Risto Marttinen

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Phone: (703) 993-7109
Email: rmarttin (@gmu.edu)

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My research revolves around implementing sustainable and educational after-school physical education programs in elementary and middle schools. These programs specialize in sports and fitness in under-served communities while reinforcing character development and teaching STEM and common-core literacy skills. Additionally, I conduct research on teaching in physical education and research on the integration of academic subjects and technology into PE. 

After-School Phyiscal Activity Programs in under-served and urban communities 

Integartion of STEM, and Literacy in to Phyiscal Education and After-School Programs

Research on Teaching in Phyiscal Education 

Student Attitude in Physical Education 

Youth Sport Retention (wrestling)

BOOKS (3) 

1.     Marttinen, R., Banville, D., & Veal, M.L (2026). Analysis of teaching in physical education. Routledge

2.     V. Griginov & Marttinen, R. (Eds.) (2024). Routledge Resources Online: Sport Education. Routledge

3.     Marttinen, R., Centeio, E., & Quarmby, T. (Eds.). (2020). Before and after school physical activity programs: Frameworks, critical issues and underserved populations. Routledge Sport and Leisure. https://doi-org.mutex.gmu.edu/10.4324/9781003051909

(Published 69)

1.     Lee, H. Y., Marttinen, R., & Chang, C. W.* (2026). From idea to implementation: Design thinking as the engine for TPACK development in emerging physical education pre-service teachers. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. (ahead of print)

2.     Marttinen, R., & Anttila, E. (2025). Those Finns are on to something: Introducing the Finnish Model for leisure activities. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. (ahead of print) 10.1080/00313831.2025.2587955  

3.     Banville, D., Rodrigues, A.I.C., Marttinen, R. (2026) Elective physical education in the United States- Why do students enroll? Journal of Teaching in Physical Education (ahead of print)  https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2025-0261.

4.     Rodrigues, A.I.C., Banville, D., & Marttinen, R., & Antunes, M. (2025). Creating value with expert martial art instructors in a social learning space: A professional development initiative. Sport Education and Society (ahead of print)  https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2025.2550506

5.     Rodrigues, A.I.C*., Marttinen, R., Banville, D., & Antunes, M. (2025).  A game-centered approach to teaching combative activities for children in a pedagogical context. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. (ahead of print) https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2025.2505884

6.     Nuñez Enriquez, O., Marttinen, R., Rodrigues, A.I.C*. (2025). ‘I need to focus on my family’: The role of family and community effects for Latino boys in an after-school physical activity program. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.(ahead of print)  https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2025-0001.

7.     Centeio, E. E., Mercier, K., Barcelona, J., Erwin, H., Marttinen, R., Foley, J., and Garn, A. (2025). Moving beyond the pandemic: Lessons learned in physical education and how to move forward. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. (ahead of print) https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2024-0103

8.     Phillips, S., Bernstein, E., & Marttinen, R. (2025) Middle school girls in PE: Pushed to compete or pushed aside. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 16(2), 191-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2024.2361727

9.     Flory, S., Marttinen, R., Nieman, C., & Ferrer, V*. (2024). Novice teachers’ challenges of teaching physical education in urban schools. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education. (ahead of print) https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2024.2404935

10.  Albaloul, O*., Marttinen, R., & Killian, C. (2024). Unlocking educational potential: How physical education teachers can thoughtfully benefit from using ChatGPT. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 95(7), 32-41. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2024.2378776

11.  Marttinen, R., Rodrigues, A*., Nunez-Enriquez, O., & Fredrick, R. (2024). Student choice and barriers to physical activity in Latino boys in the REACH after-school program. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2024.2367492

12.  Marttinen R., Rodrigues, AIC*., Nuñez Enriquez, O., Centeio, E., & Banville, D (2024). A 20-year systematic review of before and after-school physical activity research (2000-2020). Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 44(1), 3-10.  https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2023-0062

13.  Rodrigues, A*., Marttinen, R., Banville, D. (2024). Martial arts and combat sports for youth: A 10-year scoping review. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 43(4), 664-674. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2023-0122.

14.  Marttinen, R., Banville, D., Holincheck, N., Ferrer, V.J.*, & Stehle, S*. (2024). Learning to integrate STEM into physical education through asynchronous professional development modules. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 43(4), 654-663 https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2023-0137.

15.  Marttinen, R., & Beighle, A. (2024) Policy and advocacy in physical education: Looking back, looking forward. Kinesiology Review, 13(2), 197-206.   https://doi.org/10.1123/kr.2024-0007

16.  Flory, S., Marttinen, R., Nieman, C., & Ferrer, V*. (2024). Successful practices of novice urban physical education teachers. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 43(3), 510-516  https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2023-0138

17.  Gonzalez-Rivas, R.A., Nuñez Enriquez, O., Marttinen, R., Baena Extremera, A., Zueck Enríquez, M.C., & Gastelum Cuadras, G. (2024). Including an adventure education training program in physical education teacher education programs. Journal of Experiential Education, 47(3), 358-379. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259231200583

18.  Rodrigues, A. I. C*., Marttinen, R., & Banville, D. (2024). Teaching in a new world: A novice teacher educator’s pursuit for change. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 43(2), 352-361. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2022-0290

19.  Banville, D., Marttinen, R., Daum, D & Johnston. (2024) Struggles and successes of pre-service teachers when implementing a student-centered curriculum in an after-school program. Action in Teacher Education 46(1), 3-20, DOI: 10.1080/01626620.2023.2260344

20.  Johnston, K., & Marttinen, R. (2023). Examining evolutions of literacy integration with physical education and health in an after-school program. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 66, 355-366. DOI: 10.1002/jaal.1297

21.  Marttinen, R., Mercier, K., Park, J. Y., Simonton, K., Centeio, E., Richards, K.A.R., & Wilson, K.S. (2023). A longitudinal look at student attitude, perceived competence, and fitness test performance of elementary students. International Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2(3), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.18122/ijpah.3.2.1.boisestate

22.  Suh, J., Maxwell, G., Roscioli, K., Tate, H., Seshaiyer, P., & Marttinen, R. (2023). Young mathematicians take action through sport clinics. Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching Pre-K-12. 116(11), 845-855 https://doi.org/10.5951/MTLT.2023.0105

23.  Banville, D., Marttinen, R., & Rodrigues, A*. (2023). The secondary school curriculum: Teacher and students’ perspectives. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 43, 97-105. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2021-0181.

24.  Killian, C., Marttinen, R., Howley, D., Sargent, J., & Jones, E., (2023) ‘Knock, knock... who’s there?’ ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence-powered large language models: Reflections on potential impacts within health and physical education teacher education. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. 42(3), 385-389. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2023-0058

25.  Marttinen, R., Meza, B*., Gleaves, J., Patterson, D., Beitzel, M*., & Barros, J. (2022). High impact practices in domestic and study abroad service learning kinesiology and physical education courses. International Journal of Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement 10(1), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.37333/001c.66275

26.  Dauenhauer, B., Kulinna, P., Marttinen, R., & Babkes Stellino, M. (2022) Before- and after-school physical activity: Programs and best practices. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 93(5), 20-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2022.2053474

• Health and Physical Education
• School of Education
• College of Education and Human Development
• School of Kinesiology

• Elementary School Instruction in Physical Education (PHED - 403)
• Student Teaching in Physical Education (PHED - 415)
• Social and Cultural Issues in Physical Education (PHED - 340)

• Independent Study for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (EDUC 897)
• Advanced Internship in Education (EDUC 994)
• Program Development and Resources in Health Education (HEAL 516)
• Field and Invasion Games (PHED 275)
• Health and Physical Activity for Classroom Teachers (PHED 330)
• Middle and High School Instruction in Physical Education (PHED 404)
• Research Reading Seminar in Physical Education (PHED 660)
• Analysis of Teaching in Physical Education (PHED 670)