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PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS

Overview: The purpose of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is to advise the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services about issues related to physical activity, fitness, and sports, and to recommend programs to promote regular physical activity for the health of the nation. In making recommendations, the Council supports the disease prevention and health promotion objectives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and works to enhance and assist federal, state, local and private sector activities promoting physical activity, fitness, and sports. The Council's programs, projects and campaigns emphasize the importance of regular physical activity, including sports participation, for Americans of all ages and ethnicities, both able and disabled. The Council collaborates with public and private sector sponsors to conduct its programs and to produce public information materials.

History: The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports was established as the President's Council on Youth Fitness, on July 16, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after the President learned the results of a report indicating that American children were less fit than European youth. The first Council, chaired by Vice President Richard Nixon, included the Cabinet Secretaries as members. 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 purpose and function of the Council. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson broadened the Council's mission to include sports and changed the name to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan expanded the Council's role to include responsibilities for research, amateur sports, and sports medicine. Today, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies as well as the private sector and non-profit organizations to achieve its goals and objectives. Through its programs, partnerships, publications, and web site, the Council strives to promote daily moderate physical activity for disease prevention and health, vigorous physical activity for fitness and added health benefits, and sports participation including the values of sportsmanship.

Authority: The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is an advisory committee governed by the provisions of Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C., Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees. The authority for the Council is Executive Order 12345, dated February 2, 1982, as amended by Executive Order 12694 and continued by Executive Order 13138, dated September 30, 1999. President George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13265 on June 6, 2002. The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports has no grant-making or regulatory authority.

Meetings: A minimum of one meeting is held each year at the call of the Council chair and/or co-chair, with advance approval of a government official, who approves the agenda. Council meetings are advertised in the Federal Register and are open to the public.

Compensation: Members receive no compensation from the U.S. government for serving on the Council; they are reimbursed for expenses incurred while on official travel for the Council, in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations.

Programs: The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports conducts programs, projects and campaigns, which emphasize the importance of regular physical activity, fitness and sports participation for children, adults (including seniors), and persons with disabilities. The programs include:

    The President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards program (the President's Challenge).  The President's Challenge is the cornerstone and longest running program of the Council. The President's Challenge is a fitness recognition program for school-aged children administered by teachers and others who work with youth (e.g. scouts, boys and girls clubs, YMCA/YWCA). Currently, over 6 million youth receive Presidential recognition for their accomplishments in the program's three areas: active lifestyle, physical fitness, and health fitness. The goal of the President's Challenge is to encourage all children, able and disabled, ages 6-17, to participate in regular physical activity. A new component of the program, the President's Adult Active Lifestyle Award, recognizes adults who adopt a physically active lifestyle.

    The Presidential Sports Award.  Established in 1972, the Presidential Sports Award is for Americans age 6 and above (individuals, families, organized groups), who participate regularly in one of over 60 sports and fitness activities and meet criteria defined by the National Governing Body for each sport/activity. Families who participate together can earn a Family Fitness Award. The Presidential Sports Award may be used as a motivational tool for promoting regular physical activity and participation in sports (e.g. by sports, dance and martial arts organizations; fitness and wellness centers; youth organizations and clubs; senior centers; church groups; state and local health departments, workplace wellness programs; hospitals/health care providers),

    Web site www.fitness.gov is a gateway web site to access the programs and publications of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. From the web site, the public can also access physical activity and health information from the agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services and other federal departments, resources from non-profit health and fitness organizations, information on timely topics, current news about physical activity, fitness, and health, and "Fast Notes," a regular column by the executive director.

    "May Month"– National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, established by the Council in 1983, is a campaign to promote nationwide physical activity/fitness and sports participation. The President's Council provides materials on its web site during May month to assist organizations and communities wishing to increase physical activity/ fitness and health among their constituencies.

    PCPFS Research Digest, a quarterly publication, synthesizes scientific knowledge about topics related to physical activity/fitness and exercise science. Presented in layman's terms, this publication is disseminated widely to fitness professionals as well as interested citizens on the Council web site.

    State Champion Award is an annual award program for schools, conducted nationwide in conjunction with state departments of education. Three schools from each state receive the award based on the number of winners of the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, and the school's enrollment. Governors, senators, and representatives of each state receive an announcement of the winners in their states.

    National School Demonstration Program, conducted in coordination with state departments of education and/or a designated state coordinator, recognizes elementary, middle, and secondary schools with the highest quality physical education programs within the state.  The schools selected make their programs available to visitors interested in using them as models in developing their own physical education programs.

    Healthy People 2010, the Department's national health promotion and disease prevention initiative, has identified physical activity and fitness as one of 28 focus areas for improving the health and fitness of Americans.  The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports was co-lead for the Physical Activity chapter of Healthy People 2010 (with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).  In Healthy People 2010, the Department defined 10 Leading Health Indicators representing major public health concerns in the nation which can be improved by changing in individual behaviors. Increased participation in physical activity is listed as the first of the ten indicators.

Other Projects and Initiatives.

  • Public service advertising campaigns highlighting the benefits of physical activity/fitness for health;

  • Collaborations with public and private sponsors to generate public information materials, such as brochures, booklets and public service announcements;

  • Promotion of school, employee, and personal physical activity and fitness programs;

  • Emphasis on increasing regular physical activity, fitness and sports participation by girls and women, older Americans and persons with disabilities;

  • Emphasis on increasing opportunities for regular physical activity for Americans of all ages through community recreation, physical education, and sports;

  • Ongoing coordination with departments within the Federal Government on programs for physical activity, fitness and sports;

  • Participation by chair and/or vice-chair on inter-governmental task forces and committees to ensure inclusion of physical activity/fitness and sports in policies;

  • Participation as a liaison to medical and allied health organizations/coalitions seeking to develop and implement national programs to improve the health of Americans through physical activity, fitness, sports, and sports medicine.

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