The President's Council on Youth Fitness was founded on July 16, 1956 to encourage American children to lead healthy, active and physically fit lives. It was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after a study indicated that American youth scored lower than European children on a battery of physical fitness tests.

President John F. Kennedy changed the agency's title to The President's Council on Physical Fitness in 1960 to reflect its expanded mandate to serve Americans of all ages. And in 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson added Sports to the Council's title to emphasize the importance of sports participation throughout life.

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, later to become the President's Challenge Youth Physical Fitness Awards Program. The Presidential Sports Award program was created in 1972.

Congress declared May "National Physical Fitness and Sports Month" in 1983.

In 1996, the Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health was released. In 1997, the PCPFS released its report on Physical Activity and Sport in the Lives of Girls.