies develop." 

Clippard students Libby Ogburn, Anna Lacy, Nate Marganthaler, Ethan McMillan and Alexis Schmidt all enjoy Tiger Power because it's a chance to get themselves moving.

"It's really fun to get active. I know sometimes we're going to run some miles outside," Marganthaler said.

"And we're keeping fit instead of sitting home and watching TV and eating chips," McMillan said. "We're getting active."

Two of their favorite activities are the basketball toss and battle ropes. Lacy likes the pullups.

"I like hanging from it," she said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

2880 Hopper Road, Cape Girardeau, Mo.