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You’ve almost certainly got a few sports fans in your science class, and probably a few who play on one team or another for your school. Sport Science from Fox Sports Net might be a good way to teach some scientific concepts to them in a manner they can easily relate to. Athletes like Jerry Rice, boxer Chris Byrd, hockey legend Luc Robitaille and, one of my favorites, running back Maurice Jones-Drew serve as test subjects as the show demonstrates the science behind dunks, slap shots, and speed.

However, don’t assume only the athletes in your class would get a kick out of Sport Science. I myself am an avid sports fan, despite having no athletic ability of my own (similarly, I enjoy cartoons despite not being able to draw, and being a lousy cook has never discouraged me from eating). While you can’t count on everyone in your class wanting to know whether a collision between two sumo wrestlers packs more force than a punch, or whether Barry Zito’s curve ball defies physics (take one look at his ERA and you’ll know it doesn’t), Sport Science should appeal to enough kids to be useful.

The FSN site doesn’t have videos of the show, but they’re widely available on YouTube (if YouTube is banned at your school, see our entry on How to cope when your school blocks YouTube). Seeing science in action is almost always fun, and Sport Science gives you that, plus a little competition, too. -BILL FERRIS

Sport Science