Youth Physical Fitness: Ten Key Concepts

The promotion of physical fitness has been a key objective of physical education for more than a century. During this period, physical education has evolved to accommodate changing views on fitness and health. The purpose of this article is to discuss issues with fitness assessment and fitness education central to the new Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP) and the Institute of Medicine recommendations. To facilitate effective coordination, it is important to build consensus on common terms and principles underlying physical education, fitness assessment, and fitness education. This article outlines 10 key concepts, developed by representatives from the organizations involved with the PYFP.