Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth (2012) / Chapter Skim
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9 Fitness Measures for Schools and Other Educational Settings
9 Fitness Measures for Schools and Other Educational Settings
Pages 215-234
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From page 215... ...
To plan and conduct fitness testing in schools effectively and appropriately, test developers and administrators should consider the following four factors: · T est items should be selected with consideration of contextual variables, such as access to high-quality equipment, space, cost, privacy, and availability of volunteers, as well as cultural and racial/ ethnic factors. · When administering tests, consideration should be given to the safety of participants, the presence of pre-existing conditions, the effects of body composition and other modifiers on test results, and the confidentiality of results.
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From page 216... ...
for interpreting performance on the selected fitness test items. T he preceding chapters highlight the importance of measuring and monitoring the prevalence of physical fitness during childhood and address questions relating to the core purpose of this report -- identifying fitness tests that are related to health and are valid and reliable.
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From page 217... ...
One benefit is that, when integrated into physical education programs in school settings, fitness testing can provide clear technical performance expectations and minimize the effect of practice on test performance in a national survey. Another benefit is that fitness testing in schools allows for group and individual tracking of physical fitness trends and disease risk.
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From page 218... ...
The final section presents the committee's conclusions and recommendations for school-based fitness testing. FACTORS RELATED TO SELECTING AND IMPLEMENTING TEST ITEMS Children enrolled in regularly scheduled physical education classes participate in significantly more physical activity than those who attend physical education infrequently (Cawley et al., 2007; Gordon-Larsen et al., 2000; Pate et al., 2007)
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From page 219... ...
The use of only high-quality equipment is critical to avoid measurement and interpretation errors. To ensure that performance on a fitness test is actually a reflection of physical fitness, it is also necessary to consider the reliability, validity, and feasibility of test items; the standardization of test protocols; and the confidentiality of test results.
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From page 220... ...
. Professional development aimed at preparing physical education teachers to administer a battery of fitness tests can include a combination of the following components: · ow to integrate fitness testing into the curriculum; h · protocols and use of proper equipment for fitness test items; · how to familiarize participants with the test, together with specifi cations regarding the amount and type of practice; · how to communicate consistently with the students in ways that create a positive and encouraging environment for learners of all ability levels; · teacher burden; · participant burden; · the validity and reliability of test items; · class management during test periods; and · how to interpret and communicate test results.
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The Fitnessgram® program suggests that, when interpreting performance on fitness tests, the following characteristics are essential in educational settings: · The physical fitness experience should always be fun and enjoyable. " · Physical fitness testing should not become a competitive sport.
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It is important, then, that an educational component be integrated into the physical education program to provide clear technical performance expectations for fitness testing and minimize practice effects. When physical education teachers and physical activity leaders adhere to these principles, fitness tests can help identify risk for developing chronic disease while helping participants better understand the concepts of fitness through comprehensive fitness education (Freedson et al., 2000)
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While it is beyond the scope of this report to make suggestions about fitness awards, the committee believes a comprehensive study of such awards, similar to this study of fitness test items, should be conducted to determine whether there is sufficient scientific evidence to warrant their use. APPROPRIATE AND INAPPROPRIATE PRACTICES If physical fitness tests are to be used effectively in schools and other educational settings, appropriate practices must be employed in their administration.
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Examples include heredity, caloric consumption, access to opportunities to be physically active both within and beyond the school day, and possibly socioeconomic status. For similar reasons, physical fitness testing for the purpose of teacher and school accountability is also inappropriate.
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with regard to their practicality in schools and other educational settings. The sections below detail the committee's adaptations for fitness tests when the testing is to be conducted in such settings.
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From page 226... ...
An alternative to the shuttle run is any of the distance runs that, as noted in Chapter 5, have been used to measure cardiorespiratory endurance in fitness test batteries since the advent of large-scale fitness testing in the post-World War II era. Numerous studies have assessed the validity of distance run tests by examining the correlation between a criterion measure -- directly measured maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)
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. For schools, in addition to these two tests, the committee considered the value of other musculoskeletal fitness tests that are valid and that may have adequate reliability because of their wide use and familiarity to students and test administrators.
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From page 228... ...
Recommended Fitness Tests for Schools The committee found strong evidence linking cardiorespiratory endurance and body composition to health in youth and evidence in adults to support a link between musculoskeletal fitness and health. Given the connections to health and the benefits of promoting a physically active lifestyle through physical fitness education, the committee selected measures of body composition, cardiorespiratory endurance, and musculoskeletal fitness that should be included in a fitness test battery for use in schools and other educational settings.
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2009. Fitness testing in physical education: A misdirected effort in promoting healthy lifestyles and physical activity?
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2009. Appropriate use of physical fitness tests.
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2010. Statewide physical fitness testing: Perspectives from the gym.
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2004. Moving into the fu ture: National physical education standards.
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1999. The Brockport physical fitness test manual.
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