Measuring physical
fitness in children
Over the years, youth physical fitness assessments have
changed from a sport-related test battery to a health-related fitness battery.
There are several good test batteries available today to test children of all
ages. In this module, we will discuss the FITNESSGRAM and the President’s
Challenge fitness test.
We highlight the FITNESSGRAM test battery because it is
currently being used in Texas public schools to test children. The FITNESSGRAM
includes criterion-referenced standards for pass/fail called the “Healthy
Fitness Zone”. The test items measure the following components of physical
fitness:
1.
Aerobic Capacity
a. PACER (recommended test) [See PACER description]
b.
1-mile run
c.
Walk test
2.
Body Composition
a.
Skinfold test (recommended test) – triceps and
calf sites
b.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
3.
Muscular Strength and Endurance
a.
Curl up (recommended)
b.
Trunk lift (recommended)
c.
Push-up (recommended)
d.
Modified pull-up
e.
Flexed arm hang
4.
Flexibility
a.
Back-saver sit and reach
b.
Shoulder stretch
A short description of each test is found in the course
handout along with the Healthy Fitness Zone standards for both boys and girls.
The President’s Challenge is sponsored by the President’s
Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. There are many similarities between the
President’s Challenge and FITNESSGRAM, as they are both based on the latest
research. The President’s Challenge has an excellent website that can be
accessed at
www.presidentschallenge.org. The President’s Challenge Fitness test items
measure:
1.
Aerobic Capacity
a.
1-mile run (10-17 year olds)
b.
½-mile run (8-9 year olds)
c.
¼-mile run (6-7 year olds)
2.
Muscular Strength, Endurance, and Flexibility
a.
Partial curl ups (recommended)
b.
Curl ups
c.
Right angle push-ups (recommended)
d.
Pull-ups
e.
Flexed arm hang (cannot be used for a
Presidential Physical Fitness Award)
f.
V-sit reach
g.
Sit-and-reach
3.
Agility: Shuttle Run
For each test item included in The President’s Challenge, a
normative standard is used to compare students. The standards are included in an
excel spreadsheet for each
activity by age and gender. There are three award categories to recognize
student excellence:
·
Presidential Physical Fitness Award – To earn
this award, students must score at or above the 85th percentile on
all five activities.
·
National Physical Fitness Award – Students earn
this award for scoring above the 50th percentile on all five
activities.
·
Participant Physical Fitness Award – Students
earn this award if they participate in all five activities, but one or more of
their scores fall below the 50th percentile.