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2 Measuring Fitness in Youth
Pages 23-48

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From page 23... ... This chapter begins with a brief early history of physical fitness testing. It then describes more recent historical events related specifically to measuring physical fitness among U.S. Read the entire page →
From page 24... ... . Fitness testing evolved from a focus on athletic performance to a focus on health in the early 1900s as researchers such as McCurdy and McKenzie studied blood pressure fatigue (McCurdy, 1901; McKenzie, 1913) Read the entire page →
From page 25... ... 11) notes that the "predominant interpretation given to the term physical fitness during World War II was the ability to sustain long, hard, muscular effort." The joint involvement of health, education, physical education, and military groups underscores the mixed purposes of physical fitness testing. Read the entire page →
From page 26... ... that provided the impetus for the national youth physical fitness testing movement. Their reports indicated that children in the United States passed fewer fitness test items than children from European countries. Read the entire page →
From page 27... ... The AAHPER Research Council appointed a committee, chaired by Anna Espenschade of the University of California, that created the first youth physical fitness test battery (the Youth Fitness Test) for use in a large-scale national survey. Read the entire page →
From page 28... ... In 1966, the President's Council established the Presidential Physical Fitness Award Program, jointly administered by AAHPER and the PCPF, to acknowledge youth who met or exceeded the 85th percentile on all seven test items. The third national survey using the Youth Fitness Test was published in 1976 (AAHPERD, 1976) Read the entire page →
From page 29... ... Table 2-3 lists these and other key events related to national youth fitness testing during 1980 to 1990. In 1984, AAHPERD published a technical manual for the HealthRelated Physical Fitness Test documenting the theoretical basis for the adopted test items and for replacements for the normative standards of the Youth Fitness Test (Morrow et al., 2009) Read the entire page →
From page 30... ... 1989 The Case for Large-Scale Physical Fitness Testing in American Youth published (Pate, 1989) 1989 Physical Fitness Testing of Children: A 30-Year History of Misguided Efforts? Read the entire page →
From page 31... ... . Some research led to a call for the end of youth fitness testing as a result of findings implying the adverse effects of testing in academic settings and its ineffectiveness in promoting physical activity (Cale et al., Read the entire page →
From page 32... ... and Fitnessgram� National Test Batteries Test Item PCPFS/PCFSN Fitnessgram 600-yard run 1986 Shuttle run (10 meters) 1986, current Mile run 1988, current alternative Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular 1988, current Endurance Run (PACER) Read the entire page →
From page 33... ... 2008 Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science special issue on Youth Fitness Testing: A Positive Perspective published (Liu, 2008) 2008 Physical activity guidelines for Americans released (HHS, 2008) Read the entire page →
From page 34... ... For example, Texas has implemented mandatory health-related physical fitness testing for youth in grades 3 to 12 since 2007; California has been monitoring the fitness status of students in grades 5, 7, and 9; and New York City tests 600,000 students in grades K-12 annually (Morrow and Ede, 2009) Read the entire page →
From page 35... ... and also has implemented remedial programs for those who fail to meet the cut-points for physical fitness or readiness tests. The effectiveness of routine fitness tests for establishing a minimum level of fitness in military personnel has been widely acknowledged (IOM, 1998) Read the entire page →
From page 36... ... calculation �Cadence-based curl-up �Abdominal strength and endurance �Trunk lift �Back extensor strength and flexibility �90-degree push-up �Upper-body strength and (recommended) or modified/ endurance traditional pull-up or flexed arm hang �Backsaver sit-and-reach or �Hamstring or shoulder shoulder stretch flexibility President's 6-17 �Curl-up or partial curl-up �Abdominal strength and PCFSN, 2010, 2011 Council on endurance Fitness, Sports, �Shuttle run �Speed and agility and Nutrition �Endurance run/walk �Cardiorespiratory endurance (PCFSN) Read the entire page →
From page 37... ... �Agility and speed Fitness �Flexed arm hang �Endurance of the arm and Performance shoulder muscles Test Batteries �50-yard dash �Speed (Canada) �300-yard run �Stamina The European 6-18 �Flamingo balance test �Balance Council of Europe, 1983, Physical Fitness �Plate tapping �Speed and coordination of limb 1988 Test battery, movement (EUROFIT) Read the entire page →
From page 38... ... Singapore >12 �Sit-ups in 1 minute �Abdominal muscular Ngee Ann Polytechnic, National endurance 2002; Schmidt, 1995 Physical Fitness �Standing broad jump �Muscular power Award (NAPFA) �Sit-and-reach �Flexibility Scheme �Pull-ups in 30 seconds (full �Upper-body muscular (Singapore) Read the entire page →
From page 39... ... or 1600-meter (boys 13) run/walk; test not administered to children 8 Physical Fitness 6-9 �Side step �Physical ability Shingo and Takeo, 2002 and Athletic 10-17 �Vertical jump �Instantaneous power Ability Test �Back strength �Muscle strength (Japan) Read the entire page →
From page 40... ... �Sit-and-reach �Muscle and joint flexibility �Shoulder stretch �Muscle and joint flexibility Physical Fitness 7-19 �50-meter dash �Speed (short-distance) Pilicz et al., 2005 Score (Poland) Read the entire page →
From page 41... ... �Curl-up �Muscular strength and endurance �Modified pull-up �Muscular strength and endurance Physical Fitness >20 �Distance run �Aerobic fitness Malmberg, 2011 Tests in Nordic �Shuttle run �Aerobic fitness Armed Forces �Lunge �Muscular strength (Denmark) �Dip �Muscular strength �Pull-up �Muscular strength �Dead-lift �Muscular strength �Plank �Muscular strength �March with loads and �Function obstacles 41 continued Read the entire page →
From page 42... ... Population Tests Component Assessed References Physical Fitness >20 �Timed run �Aerobic fitness Malmberg, 2011 Tests in Nordic �Ergometer �Aerobic fitness Armed Forces �Walk �Aerobic fitness (Finland) �Standing long jump �Muscular strength �Sit-up �Muscular strength �Push-up �Muscular strength �BMI �Body composition �Waist circumference �Body composition �March �Function Physical Fitness >20 �Distance run �Aerobic fitness Malmberg, 2011 Tests in Nordic �Swim �Aerobic fitness Armed Forces �Cross-country ski �Aerobic fitness (Norway) Read the entire page →
From page 43... ... 1980. Health related physical fitness test manual. Read the entire page →
From page 44... ... 2002. Preservice physical education teacher attitudes toward fitness tests and the factors influencing their attitudes. Read the entire page →
From page 45... ... 2009. Statewide physical fitness testing: A big waist or a big waste? Read the entire page →
From page 46... ... 1989. The case for large-scale physical fitness testing in American youth. Read the entire page →
From page 47... ... 1989. Physical fitness testing of children: A 30-year history of mis guided efforts? Read the entire page →

From page 23...

... This chapter begins with a brief early history of physical fitness testing. It then describes more recent historical events related specifically to measuring physical fitness among U.S.

2 Measuring Fitness in Youth Pages 23-48

2 Measuring Fitness in Youth
Pages 23-48