The Development of Youth Fitness Education & The Physical Best Program We will begin by surveying the development of youth fitness education in the United States – and some of the events that have brought fitness education to its current point in the physical education profession. A Brief History

Dr. Hans Kraus study Results indicated: Only 42% of American children passed the assessment, while 92% of European school children passed the assessment Dr. Hans Kraus was responsible for the Kraus-Weber studies that compared the fitness of American youth with that of European youth. In 1954 he released a study with the following results. (read study results from slide)

President Eisenhower is shocked by the scores from the Kraus study! Thus, Eisenhower established the President’s Council on Youth Fitness. (first bullet point on slide) IN ORDER TO FULLY APPRECIATE EISENHOWER’S REACTION, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT WAS THE POLITICAL CLIMATE WAS LIKE IN THE 50’S. WORLD WAR II IS ONLY RECENTLY OVER. THE SOVIET UNION AND SIX OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE COMMUNISTIC AND THEY HAVE DELCARED THEMSELVES AGAINST THE USA AND OTHER NON-COMMUNIST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES LIKE GERMANY, FRANCE, GREAT BRITAIN. SO NOW, WE HAVE THE COLD WAR. THE COMMUNISTS VERSUS THE NON-COMMUNISTS. IN SUCH A TIME, THE FITNESS OF THE YOUTH IS A BIG CONCERN. OUR YOUTH ARE OUR FUTURE SOLDIERS. WE NEED TO BE PREPARED NATIONAL EMERGENCIES. (second bullet point on slide)

The AAHPERD Youth Fitness Test established normative data based on a 7 test battery. Pull-Ups Sit-Ups Shuffle-Run Standing Broad Jump 50-yard Dash Softball Throw for Distance 600-yard Run-Walk AAHPER (now known as AAHPERD) responds with: The AAHPER Youth Fitness Test The Test Items were: Pull-Ups (boys), Flexed Arm Hang (girls), Sit-Ups, Shuttle-Run, Standing Broad Jump, 50-yard Dash, Softball Throw for Distance, 600-yard Run-Walk These were fitness related skills pertinent to physical skills needed for combat or for sport team participation.

The AAHPERD Fitness Test Batteries Skill-Related Shuttle run 600-yard walk/run 50-yard dash Softball throw for distance Health-Related Single-leg balance Flexed arm hang Push-Ups Sit-Ups In 1958, AAHPERD made some changes to the test battery. These changes lasted until 1980. Added: the Single-leg Balance Replaced: pull-ups with push-ups Dropped: the Standing Broad Jump So, the battery included both skill-related and health-related test items. Skill-related: Single-leg balance , Shuttle run, 50-yard dash, Softball throw for distance Health-related: Push-Ups, Flexed arm hang, Sit-Ups, 600-yard walk/run

AAHPERD redesigned the meaning of fitness in terms of health rather than skill performance. The Health-Related Fitness Test was created and replaced all fitness tests. In 1980, AAHPERD redesigned the meaning of fitness. Professionals now defined fitness in terms of health rather than skill performance. (bring in or read bullet points)

Assessments included: 60 second sit-ups Mile run/walk The AAHPERD Health-Related Fitness Test was designed and used nation-wide to test cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance and strength, flexibility, and body composition components. Assessments included: 60 second sit-ups Mile run/walk Skinfold measurements Sit-and-reach Pull-ups, flexed arm hang & modified pull-ups Emphasis was placed on assessing the components of fitness – (refer to slide) The assessments were: 60 second sit-ups, 1 Mile run/walk, Skinfold measurements, Sit-and-reach, Pull-ups, flexed arm hang & modified pull-ups Notice that the shuttle run, the 50 yd dash, the softball throw, and the single-leg balance tests were dropped. Those are considered measures of one’s skill – which are important for successful sports participation, but they are not directly linked to one’s health.

The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research introduces the Fitnessgram assessment and software to schools throughout United States. The Fitnessgram is the first health-related assessment program to use criterion reference standards and not normative based data. The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research introduced the FITNESSGRAM assessment program and its’ software to schools throughout the United States. **The Cooper Institute was founded in 1970 by Dr. Kenneth Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., as a research and education center dedicated to understanding the relationship between living habits and health. The Institute produces a significant amount of research that has been used in the last 3 decades to help establish exercise and physical activity guidelines, and to educate health professionals and the public on the importance of the connection between lifestyle habits and health.

The Physical Best Educational Program was established and released by AAHPERD Developed by educators to enhance the existing physical education curriculum and supplement daily lesson plans. Also, in 1987, AAHPERD released the Physical Best program. (first bullet point) Physical Best is an educational program of teacher resources and workshops that are (read second bullet point) The words enhance and supplement are underlined to reinforce a crucial point. Utilizing Physical Best does not mean a teacher needs to completely change his/her program. It is a tool that can enhance and supplement a physical education program to teach students about the importance of lifetime fitness and health – by infusing the program’s philosophy, concepts and activities throughout a complete curriculum. During this time - AAHPERD continued to produce a fitness assessment – which became known as the Physical Best test – and changed the test from norm to criterion-referenced in 1989.

The Physical Best Fitness test changed to criterion-referenced standards and replaced all normative based test items. The new standards were based on scientific research and represented the level of risk in each assessment items.

The Physical Best program included cognitive components to teach fitness concepts through activity. Physical Best encouraged the use of goal setting as a part of its recognition system. The process of developing fitness goals was emphasized as fitness was achieved.

AAHPERD and Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research (CIAR) formed a partnership to promote health-related youth fitness. The Fitnessgram was selected as the official AAHPERD health-related assessment battery. The battery continued to include computer software for the Windows/DOS and Macintosh/Apple based computers. In 1993, realizing that they shared common goals of promoting of youth fitness and physical activity patterns for life – AAHPERD and The Cooper Institute formed a partnership: AAHPERD develops and produces fitness education materials through Physical Best (and conducts workshops in Physical Best and FITNESSGRAM). The Cooper Institute develops fitness assessment materials through FITNESSGRAM. At this time, Physical Best discontinued its fitness assessment to endorse and adopt the FITNESSGRAM.

Physical Best published four new supplements: Physical Best and Individuals with Disabilities Physical Best and Nutrition You Stay Active Recognition Program Speaking of Fitness (Anthology)

AAHPERD, The Cooper Institute and Human Kinetics formed the American Fitness Alliance In 1998, AAHPERD restructured their Physical Best resources - from educational kit to book and CD ROM format - and both Physical Best and FITNESSGRAM joined with Human Kinetics, as publisher for their programs’ materials. (You may want to update people on the progress of the software component today, and the many improvements being made – Some have had bad experiences in the past). In 1998, Mars, Inc. also signed on as a corporate sponsor for Physical Best – to provide grant funds to support the development of these resources and the new workshop certification structure. In 2002, FlagHouse also signed on as a sponsor and official equipment supplier for the program.

Physical Best Activity Guides were published by Human Kinetics Elementary Level Secondary Level FITNESSGRAM (Version 6.0) released by CIAR and Human Kinetics Physical Education for Lifelong Fitness: (Teacher’s Guide) published by Human Kinetics.

2nd editions of the Physical Best Activity Guides and the Teacher’s Guide including modifications for students with disabilities were published by Human Kinetics. Release of FITNESSGRAM 8.0