SHAPE 2026 in Kansas City will again make the exhibit hall the best place to find cutting-edge tools for physical education, health, and SEL. This guide highlights 25 companies to watch—organized into five key categories—plus practical ways teachers can use them.
Note: Company names below are examples of the most common solution types PE and health teachers seek (assessment, curriculum, equipment, inclusion, SEL). Swap in the specific exhibitors you want to feature from the 2026 directory.
Digital Assessment & Data Platforms: 5 Companies to Watch
These companies are transforming how teachers collect, analyze, and communicate student fitness and skill data.
Top 5 companies to watch:
- PhysednHealth – Comprehensive fitness, skills, and SEL assessment for K–12; easy progress dashboards for teachers and administrators.
- PLT4M – Strength, conditioning, and fitness tracking platform with data-rich reports for secondary PE.
- Heart Zones – Heart-rate and activity monitoring system for standards-based, evidence-driven PE programs.
- IHT Spirit – Wearable-based PE assessment platform with real-time data and parent communication tools.
- WellCheq] – Daily student check-in tool to track wellness trends and inform interventions in PE and health.
How PE and health teachers can use them:
- Replace paper rubrics with mobile-friendly assessment workflows that capture skills, fitness scores, and SEL behaviors in real time.
- Generate class, student, and subgroup reports to share during IEP meetings, parent conferences, and administrator walk-throughs.
- Use data to group students for differentiated practice, goal setting, and progress monitoring throughout the semester.
Standards-Based Curriculum & Instructional Content: 5 Companies to Watch
These curriculum partners help teachers align PE and health programs to SHAPE America standards while saving planning time.
Top 5 companies to watch:
- OPEN Phys Ed – Free, standards-based K–12 PE curriculum with turnkey lessons, assessments, and visuals.
- SPARK PE – Research-based PE curriculum with digital resources and training for all grade bands.
- Human Kinetics – Print and digital resources, textbooks, and activity guides for PE and health.
- PE Central – Lesson ideas and assessment tools aligned to national standards.
- Positive Action – Evidence-based SEL and health curriculum that integrates well with PE and wellness classes.
How teachers can use them:
- Download ready-to-teach units that map directly to grade-level outcomes and learning targets.
- Integrate skill progressions, assessment rubrics, and visuals into your LMS or district curriculum maps.
- Use turnkey performance-based tasks to document standards-based grading and student mastery.
Innovative PE Equipment & Activity Solutions: 5 Companies to Watch
These exhibitors bring creative equipment that solves problems like large class sizes, limited space, and mixed ability levels.
Top 5 companies to watch:
- Gopher Sport – Durable, standards-aligned equipment bundles for all grade levels.
- BSN SPORTS – Full-line equipment supplier with solutions for large programs and budgets.
- UCS Spirit – Versatile equipment for fitness, gymnastics, and adaptive activities.
- Everlast Climbing – Traverse walls and climbing systems adaptable for motor skill development and SEL.
- FlagHouse – PE and recreation equipment with a strong focus on inclusion and accessibility.
How teachers can use them:
- Build station-based lessons that get every student moving simultaneously, even in crowded gyms.
- Add portable and modular equipment for hallways, classrooms, and outdoor areas when space is limited.
- Use color-coded levels and clear visual cues so students self-manage practice, while you focus on feedback and safety.
Inclusion, Adapted PE & Universal Design: 5 Companies to Watch
These companies specialize in adaptive equipment, supports, and training to make PE accessible to all students.
Top 5 companies to watch:
- National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) – Resources and training for inclusive and adapted PE.
- STRIDER Education – Balance bikes and programs supporting gross motor development and inclusion.
- Sportime Abilitations – Adapted PE equipment, sensory tools, and inclusive activity sets.
- Top Sportsability / TOPSoccer-style programs – Adapted sport models bringing inclusive game play to school settings.
- PECS / Symbol-based supports providers – Visual communication tools for students with communication and cognitive needs.
How teachers can use them:
- Add adapted versions of traditional activities (e.g., lighter balls, larger targets, visual boundaries) to support students with disabilities.
- Use visual schedules, choice boards, and communication supports to improve predictability and reduce anxiety.
- Co-plan with special education staff using these tools to align IEP/504 goals with PE and movement objectives.
Health Education, SEL & Whole-Child Wellness: 5 Companies to Watch
These partners focus on mental health, SEL, and skills-based health education that complement PE.
Top 5 companies to watch:
- Second Step – SEL curriculum with lessons that easily connect to classroom and PE routines.
- EVERFI – Free digital courses on health, mental wellness, and life skills for students.
- School Day or similar climate platforms – Student wellbeing analytics to inform schoolwide decisions.
- mindfulness / journaling providers – Tools for reflection, self-regulation, and goal setting in health classes.
- Alliance for a Healthier Generation – Whole-school wellness resources and policy support that PE and health teachers can lead.
How teachers can use them:
- Embed short check-ins, reflection prompts, and self-regulation strategies into warm-ups and closures.
- Use digital health modules as flipped content, freeing class time for discussion, skill practice, and projects.
- Partner with wellness organizations to build grant-ready proposals for whole-child initiatives that elevate PE and health.
How to Work the SHAPE 2026 Exhibit Hall Like a Pro
To get real value from these top SHAPE 2026 exhibitors, treat the exhibit hall like a strategic professional learning lab.
Action steps:
- Before you go, list your top 3 goals (e.g., “adopt standards-based assessment,” “improve inclusion,” “add SEL to PE”).
- Use the convention app to star exhibitors by category—assessment, curriculum, equipment, inclusion, SEL—and prioritize those booths first.
- At each booth, ask three focused questions:
- “How does this help me meet SHAPE standards?”
- “How does this work with large classes and limited space?”
- “What data or artifacts will this give me for parents and administrators?”
- Collect sample lessons, pilot access, and admin-facing one-pagers so you can advocate for adoption after the conference.
Bringing SHAPE 2026 Exhibitors Back to Your School
The real impact of SHAPE 2026 happens when you translate what you saw in Kansas City into change at your school.
Try this simple implementation plan:
- Week 1–2: Pilot one activity or assessment from a digital platform or curriculum provider.
- Week 3–4: Introduce one inclusive equipment or SEL tool and gather quick student feedback.
- End of quarter: Share a short “SHAPE 2026 Impact” update with your administrator—include data snapshots, student quotes, and photos (with permissions).
By focusing on these top SHAPE 2026 exhibitors across assessment, curriculum, equipment, inclusion, and SEL, PE and health teachers can elevate their programs, better support the whole child, and clearly show their impact to school communities and district leaders.
