{"id":495367,"date":"2026-01-06T01:33:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T01:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/495367\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T01:33:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T01:33:07","slug":"spurs-and-ut-health-san-antonio-bring-health-lessons-and-joy-to-pe-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/495367\/","title":{"rendered":"Spurs and UT Health San Antonio bring health lessons and joy to PE class"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The San Antonio Spurs, in partnership with\u00a0UT Health San Antonio, the clinical enterprise of The University of Texas at San Antonio, took charge of the physical education classes at Park Village Blended Learning Academy on Dec. 9 as part of a program to give back to the community and talk to kids about how to make healthy choices.<\/p>\n

Park Village is a small, Title I elementary school in the Judson Independent School District. As of the 2023-2024 school year, it had 400 students, with around 70% of its students considered at risk of dropping out of school. The event was an opportunity for the students to participate in a day of fun that helped them feel part of their community.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving this type of event shows that our community cares,\u201d said Kayone Bedford, principal of Park Village. \u201cSometimes our kids will say, nobody thinks about us because we\u2019re such a small school or because of what side of town we\u2019re from. But for an organization as large as the Spurs to come out here, that makes our kids feel proud and like they\u2019re part of something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Spurs PE Takeovers are part of the Spurs Sports Academy\u2019s broader community impact programs that also include community-wide events, clinics and camps offered to kids from six years old to 18.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur objective is to come and spread joy for these kids and have a good time while teaching basketball skills,\u201d said RJ Sanchez, community sports manager for the Spurs Sports Academy. \u201cSince our partnership with UT Health San Antonio, we\u2019ve implemented a learning curriculum to teach the kids about their health and the value of exercise. But the most important thing we bring to every school is the joy factor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Kevin Ozment, MD<\/p>\n

During the event, Kevin Ozment, MD,<\/a> sports medicine physician at UT Health San Antonio and assistant clinical professor in the Department of Rehabilitation in the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT San Antonio, taught the students healthy lifestyle tips, emphasizing the importance of sleep, exercise and nutrition. After the lesson, the Spurs Sports Academy coaches led the students in warm-up drills and basketball skills from ball handling to passing and shooting. Then the Spurs Hype Squad, donning black and silver Santa hats, got the students moving with festive dance moves, offering something for everyone.<\/p>\n

Ozment emphasized that building healthy habits early can have lasting benefits.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see a lot of patients who weren\u2019t as involved in regular exercise or physical activity when they were younger, which can translate to potential health issues when they get older,\u201d Ozment said. \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s important to get involved early and implement healthy habits. A little bit of knowledge about healthy lifestyle choices can go a long way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ozment also noted that while getting involved in sports is important, any kind of movement or activity \u2014 like riding a bike, taking a walk or going for a swim \u2014 can be beneficial for kids.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also important that kids diversify their sports and activities. When your kid is young, they don\u2019t need to just stick to only one sport. By trying out different sports and being open to all kinds of activity, they can activate different muscle groups and down the line be less prone to injuries,\u201d he advised.<\/p>\n

UT Health San Antonio is the official sports medicine partner of the San Antonio Spurs. In 2023, the Spurs announced a multi-year partnership with UT Health San Antonio in a joint effort to pursue innovations in human performance and improve the health of the greater San Antonio community.<\/p>\n

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