This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
McCall Elementary School 4th grader Andrew Rizzo-Reidy (right) practices arranging cups during a meeting of the school’s speed stacking club, as (from left) 2nd graders Hayden Huston and Lerieng Nguyen and 4th grader Jordan Bingham watch. Speed stacking, now taught in more than 30 District schools, is a competitive sport recognized worldwide. Mark Sykes, McCall’s health and physical education coach, oversees the club. The sport supports right-brain development, concentration, fine-motor control, and sequencing skills. One study found significant improvements in the hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and test scores of students who regularly practiced speed stacking.