|
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.
|