USA Hockey, working in collaboration with the Aspen Institute, the Cheyenne Mountain School District and fellow sport NGBs, has created an after-school sport-sampling program designed to provide low-cost, high-benefit physical education for school children.

The program’s purpose is to enhance children’s physical literacy, combat early single-sport specialization and offset the reduction in physical education that has occurred in many elementary and middle schools throughout the United States.

USA Hockey’s Ken Martel was part of a committee that outlined the program May 17 at the 2016 Aspen Institute Project Play Summit in Washington, D.C.

The program launched in June at Gold Camp Elementary School in Colorado Springs with a rotation of sessions led by USA Hockey, US Lacrosse, USA Volleyball, USA Football and the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Martel, who serves as technical director for USA Hockey’s American Development Model, is working with NGBs throughout the U.S. to provide coaching, leadership and equipment for the program and its various sports, in partnership with schools’ physical education instructors. The program uses existing school facilities, making it both convenient and cost-efficient.

Here's a one-minute video glimpse into a USA Hockey-led sport-sampling session: