The Development of Youth Fitness Education & The Physical Best Program

1
The Development of Youth Fitness Education The
Physical Best Program

• A Brief History

2
1954

• Dr. Hans Kraus study
• Results indicated
• Only 42 of American children passed the
  assessment, while
• 92 of European school children passed the
  assessment

3
1956

• President Eisenhower is shocked by the scores
  from the Kraus study!
• Thus, Eisenhower established the Presidents
  Council on Youth Fitness.

4
1957

• 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

5
1958 - 1980

• 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

6
1980

• 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.

7
1980 - 1989

• 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

8
1987

• 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.

9
1987

• 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.

10
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.

11
1989

• 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.

12
1993Partnership For Common Goals

• 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.

13
1995 - 1996

• 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)

14
1998 - Present

• AAHPERD, The Cooper Institute and Human Kinetics
  formed the American Fitness Alliance

15
1998 - 1999

• 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
  (Teachers Guide) published by Human Kinetics.

16
2005

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