Physical Fitness Testing of Children: A 30-Year History of Misguided Efforts?

Seefeldt, Vern; Vogel, Paul

doi:10.1123/pes.1.4.295

Cited by 37 publications

(19 citation statements)

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“…A number of paradoxes relating to fitness testing have been reported in the literature (Cale & Harris, 1998;Safrit;1990;Seefeldt & Vogel, 1989) which raise questions over the relative merits of testing. For example:…”

Section: Fitness Testing Paradoxesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Methodological limitations aside, a number of other issues have been raised and concerns expressed over the use of fitness tests with children (see ACSM, 1988;Armstrong, 1987;Cale & Harris, 1998, 2005Fox & Biddle, 1986;Harris, 2000;Harris & Cale, 1997;PEA, 1988;Rowland, 1995;Safrit, 1990;Seefeldt & Vogel, 1989).…”

Section: The Role Of Fitness Testing In Physical Activity and Physicamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the methodological problems of assessing children's physical fitness have been widely acknowledged (see for example, American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), 1988; Armstrong, 1987;Cale & Harris, 1998;Fox & Biddle, 1986;Physical Education Association (PEA), 1988;Rowland, 1995;Seefeldt & Vogel, 1989).…”

Section: Monitoring Children's Physical Fitnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another important consideration is how test procedures might affect the social, emotional, and attitudinal values of young people towards activity (Cale & Harris, 2002;Seefeldt & Vogel, 1989) as these in turn are likely to influence participation.…”

Section: Impact On Children and Children's Physical Activity Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of children’s fitness testing

Harris

Cale

2006

European Physical Education Review

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A review of literature on children's fitness testing formed part of a study exploring the feasibility of fitness testing children in order to promote their physical activity and health status. The review revealed that there is no empirical evidence to support concerns about low levels of fitness amongst children or a decline in children's fitness over time. Further, there is only weak evidence that physical fitness is related to children's current health although growing evidence that it may be related to future health. However, the measurement of children's fitness is problematic, given methodological limitations and the possible negative impact on some children. Additionally, the use of children's fitness test data to inform policy and practice is limited, and there is little evidence that large scale surveys on children's fitness have positively impacted on children's health, activity and fitness. Based on the review, recommendations are included for policy makers and practitioners which reflect the shift towards a stronger emphasis on physical activity within health promotion.

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Section: Fitness Testing Paradoxesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Role Of Fitness Testing In Physical Activity and Physicamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Monitoring Children's Physical Fitnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Impact On Children and Children's Physical Activity Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of children’s fitness testing

Harris

Cale

2006

European Physical Education Review

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“…As noted earlier, advocates of fitness testing in schools argue that testing 373 motivates young people, enhances learning and promotes positive attitudes which 374 would seem to be compelling from the viewpoint of physical activity promotion 375 (Seefeldt & Vogel, 1989;Cale & Harris, 2002). Yet, when debating the role or 376 value of fitness testing, researchers have expressed concern that fitness testing 377 may, to the contrary, be repetitive and boring (Keating, 2003), de-motivating and 378 counterproductive to the promotion of active lifestyles in young people (Corbin, 379 Pangrazi & Welk, 1995;Rowland, 1995).…”

Section: Impact Of Fitness Testing? 372mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fitness testing in physical education – a misdirected effort in promoting healthy lifestyles and physical activity?

Cale

Harris

2009

Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy

100

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28 Background 29Physical fitness testing is commonplace within schools and the Physical Education 30 (PE) curriculum, with advocates claiming one of the key purposes of testing to be 31 the promotion of healthy lifestyles and physical activity. Despite this, much 32 controversy has surrounded the fitness testing of young people. 33 34 Purpose 35This paper draws on selected findings of a recent 'fitness testing children feasibility 36 study' to explore the key issues, concerns and debates regarding fitness testing, 37 as they relate to encouraging a physically active lifestyle. 38 39 Research Design 40The feasibility study was commissioned by the National Assembly for Wales and 41 involved two main parts: a comprehensive review of literature (using metalib) to 42 establish the key findings/issues, and consultation with key 'stakeholders' and 43 'experts' to ascertain their views, understanding and experiences of fitness testing 44 children. The consultation was carried out via questionnaires and interviews. 45 46 3 Data Analysis 47The key issues and themes emerging from the literature from 1985 onwards were 48 identified and served as the evidence for the debate. The questionnaire and 49 interview data were analysed by quantifying the questionnaire responses and 50 identifying the common issues and themes emerging from the transcripts (and the 51 open items within the questionnaires). These were then used to reinforce, 52 substantiate and illustrate key points. 53 54 Findings 55The findings reveal that the role fitness testing plays in PE in promoting healthy 56 lifestyles and physical activity is questionable and cannot be taken for granted. For 57 example, little evidence was found to support the notion that fitness tests promote 58 healthy lifestyles and physical activity, motivate young people, and develop the 59 knowledge and skills that are important to the sustained engagement in an active 60 lifestyle. 61 62 Conclusion 63Based on the evidence, the paper concludes that much of the fitness testing 64 carried out in PE may well represent a misdirected effort in the promotion of 65 healthy lifestyles and physical activity, and that PE time could therefore be better 66 74). 88 89Physical fitness testing is commonplace within schools and the PE curriculum 90 (Harris, 1995; ACSM, 2000), with most secondary schools including it as a 91 compulsory component of their PE programmes (Ross et al., 1985;Harris, 1995; 92 5 Cale, 2000). Advocates claim that fitness testing in schools promotes healthy 93 lifestyles and physical activity, motivates young people to maintain or enhance 94 their physical fitness or physical activity levels, facilitates goal setting, self-95 monitoring and self-testing skills, promotes positive attitudes, and enhances 96 cognitive and affective learning (Whitehead, Pemberton & Corbin, 1990; Pate, 97 1994). Other reported purposes of testing include programme evaluation, tracking 98 of fitness over time, identification of children at risk or in need of improvement 99 and/or wi...

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Monitoring Young People’s Physical Fitness and Physical Activity

Cale¹,

Harris²

2005

Exercise and Young People

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Physical Fitness Testing of Children: A 30-Year History of Misguided Efforts?

Cited by 37 publications

References 0 publications

A review of children’s fitness testing

A review of children’s fitness testing

Fitness testing in physical education – a misdirected effort in promoting healthy lifestyles and physical activity?

Monitoring Young People’s Physical Fitness and Physical Activity

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