Posted on 07/31/2025 1:44:24 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
The Presidential Fitness Test is coming back.
President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Thursday afternoon reinstating the national fitness assessment implemented in public schools from 1956 until 2013, a White House official told NBC News.
The role of administering the test will fall to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been vocal in his concern about childhood obesity and whose “Make America Healthy Again” report in February attributed the issue, in part, to sedentary lifestyles.
The White House official said Trump aims to address Americans’ declining health and physical fitness, including “crisis levels” of obesity, chronic disease, inactivity and poor nutrition.
“President Trump wants every young American to have the opportunity to emphasize healthy, active lifestyles — creating a culture of strength and excellence for years to come," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
The original Presidential Fitness Test was established under the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s and underwent several iterations in the decades to come. Students were generally asked to perform some combination of push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, running and reaching for their toes while seated. Starting in the 1960s, those with the highest fitness scores were eligible to receive a Presidential Physical Fitness Award.
The Obama administration replaced the fitness test after the 2012-13 school year with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, which focused more on individual health than athletic prowess.
Trump’s executive order Thursday tasks the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition with developing criteria for a new Presidential Fitness Award, a White House official said.
The council's chair, professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, will be present at the signing Thursday afternoon at the White House, the official said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
oh man I used to hate that. ha
I remember doing that every year in 6th grade thru high school
Test 1. Scale a five foot wall.
I’m good with this. Remember the softball throw and standing broad jump as well.
Now can we take back big tech consolidating and using our health data for AI and more?
1. Pull-ups (boys) / Flexed-arm hang (girls)
2. Sit-ups (1 minute)
3. Shuttle run (30 feet x 2)
4. Standing broad jump
5. Softball throw (for distance)
6. 600-yard run/walk
So did I. But I’m glad they’re bringing it back. I think we were in better shape.
I was a fairly sporty kid, but failed this multiple times. Probably pull-ups.
1. Pull-ups: Boys – How many times can you pull your chin up to the bar? Girls – Pull your chin up to the bar. How long can you stay in this position?
2. Sit-ups: To make the team, girls must do 50 sit-ups, boys 100.
3. 50-yard dash: What’s your best time for 50-yard-dash?
4. Standing broad jump: How far can you jump without a running start? Bend your knees. Throw your arms back and find out.
5. Softball throw: With a running start, how far can you throw a softball?
6. Shuttle run: How long will it take you to do this twice? Run 30 feet. Pick up a block of wood. Run back.
7. 600-yard run-walk: Can you make it around the outside of a football field twice without pooping out?
I think I hated the rope climb most of all. LOL
Shuttle run!
It should have never stopped. I also think they should increase time spent in gym classes. It gives the kids a break...and they can’t be on they’re electronic free!!
I thought it was 6 minute run/walk.
But it was a long time ago.
Good intentions, bad idea.
The Constitution gives the feds NO AUTHORITY to regulate state schools including fitness and such. That is a state’s and the people of the state’s issue.
We’ve got to DISMATLE the 80%+ $3+ trillion unconstitutional portion of the feds not keep giving them more unconstitutional power!!!!!
“for no matter how silly the idea of a
queen may be, we as Americans must be
gracious and considerate hosts,”
He’ll kill 2/3rds of the boys in middle and high schools. They are so out of shape.
Oh yea, the rope climb, that was spooky. I did it, but it was rather difficult, not just physically but mentally.
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