How it works: the whole class (or team) steps up-and-down on a bench at a steady beat for the test duration. You'll hear two tones — high for "up," low for "down" — so the cadence stays an actual, realistic stepping pace (not a sprint). Immediately after stopping, take each student's pulse (post-exercise HR). Wait 60 seconds, take it again (recovery HR). The bigger the drop, the better the "comeback."

Screen students the way you normally would before any vigorous activity. Cadence presets are grounded in published step-test protocols (22 steps/min is a validated pediatric rate for ages 8–16); rating bands are a starting point — recalibrate both with your own class's data over a season.