Students in Coach Mac’s Physical Education classes at UEHS got to try something new this quarter: sport stacking (Speed Stacks). It’s the first time the activity has been taught at the high school level, and the idea came from students who remembered doing it in elementary PE and suggested bringing it to the high school.
Sport stacking challenges students to stack and unstack specially designed cups in set patterns 
as quickly as possible. What looks simple at first quickly turns into a fast-paced challenge that builds focus, coordination, and hand speed. Since the unit started, students have been eager to compete with friends and beat their personal best times.
The activity first gained attention in the 1990s when Colorado PE teacher Bob Fox introduced it to his classes and later founded Speed Stacks, Inc. Today, 
more than 55,000 schools around the world use sport stacking in their PE programs. Research has shown it can improve hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and the ability to use both sides of the body and brain together.
The biggest takeaway in the UEHS gym is simple: students love it. It’s also a great reminder that sometimes the best new ideas start with a student suggestion.
