American Football Coaches Association Joins Physical Education Campaign

America's football coaches are rallying behind a national campaign to restore and enhance physical education programs in public schools in order to halt a major decline in fitness among the nation's youth.

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has designated the week of Sept. 18-23 as 'AFCA Physical Education Promotion Week', or 'PEP' Week, and asked its membership to promote the importance of physical education as a major component in public school curriculums across the USA.

The sporting goods industry this year initiated the 'We Need P.E.' campaign after studies showed there was a serious decline in physical activity among American youth traced, in part, to the low priority given to physica leducation by local school districts. The campaign has expanded into the creation of a national organization called PE4LIFE, whose mission is topromote and expand daily quality physical education programs in America's schools.

The campaign supports proposed legislation pending in the U.S. Congress to upgrade physical education. The Physical Education for Progress Act(S.1159), known as the 'PEP' bill, was sponsored by Senator Ted Stevens (R,Alaska) and is co-sponsored by 34 Senators and 33 Representatives. It would provide $400 million over five years in direct grants to local schoo ldistricts to "initiate, expand and improve physical education programs for all kindergarten through 12th grade students."

"It's important that the AFCA takes part in this effort," says AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff. "We can provide a highly-visible platform to spread the message about the importance of youngsters being physically fit, whether they are a well-conditioned football player or a student who chooses not to take part in organized athletics."The point is, those who exercise regularly generally live longer, happier,healthier lives. We're asking our coaches to promote the idea that young people should have more opportunities to learn and develop healthy lifestyle habits at an early age through participation in daily physical education programs in our schools."

• The percentage of overweight young Americans has more than doubled in the past 30 years.
• Fewer than one-in-four children get 20 minutes of vigorous activity every day.
• 14 percent of children ages 6-11 are overweight, and 12 percent of adolescents ages 12-17 are overweight.
• Only one state in the nation - Illinois - has a mandatory daily requirement for physical education for grades K through 12, and the creation of waivers in many school systems allows classes like band and chorus to be substituted for physical education.
• 85 percent of all five-year old children in the U.S. cannot pass a basic physical fitness test.
• 40 percent of 12-year old children display heart disease factors (i.e. obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and inactivity).

In his cover letter to each head coach, Teaff wrote: "It is of great importance that we get involved in this effort, because in the long run, it affects our entire society, your kids as well as mine. As a role model and leader you can influence the entire community's mindset: that local school districts have an obligation to make it a priority that all young people become physically active and participate in school-sponsored physical education programs. We're asking each AFCA member to take part in this effort to restore the emphasis on physical education in our schools. Being active and leading a healthful lifestyle now will make a difference in thousands of young lives years later, and that's the message we should be sending."

Media Resources:

Anne Flannery, Executive Director, PE4LIFE: Ph: 202-776-0377; Fax: 202-296-7462
1150 17th St., N.W., Suite 407, Washington, DC 20036

Jim Baugh, Chairman, PE4LIFE; President, Wilson Sporting Goods: Ph: 773-714-6400

Mike May, Director of Communications, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Assn.: Ph: 561-840-1165

Paula Kun, Dir., Public Relations, National Assn. for Sports & Phys. Education: Ph: 703-476-3461

American Football Coaches Association:
Grant Teaff, Executive Director: Ph: 254-776-5900

Mel Pulliam, Director, Marketing & Development: Ph: 254-776-5900

Todd Bell, Director, Media Relations & Publications: Ph: 254-776-5900

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Information about the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) can be found on the Internet at www.aahperd.org, the web site of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). NASPE is the largest of AAHPERD’s six national associations. A nonprofit membership organization of over 25,000 professionals in the fitness and physical activity fields, NASPE is the only national association dedicated to strengthening basic knowledge about sport and physical education among professionals and the general public. Putting that knowledge into action in schools and communities across the nation is critical to improved academic performance, social reform and the health of individuals.

(Information provided courtesy of www.pelinks4u.org)

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