DDR helps high school football team become “story of the year” in Georgia

The Butler HS football team in Augusta, GA has turned the beat around – from 41 straight losses to a 5-0 record – thanks to a benevolent school nurse and DDR!  According to an article/video from WJBF-TV, the nurse shared her DDR game (which she won in a contest) with the hapless team “as a joke”, but no one’s laughing now:

Because of Dance Dance Revolution, the Bulldogs say they have better reaction time, eye-hand coordination and footwork on the field.

“A lot of the pros use dancing as a way to improve their footwork. This is a low-cost way to improve our footwork here,” said Butler assistant coach, Ernest Tolbert.

Butler’s team and fans haven’t seen a squad with this much team chemistry in years.

“It just takes our mind off everything and helps us relax a little bit,” said Butler offensive lineman, Slyvester Hagins. “But, also, it helps us take care of business, too.”

But, really… How much has a video game carried the Bulldogs to their success this season?

“Anything that will have our guys play hard and have a certain amount of togetherness, I want to say 100% because our team is together on a lot of little things, and this is one of them,” said Coach Tolbert.

Now there’s a smart coach who knows that meeting your goals – whether you goal is to make more goals, lose weight or be healthy – depends not just on going through the motions, but togetherness and support.

(In case you’re wondering, it looks like they’re playing DDR Supernova 2, one of the better DDR games for PS2.)

NFL-themed EA Sports Active game has been announced

A rumor from last December has come to fruition:  EA Sports has announced an addition to its Active exergaming series, EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp.  According to the announcement on EA’s site:

EA SPORTS Active NFL Training Camp includes over 70 drills and challenges designed to improve strength, power and conditioning, as well as reaction skills, agility and first step quickness, which are key areas NFL players focus on. Users can choose their favorite team, step into a stadium and train alongside their favorite players.

The EA SPORTS Active NFL Training Camp virtual coach will encourage users through the drills and challenges for additional motivation, and to take it to the next level, users can participate in the NFL Combine 60 Day Challenge.  To enhance the competitive experience, users can get their game on in multi-player mode where they can go head-to-head in NFL training camp drills, including the QB Window Challenge and Field Goal Challenge, or with an online connected console, users can compare personal stats with friends and challenge them to beat their best results. In addition, as part of the NFL’s commitment to youth health and fitness, kids and families can choose special NFL Play 60 drills and exercises specially designed for them.

The announcement said that the Wii game, which will use the heart rate monitor included with EAS Active 2,  is coming November 16.  No word on whether you can also use that nifty Wii football to practice your passing, or whether there will be versions for PS3 or Kinect.  (If there’s a Kinect game, you’ll be able to use a real football – just make sure it never leaves your hand!)

A new football exergame may get guys off the couch

A few days ago, I noticed a Wii Football on Amazon, set to release later next month.  It’s from the same company that produced the calorie-counting Wii tennis racket, and I thought it was just another cute item to add on to Madden games.  But it turns out that the pigskin Wiimote skin may be the shape of things to come –  a rumor has it that EA Sports is planning a “guy’s” installment in their popular Active exergame line, and it’s going to be based on football-styled training, including instruction on how to make perfect passes.  Sounds like a good way to burn off those Super Bowl nachos and beer.  Maybe an old Slam Man can be suited up in a jersey and repurposed as a tackling dummy.