To encourage sustained physical activity among our students, the Department of Fitness & Health Education developed the C.H.A.M.P.S. Middle School Sports & Fitness League as an outgrowth of our physical education curriculum. In approximately 1,000 programs in 200 middle schools, the C.H.A.M.P.S. programs offer additional opportunities for students, regardless of athletic ability, to engage in a wide variety of physical activities, and to encourage these students to find activities that they enjoy and can participate in for life.

The program promotes health-related fitness and sports skills that can be maintained long after school days are over. Additional goals include improving student self esteem, increasing students’ sense of school-connectedness (a protective factor for discouraging health-risk behaviors), and affording further opportunities for parental involvement. 

Cycling is a program C.H.A.M.P.S. is looking to future develop, and with the support of Bike New York we are looking to improve cycling safety and cultivate an interest in cycling.  Each program will be given the opportunity for teachers to attend coaching trainings, loaner equipment through Bike New York, organized fun rides through some of our city and state parks and inclusion of our student/athletes in city-wide cycling events.  The program will embrace the basic skills with a focus on fun and fitness, and ultimately give our student/athletes the opportunity to participate in a truly individual C.H.A.M.P.S. lifetime activity.