DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 292 767 SP 029 986

TITLE The Presidential Physical Fitness Award Program,Featuring the President's Challenge. Instructor'sGuide.

INSTITUTION President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports,Washington, D.C.

PUB DATE 87NOTE 22p.; Revised to include ages 6-17.PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Use Guides (For Teachers) (052)

EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.DESCRIPTORS Awards; Elementary Secondary Education; *National

Norms; National Surveys; *Physical Education;*Physical Fitness; *Standardized Tests; StudentMotivation; *Testing Programs

ABSTRACTThis pamphlet provides information for physical

education teachers on the Presidential Physical Fitness AwardProgram. A project of the President's Council on Physical Fitness andSports in cooperation with the American Alliance for Health, PhysicalEducation, Recreation and Dance, the program recognizes outstandingphysical fitness among children and youth aged 6 to 17. Changes inthe test battery are noted, and instructions are given foradministering the physical fitness tests to students between theabove-mentioned ages. (JD)

********.t*************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made *

* from the original document. *

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THE PRESIDENTIAL

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(Instructor's Guide

U 8 DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATIONOffice of Educational Research and Improvemnl

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATIONCENTER (ERIC)

This document has been reproduced asreceived from the person or organizationoregenahng

C Minor changes have been made to improveSr'reproduction quality

Points of view or opt mons st at ed in this docu-mem do not necessarily represent officialOERI position or pcbcy

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Program of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in cooperation %kith theAmerican Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

Printed in 1987 OM 87-0001

63

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

July 16, 1986

Physical education plays a vital role in today's society.Mounting medical, social, and psychological researchcontinues to support the role of physical fitness inpromoting mental and physical health, well-being,improved work capacity, and intellectual performance.

It is in the physical education environment, be it atschool, in parks or recreation facilities, communitycenters, camps, and even hospitals, that childrenand youth learn this important association.

The Presidential Physical Fitness Award Program isdesigned to enhance the teaching of physical fitness.With a goal in mind, young people are encouraged tochallenge their bodies to achieve a level of fitnessconsidered to be outstanding. Not all students willqualify, as is the case with any recognition program.But all students can be given the opportunity to try,and in the process improve and reach new levels offitness.

This year the program has been changed, and nowyounger children will be eligible to participate. Sincelifestyle patterns are established early in childhood, Iam pleased to see thet this change has been made; andI look forward to hearing about the first boys andgirls in the new age groups to ;aceive the award.

As administrators of the program, you hold the keyto its success, and to the success of the childrenand youth in your charge. Accurate and usefulinformation, taught with enthusiasm, will have apositive effect on tomorrow's adults.

We are a nation in search of excellence. Promotingphysical fitness in education will help us achieve thatgoal.

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1) learn how to pace themselves for that distance;2) practice covering that distance without be-ing timed; and 3) wactice covering that dis-tance with timing before being tested.

It is also recommended that additional tests ofhealth and fitness such as body composition,blood pressure, posture checks, etc., be used tosupplement those presented in this brochure.Quality physical education programs utilize avariety of assessments and incorporate the re-sults into meaningful and motivational lessonplans.

The class curriculum should reinforce the con-cepts addressed in the testing program and classtime should be devoted to helping students at-tain a higher level of fitness. The Council rec-ommends that all students spend 50 percent oftheir physical education time in exercises andactivities designed to improve their cardiorespi-ratory endurance, muscle strength and endur-ance, flexibility and body composition. In theremaining time, a variety of activities includingsport skill and instruction should be provided toimprove speed, agility, balance, power and co-ordination.

The following suggestions facilitate the involve-ment of ALL students:

1) Group students according to ability level asgauged by fitness testinginterested studentsshould be grouped together and special tech-niques should be used to motivate those whoare not;

2) Offer electives so students can select activi-ties they enjoy;

3) Introduce new and unique choices to thecurriculum;

4) Continually provide feedback to students ontheir progress; and

5) Develop lesson plans to ensure that everychild is active during class; for example, adjustfield/team sizes and provide enough equipmentto give every student an opportunity to partici-pate rather than spend excessive time waitingfor a turn.

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Starting with the 1986-87 school year, thePresidential Physical Fitness Award Program(PPFA) takes on new dimensions. Based on theresults of the 1985 School Population FitnessSurvey funded by the President's Council onPhysical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and con-ducted by the Institute for Social Research atthe University of Michigan, the program in-cludes five test items for boys and girls andnorms for ages 6-17.

This is the first time in the 20-year history ofthe program that Presidential recognition willbe awarded to youngsters ages 6-9.

Established in March, 1966, the PPFA programhonors boys and girls who demoustrate excep-tional physical achievement. It is designed to:(1) motivate boys and girls to develop andmaintain a high level of physical fitness; (2) en-courage good testing programs in schools andcommunities; (3) stimulate improvement ofhealth and physical education programs; and(4) provide additional information on the phys-ical condition of America's youth.

The program was conceived by the PCPFS andprogram details were developed jointly withthe American Alliance for Health, Physical Ed-ucation, Recreation and Dance. The program isadministered by these two organizations.

TEST BATTERY CHANGESThe new test battery now measures lower hack/hamstring flexibility in addition to cardiorespi-ratory endurance, upper body, arm and ab-dominal muscle strength and endurance, andleg muscle, endurance and power combinedwith speed and agility. The revised test in-cludes, for boys and girls:

one-mile run/walkV-sit reach (Option: sit and reach)curl-upsshuttle runpull-ups

The New andRevised

PresidentialPhysical Fitness

Award Program

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Fitness

Components

Measured in thePresidentialPhysical Fitness

Award Program

Omitted from the new program are the 600-yard walk/run, the 50-yard dash, the standinglong jump and flexed-arm hang. The totalnumber of test items for each individual hasbeen reduced from six to five.

The 1986 changes were made to assess the maincomponents of fitness for performance andhealth and to focus on some of the physicalweaknesses of youngsters as revealed by the1985 School Fitness Survey.

Students still must score at or above the 85thpercentle on all five items to qualify for theaward. There is no limit on the number of triesstudents may have on each test item.

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Instructions forthe Presidential

Physical Fitness

Award Test

CURL-UPS (Boys and Girls)

OBJECTIVENumber of curl-ups performedin one minute.

EQUIPMENTStopwatch. A mat or otherclean surface is preferred.

STARTING POSITION Student lies on backwith knees flexed at 90 degrees; partner holdsfeet. Heels should not be more than 12 inchesfrom the buttocks and the back flat on thefloor. Arms are crossed with hands placed onopposite shoulders, arms close to chest. Thearms are held in contact with the chest at alltimes.

ACTIONStudent raises the trunk curling upto touch elbows to thighs and then lowers theback to the floor so that the scapulas (upperback) touch the floor. This constitutes one curl-up.

THE TESTThe timer calls out the signal"GO" and begins timing one minute. Studentstops on the word "stop." The number of cor-rectly executed curl-ups completed in 60 sec-onds is the student's score.

RULES-1. "Bouncing" off the floor/mat is not allowed.

2. The curl-up will be counted only if thestudent (a) keeps fingers touching shoulders;(b) touches elbows to thighs; and (c) re-

turns to position with scapula touchingfloor before

curling upagain.

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PULL-UPS (Boys and Girls)

OBJECTIVEMaximum number of pull-upscompleted (no time limit).

EQUIPMENTA horizontal bar at a heightthe student can hang from with arms fully ex-tended and feet free from floor.

STARTING POSITION Student assumeshanging position on bar with overhand grasp(palms facing away from body).

Small students may be lifted tostarting position.

ACTIONStudent raisesbody until chin is overthe bar without touchingit and then lowers bodyto the full-hang startingposition.

THE TESTStudent per-forms as many completedpull-ups as possible.

RULES-1. The body must not swing dur-

ing the movement. If the stu-dent's body starts to swing, holdan extended arm across the frontof the thighs.

2. The pull-up must be smoothand not a snapping or jerky move-ment. Kicking of the legs or bend-ing the knees is not permitted.

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V-SIT REACH * (Boys and Girls)

OBJECTIVEFarthest distance reached pastbaseline.

EQUIPMENTClean floor, yardstick, adhe-sive tape.

SET-UPA straight line two feet long is markedon floor. This is the baseline. A line is drawnperpendicular to the midpoint of the baselineextending two feet on each side. This is themeasuring line. Place one-inch and half-inchmarks along the measuring line on each side ofthe baseline or lay a ruler down to measuredistance reached. The "0" point is where thebaseline and measuring lines intersect.

STARTING POSITIONStudent removesshr-s and sits on floor with measuring line be-tween legs and soles of the feet placed immedi-ately behind the baseline. The heels should be8-12 inches apart.

ACTIONStudent clasps thumbs so that handsare together, palms down and places them onfloor between legs. While the legs are held flaton the floor by a partner, subject holds soles offeet perpendicular to the floor (feet flexed) andslowly reaches forward along the measuringline as far as possible, keeping the f;ngers incontact with the floor. Three practices tries aregiven. On the fourth extension, student holdsfarthest reach for a count of 3 seconds whilethat distance is recorded.

' OPTION: SIT AND REACH, page 12.

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RULES-1. Legs must remain straight, soles of feet

perpendicular to floor.2. Students should not "bounce."3. Mark scores at point where fingertips touch

floor.4. Scores are recorded as plus scores for reaches

beyond baseline and minus scores behindbaseline. All scores are recorded to the near-est half-inch.

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SIT-AND-REACH (Boys and Girls)

OBJECTIVEFarthest distance reached.

EQUIPMENTSpecially constructed box witha measuring scale marked in centimeters; 23 cm.

at the level of the feet.

STARTING POSITIONStudent removes shoesand sits on floor ..t the measuring box withknees fully extended and feet shoulder-widthapart. The soles of the feet should be flat againstthe end of the box.

ACTIONStudent extends arms forward plac-ing hands on top of each other along measuringline, palms down. The test administrator holdsthe student's knees with one hand to keep kneesextended. Student reaches forward along themeasuring line as far as possible. Three practicetries are given. On the fourth extension, studentholds the position of maximum reach for onesecond while that distance is recorded.

RULES1. Legs must remain straight, soles of feet

against box.

2. Fingertips of both hands should reachevenly along measuring line.

3. Scores are recorded to the nearest cen-timeter.

QUALIFYING STANDARDS (in centimeters)

Age 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Boys 31 30 31 31 30 31 31 33 36 37 38 41

Girls 32 32 33 33 33 34 36 38 40 43 42 42

Details regarding this test Item are taken from theAAHPERD Health Related Physical Fitness Test Manual

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ONE-MILE RUN/WALK (Boys and Girls)

OBJECTIVEFastest time in minutes and sec-onds to cover one-mile distance.

EQUIPMENTTrack or safe area marked toequal distance of one mile. Stopwatch.

STARTING POSITIONStudent assumes stand-ing "ready" position at the start of course. Morethan one student at a time can be tested if areapermits and an adequate timing and recordingsystem is used.

ACTIONAt the signal "Ready? Go", thestudent begins running the miledistance. Fast times are en-couraged, however, walkingmay be interspersed with run-ning.

RULESWalking is permit-ted, but students should beencouraged to cover the dis-tance in the shortest timepossible.

Before administering thistest, student's healthstatus should be reviewed.Also, students should begiven ample instruction on howto pace and allowed to practicerunning this distance againsttime.

AffiffORMIONi 13i 14

SHUTTLE RUN (Boys and Girls)

OBJECTIVEFastest time to perform run.EQUIPMENTTwo blocks (i.e. wood, erasers)approximately size 2" x 2" x 4", stopwatch,two parallel lines 30 feet apart.

STARTING POSITION Two parallel lines aremarked on the floor 30 feet apart. The width of aregulation volleyball court is a suitable area. Theblocks of wood are placed behind one of the lines.Student starts from behind the other line.

ACTIONOn the signal "Ready? Go" the studentruns to the blocks, picks one up, runs back to the

starting line, places block behindline, runs back and picks up

second block and runs backacross starting line.

RULES-1. Record score to the nearest

tenth of a second.2. Do not allow student to

throw blocks across line.

HINTSIf the scorer has two stop-watches or one with a split-secondtimer, it is preferable to have two

pupils running at the same time.To eliminate the necessity of

returning the blocks after eachrace, start the races alternately,

first from behind one line and thenfrom behind the other.

14 NRAV-111MPA

Students who qualify for the PresidentialPhysical Fitness Award receive an official certi-ficate signed by the President of the UnitedStates. The 8" x 10" certificate is suitable forframing and includes a Presidential signature,Presidential emblem and a brief congratulatorymessage. There is room for the student's nameand school to be inscribed.

In addition, students who qualify receive anaward emblem designed for wear on sweaters,jackets or sweatsuits. The award emblem isthree inches in diameter and is embroidered ingold, red, white and blue. It features a numberindicating the number of years the recipienthas won the Presidential Physical FitnessAward. Only one award can be earned in eachschool year. Presidential award decals in thesame design as the emblem are also available tobe used on textbooks, notebooks, luggage andbulletin boards.

Order forms for the materials' are availablefrom the Council office. However, all materialsare ordered from the American Alliance forHealth, Physical Education, Recreation andDance (AAHPERD) office, 1900 AssociationDrive, Reston, VA, 22091.

Award winners shouldnot be asked to paythe fee charged forthe awards. It issuggested thatfinancial helpbe soughtfromsources suchas localPTAs, serviceclubs, busi-nesses andveterans groups ifnecessary.

Award Materials

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Instructor A Presidential Instructor Emblem is avail-able to teachers and other instructors who

Recognition qualify young peoplefor the award. Theemblem is fourinches in dia-meter andembroideredin gold, red,white andblue.

Motivation:

CentralFocus of PPFAProgram

4

The Presidential Physical Fitness AwardProgram can help emphasize the physical fit-ness objectives of physical education by provid-ing a means of evaluation and motivation. Thisaward and other awards such as those offeredby AAHPERD recognize students at variouslevels of fitness and ability.

The PCPFS recommends that testing be carriedou at least twice a year and that the year'scurriculum be designed to teach and reinforcethe basic components of physical fitness. Thecurriculum also should address those weak-nesses shown by students in early testing andprovide special instruction to the physicallyunderdeveloped and handicapped.

It is suggested that annual awards dinners, tra-ditional honor assemblies or special demonstra-tion programs for parents and other guests beused to highlight the accomplishments of thosestudents in the awards program. This is also agood time to recognize out-of-school awardsponsors. At these occasions, Presidentialawards can be presented and student accom-plishments in fitness noted. An individual boyor girl, however, is eligible for only onePresidential Award during any one school year.

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SCHOOL DEMONSTRATION CENTERPROGRAM: Each State has been allotted a spe-cific number of schools that it can select to serveas demonstration centers for the PCPFS. Theseschools represent the highest quality physical ed-ucation programs in the Nation. Criteria for theselection of these centers is developed by theState Department of Education and approvedby the Council. Each school that is selected re-ceives a certificate and pennant from the Coun-cil and a letter of congratulations from theChairman of the PCPFS.

Schools that serve as a demonstration center fora period of three consecutive years are eligibleto receive honor roll status. These demonstra-tion schools are listed at the Council headquar-ters and used for referrals to anyone wishing toobserve outstanding programs of physical edu-cation.

For information on applying as a State demon-stration school contact your State's director ofphysical education at the Department of Edu-cation or the PCPFS.

STATE CHAMPION PROGRAM: Estab-lished in 1972, the State Champion Programrecognizes outstanding school achievementin physical fitness. The State ChampionAward is presented annually to threeschools in each State. It goes to theschools that qualify the highest per-centage of eligible students for thePresidential Physical Fitness Awardin each of three enrollment categor-ies: fewer than 100 students; 101-500 students; more than 500 stu-dents. Each winning school receivesa certificate. Every student whoearns the Presidential Physical Fit-ness Award and helps the school be-come a State Champion receives aspecial embroidered State Championemblem.

Special

MotivationalAspects of the

PresidentialPhysical Fitness

Award Program

AWATNARIaitf 17

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Highlights of The 1985 School Fitness Survey was de-signed to: (1) assess the physical fitness status of

the 1985 American public school children ages 6-17; (2)establish national norms for these age groups

School Fitness by age and sex; (3) compare these data withthe results of similar surveys completed in

Survey 1958, 1965, and 075.

A four stage probability sample was designed toselect 19,200boys and girls from approximately57 school districts and 187 schools. The desiredyield was 500 boys and 500 girls per grade oneach test. The sample yielded a total pool of18,857 students 9,678 boys and 9,179 girls.

The survey included the following test items:curl-ups, one-mile run, 600-yard dash, shuttlerun, standing long jump, sit-and-reach test,pull-ups, flexed-arm hang and two-mile walk.All data were analyzed and comparisons madewith previous surveys where applicable. Boysand girls ages 6-17 were tested on all items.

In general, the performance of 1985 youth wasnot much different from that of youth in 1975.There was poor performance by large numbersof boys and girls on tests of arm and shouldermuscle strength and endurance, abdominalstrength and endurance and flexibility. Overall,boys scored higher than girls except on the flex-ibility test. Girls declined or stayed at the samelevel in their performance after age 14.

Some specific findings:

In the V-Sit Reach flexibility test, 40percent of boys age-, 6-15 could not reach be-yond their toes;

Approximately 50 percent of girls ages6-17 and 30 percent of boys ages 6-12 could notrun a mile in less than 10 minutes;

One out of four boys ages 6-12 could notdo one pull-up;

55 percent of all girls tested could nothold their chin over a raised bar for more than10 seconds.

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Fitness testing of youth served as the im-petus for the formation of the Council in 1956.Hans Kraus, a well-known physician in NewYork City, published the results of a studyshowing that American boys and girls werewoefully unfit as compared to the children ofWestern Europe. The study received wide-spread publicity and "shocked" the nationalconscience. A concerned President Dwight D.Eisenhower quickly founded the President'sCouncil on Youth Fitness as part of a nationalcampaign to help get America's younger gen-eration in shape. This early effort accountedfor an increased emphasis on the physical fit-ness objectives in physical education.

Similar surveys were conducted in 1965 and1975 using the American Alliance for Health,Physical Education, Recreation and Dance(AAHPERD) Youth Fitness Test. In general,scores improved on most test items from 1958to 1965 but have remained the same since then.

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson launchedthe Presidential Physical Fitness Award Programencouraging American youngsters to "Join thePresident's 411-American Team." The norms usedin the program, which recognizes exceptionalphysical f.zness achievement, have been based onthe results of each decade's survey.

Historical

Perspective ofPCPFS Role in

Youth Fitness

Testing

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CURL-UPS SHUTTLE V-SIT REACH(Arms across chest) RUN OR SIT AND REACH ONE-MILE 111AGE (Timed one minute) (seconds) (inches + / ) (minutes/seconds) PULL-UPS

Scores based on 198.5 School Population Fitness SungSee page 12 for SIT AND REACH scores.

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DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

The President's Council onPhysical Fitness and SportsWashington DC 20001

Official BusinessPenalty For Private Use $300

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Postage and Fees PaidU.S. Dept. of H.H.S.HHS 396

FIRST CLASS

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