Consolidation and Specialization: 1930-Present Chapter 3 Consolidation and Specialization: 1930-Present

The Cultural Context: 1930-1940 Great Depression (1929) created a transitional period President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted major economic reforms New governmental programs were created that had an effect upon sport, fitness, and physical education professions Urbanization and the revolutionary changes in travel helped evolve physical education professions

Sport, Fitness, and Physical Education: 1930-1940 Professional sports suffered during the Great Depression University sport programs were curtailed due to widespread acknowledgements of abuses School physical education programs suffered due to the lack of community support Recreational participation increased substantially, allowing all classes to participate without the concept of having money

Sport, Fitness, and Physical Education: 1930-1940, cont’d Federal and private sector economic intervention allowed young men and low income families to have opportunities to engage in activities as part of the “work relief” Act Eventually, the physical education profession weathered the economic crisis and made three important gains during this period: NEA organized a national committee in 1931 known as the National Study of Professional Education in Health and Physical Education

Sport, Fitness, and Physical Education: 1930-1940, cont’d Eventually, the physical education profession weathered the economic crisis and made three important gains during this period, cont’d: AAHPE became a department of the NEA in 1937 Published findings in 1938 by the College Physical Education Association, exerting efforts to influence standardized PE curriculum over the next 30 years, a.k.a. The La Porte Model

Sport, Fitness, and Physical Education During the War Years All armed forces participants underwent physical tests and performed basic training Fitness tests in the school systems increased due to poor performance by recruits Recreational sports were promoted as part of rest and recovery for service personnel Motor learning specialists were developed to improve soldiers’ skills (motor and visual) Wounded soldiers created the development of Adapted Physical Education for rehabilitation and activity experience from leisure participation

Expansion and Growth During the Post-War Years Increased population explosion and strong economic recovery created the following results: Expansion of sport professional and intercollegiate growth in sports mass market of leisure activities, i.e., golf return of the Olympic Games youth sports boom televised sports events

Expansion and Growth During the Post-War Years, cont’d Expansion of physical education Lifetime sport inclusion into PE curriculum, i.e., golf and bowling Conference participation furthered the profession Umbrella concept increased the needs for specialization of the profession

Expansion and Growth During the Post-War Years, cont’d Fitness crisis Acknowledgement of poor muscular fitness resulted in the development of the Kraus-Weber Test National crisis was publicized by President Eisenhower and the national emphasis of fitness was created (Weston, 1962) Formation of the Presidential Physical Fitness test Thoughts of prevention vs. treatment aspect through fitness became recognized

The Mid-1950’s and On: Forces that Shaped Our Current Culture of Fitness and Sports Sport in the post-1950’s era Major expansion of sports created the following trends: women’s movement (Title IX) environment movement (outdoor sports) civil rights movement (integration in sports) youth sports movement (increased variety and year-round programs)

The Mid-1950’s and On: Forces that Shaped Our Current Culture of Fitness and Sports, cont’d Sport in the post-1950’s era Major expansion of sports created the following trends (cont’d): Sport camps for youths and adults Money in professional sports increased Sport equipment business and endorsement concept Differences between professional vs. amateur became blurred Increased problems with drug usage, scandals, reputation has scarred sports nationally

The Mid-1950’s and On: Forces that Shaped Our Current Culture of Fitness and Sports, cont’d Fitness renaissance and the aerobics era The Kraus-Weber tests laid the foundation for the influence of fitness in our society The term “fit” has become a national trend Dr. Kenneth Cooper (1968) coined the term “aerobics” and created a popular exercise boom Regular people (non-professional athletes) partake in regular forms of fitness contests, i.e., marathons, triathlons Recent studies show the decline among American health, especially youths (Mokdad et al., 2001) due to the lack of activity

The Mid-1950’s and On: Forces that Shaped Our Current Culture of Fitness and Sports, cont’d School physical education since the 1950’s Lifetime sport fitness inclusion since the 1950’s Martial arts and adventure trends created due to the current culture Scientific foundations introduced (“knowing as well as doing” concept) Sport education concept introduced in the 1990’s Title IX caused additional concerns due to equity changes

Academic Discipline Movement Franklin Henry (1964) outlined the relevant issue concerning the viability as an academic discipline Post 1950’s reforms aimed at producing more scientists and increasing rigor of educational programs at all levels The most well-developed scientific area due to this movement was “exercise physiology”

Academic Discipline Movement, cont’d Sub-discipline areas that developed later were: Biomechanics Sport psychology Sport history Motor learning Sport sociology Sport philosophy Academic journals and major umbrella organizations brought cohesiveness and organization to the profession

Consolidation and Specialization: 1930-Present Chapter 3 Consolidation and Specialization: 1930-Present