National Association for Sport and Physical Education
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National Physical Education and Sport Week-
Key Points

Let's Move Active School 
The Shape of Our Nation's Children
OVERWEIGHT AMONG YOUTH
  •   In 2009-2010, 9.7% of infants and toddlers had a high weight-for-recumbent length. 
  •  In 2009-2010, 16.9% of children and adolescents from two through 19 years of age were obese.
  • There was a significant increase in BMI among adolescent males aged 12 through 19 years, but not among any other age group or among females.   
  •  Childhood obesity continues to increase in some countries while in other countries and U.S. demographic groups has apparently plateaued. Some have suggested that the prevalence of obesity among children will reach 30% by 2030. However, recent data presented herein suggest that the rapid increases in obesity prevalence seen in the 1980s and 1990s have not continued in this decade and may be leveling off.
PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BY YOUNG PEOPLE
  • At age nine, children engage in moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) approximately three hours per day. By age 15, adolescents engage in MVPA for only 49 minutes per weekday and 35 minutes per weekend day.
  • Only 67.8% of elementary schools provide daily recess for students in all grades in the school.
  • Only 35% of high school students meet the recommended levels of physical activity.
  • Nearly 25% of high school students did not participate in 60 or more minutes of any kind of physical activity that increased their heart rate and made them breathe hard some of the time.
PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION 
  • Only six states (Illinois, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York and Vermont) require physical education in every grade, K-12.
  • Forty nine states plus the District of Columbia have their own state standards for physical education; only Iowa has not adopted state standards.
  • Only 26 states (51 percent) require some form of student assessment in physical education.Public Support for Physical Education.
  • Ninety five percent of parents said that physical education should be included in the school curriculum for all students in kindergarten through grade 12.
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics, NASPE, the AHA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of Education, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) all are on record as supporting the need for physical activity for youth and for quality physical education in schools.
  • Some 31% of physical education teachers perceive increased interest and support from parents regarding students' physical activity; and 27% perceive increased interest/support from parents regarding students' physical education.
  • According to one survey, nearly all parents (95%) think that regular daily physical activity helps children do better academically and should be part of a school curriculum for all students in grades K-12.

 NATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONSBack To The Top

School-age youths should participate daily in 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity that is developmentally appropriate, enjoyable, and involves a variety of activities.9,10,11

All elementary school students should participate in at least 150 minutes per week of physical education, and all middle and high school students should participate in at least 225 minutes of physical education, for the entire school year.12,13,14,15,16

National Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity daily.

Aerobic: Most of the 60 or more minutes a day should be either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, and should include vigorous-intensity physical activity at least 3 days a week.

Muscle-strengthening: As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week.

Bone-strengthening: As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include bone-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week.

National Standards for Physical Education

Standard 1: Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.

Standard 2: Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities.

Standard 3: Participates regularly in physical activity.

Standard 4: Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.

Standard 5: Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.

Standard 6: Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.

 
 Critical Elements of a Quality Physical Education Program Back To The Top
  1. Physical education is delivered by certified/licensed physical education teachers.
  2. Adequate time (i.e., 150 minutes per week for elementary school students; 225 minutes per week for middle and high school students) is provided for physical education at every grade, K to 12.
  3. All states develop standards for student learning in physical education that reflect the National Standards for Physical Education.
  4. All states set minimum standards for student achievement in physical education.
  5. Successfully meeting minimum standards in physical education is a requirement for high school graduation.
What do we want from the U.S. Congress? Back To The Top

Support Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids (FIT Kids) Act. The FIT Kids Act would require all schools, districts, and states to report the amount of time spent in required physical education as measured against the national standard on their Title I report cards.  This would arm parents and advocates with the necessary information to encourage schools to offer the required amount of physical education time for students.
Act Now!
Fund the Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress Act (PEP) in FY 2013. The Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) is the only federal education funding available for physical education. It is only .002% of the U.S. Department of Education budget.  Learn More.
NASPE urges policymakers, school administrators, teachers and families to join together to provide a balanced and comprehensive education of the whole child for life in the 21st century.

Youth Sports Participation Back To The Top

Quality youth sport experiences provide important developmental opportunities for children and youth. Quality sport programs provide a positive, safe and self-enhancing experience for all participants. Well-qualified coaches are the key to quality sport experiences.
The eight domains of the new second edition of Quality Coaches, Quality Sports: NationalStandards for Sport Coaches are as follows:

  • Philosophy and ethics
  • Safety and injury prevention
  • Physical conditioning
  • Growth and development
  • Teaching and communications
  • Sport skills and tactics
  • Organization and Administration
  • Evaluation
Messages derive from the 2012 Shape of the Nation Report's Executive Summary. View the Shape of the Nation webpage.