Perception of Exertion, involvement and physical fitness in a HIIT Program in Physical Education. Sport Education Model VS Traditional Approach

This study aimed to analyze students and teachers' perceptions of intensity, involvement, and physical fitness in a HIIT playful program. Primary (n=48) and Secondary (n=208) Education students and teachers (n=4) participated in this study. There were two different approaches: Sport Education Model (SE) (n=106) and traditional approach (n=150). Students' perception was collected by the Pictorial Perceived exertion scale, the International Fitness Scale (IFIS), and focus groups. Teachers' perception was measured by self-reports. According to the results obtained, regarding the training method, teachers and students perceived that HIIT requires a higher level of intensity and involvement when working fitness in Physical Education (PE), especially in those students less engaged to PE. When comparing both methodologies, SEM is perceived by students as the model which requires higher intensity, while teachers highlight its potential to increase students' involvement. Students perceived that the program improved their fitness, especially when directly asked. The results show HIIT may provide advantages for working on physical fitness in PE, especially when implemented through SEM.