ABSTRACT
The aims of this chapter are to show the specific role of physical activities, education, and sports within the American school system and the opportunities and issues incurred in such a framework. We will explore the development of physical education (PE) as a school subject, the evolution of extracurricular sports and games, and the interrelationships between sport and PE which are both intertwined with particular cultural values and embedded within the social context of schools, and society at large. A main focus will be the (in)significance of PE in the American society, in spite of its fascination with and its commitment to sports. Another emphasis will be laid on the importance and meanings of extracurricular sports as well as on the reasons for the integration of sport competitions in the schools.
