President’S Challenge Physical Activity And Fitness Awards Program

President’s Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program

Phillips Preparatory School conducts fitness testing twice a year, in the fall and spring. The goal of the Presidential Fitness Program is to recognize and award students who meet the demanding standards on a battery of five physical performance tests. Those who receive these awards are respected and admired for their accomplishment. Success in this arena can be a key to achieving goals throughout life. This program is designed to give young people a firm foundation of physical fitness and good health on which they can build happy, productive lives.

History The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports was created in 1956 when President Eisenhower initiated the first testing program after he learned the results of a report published by Kraus/Weber indicating that American children were less fit than European youth. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy changed the name of the council to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, expanded the mandate to all Americans as well as youth, and clarified the function and purpose of the Council. In 1966, President Johnson established the Presidential Physical Fitness Award to recognize youth who achieved high levels of fitness. He further broadened the mission to include sports and changed the name to President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Though it has changed slightly through the decades, this program continues to be a gold standard in assessing fitness levels and encouraging children to begin and continue an active lifestyle. In May 2005, President Bush issued a proclamation to name May as the National Physical Fitness and Sports month.

President’s Council The Council is made up of 20 distinguished citizens who serve on a volunteer basis at the request of the President. The Council members serve as fitness ambassadors to spotlight the benefits of physical activity, fitness, and sports. The Council monitors the nation’s progress in improving physical activity and fitness objectives of Healthy People 2010, a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative. Both Lynn Swann, former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Arnold Schwarzenegger have served as Chairman of the Council.

Fitness Testing in the Schools In 1987, the Alabama State Board of Education required physical education teachers to administer the President’s Challenge Physical Fitness Test to Alabama public school students. There are five test items: the sit and reach which tests flexibility, the shuttle run which tests speed and agility, the mile run/walk which tests cardiovascular endurance, curl-ups which test abdominal strength/endurance and pull-ups or push-ups which test upper body strength and muscular endurance.

Awards *To receive the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, the students must score at or above the 85th percentile on all five items in their age group. *To receive the Governor’s Physical Fitness Award, the students must score at or above the 70th percentile on all five items in their age group. *To receive the Lieutenant Governor’s Physical Fitness Award, the student must score at or above the 50th percentile on all five items in their age group. Since 1989, Phillips Prep presents each student that achieves the Presidential Physical Fitness Award in all five areas for all 3 years with a trophy which signifies the student’s commitment to excellence in physical conditioning. Obtaining the Presidential Award each year requires a significant increase in all the five fitness areas. We are pleased to be a Demonstration Center for the President’s Challenge.

What Shape are Americans in Today? Recent studies show that well over half of Americans are not regularly active and worse yet, 25 percent of Americans are not active at all. For young people- the future of our country- physical activity declines dramatically during the middle school or teenage years. The following are statistics on specific segments of the U.S. population:  Approximately 15% of all children are overweight. This number has tripled since 1980.  Type 2 diabetes, unheard of in young people 10 to 15 years ago, is increasing dramatically across the United States among adolescents.  One-forth of children spends 4 hours or more watching television daily.  Only about half of U.S. young people (ages 12-21 years) exercise regularly.  One-forth reported no recent activity at all.  Three-quarters (75%) of overweight and obese children do not change their habits and remain overweight and obese in adulthood.  Cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke) is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S.  Physically inactive people are twice as likely to develop heart disease as regularly active people.  Sixty one percent of adult Americans are overweight.  The United States has the highest population of obesity in the world People of all ages can improve the quality of their lives through a lifelong practice of moderate physical activity.

Terms Healthy People 2010: the national health promotion and disease prevention initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which published national health goals and objectives for the years 2001-2010 and tracks progress in meeting specific objectives. Flexibility: refers to the range of motion that is possible at different body joints and muscles. Physical activity: is any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure. Cardiorespiratory Endurance: activities such as running, cycling, swimming, and circuit weight training are among those that will help with cardiorespiratory endurance. Strength: is probably the most familiar component of physical fitness. It is the amount of force that can be exerted by a muscle or muscle group. Static stretch: a smooth progressive stretch that is held for 10-30 seconds when a maximum stretch is attained. Ballistic stretch: a dynamic stretch is one in which the movement depends on quick, bobbing type movements that increase the maximum stretch. Agility: the ability to change the body’s position and requires a combination of balance, coordination, speed, reflexes, strength, endurance, and stamina.

“By making the relatively small change from an inactive lifestyle to one that includes moderate but regular physical activity, even the most sedentary Americans can prevent disease and premature death and improve their quality of life.” Florence Griffith Joyner and Tom McMillen