South Orange Middle School students are testing out a new training system this week, and it's meant to be a total departure from the traditional gym class dodgeball game where some students can shrink into the background without participating.

Using DVR technology, the HOPSports system offers 100 fitness programs—from basketball to dance to fencing—and beams the digital imagery onto the wall with a projector. A test group of eighth graders was the first to demo the system on Monday and completed activities including a virtual sword fight and a fast-paced version of hopscotch. Some said the experience reminded them of a Nintendo Wii.

If the school district opts to purchase the system, the price tag would be $18,000, and Judy LoBianco, the district's supervisor of health and physical education, who was responsible for bringing the demo to SOMS, said it would be used at both South Orange Middle School and Maplewood Middle School.

"The idea of this is to reinforce what we're already teaching," said LoBianco, noting that programs could be used to teach soccer, volleyball and basketball skills.

Though the jury's still out on whether the district could allocate the funds to purchase the system, at least one gym teacher was enthusiastic.

"We can't keep teaching like it's World War II," said Johanna Wright, who's also coach of the Columbia High School girls basketball team.