The Youth Physical Fitness

Test Instructions

1. Curl-ups
Objective
To measure abdominal strength/endurance by maximum number of curl-ups
performed in one minute.
Testing12”

Have student lie on cushioned, clean surface with knees flexed and feet about
12 inches from buttocks. Partner holds feet. Arms are crossed with hands placed on
opposite shoulders and elbows held close to chest. Keeping this arm position, student
raises the trunk, curling up to touch the outside of forearms and elbows to thighs andthen lowers the back to the floor so that the scapulas (shoulder blades) touch thefloor, for one curl-up. To start, a timer calls out the signal “Ready? Go!” and begins
timing student for one minute. The student stops on the word “stop.”
Scoring“Bouncing” off the floor is not permitted. The curl-up should be counted only if
performed correctly. See page 8 for qualifying standards.

12”

OR 1a. Partial Curl-ups
Objective
To measure abdominal strength/endurance by maximum number of curl-ups.
Testing12”

12”

Have student lie on cushioned, clean surface with knees flexed and feet about
12 inches from buttocks. The feet are not held or anchored. Arms are extended
forward with fingers resting on the legs and pointing toward the knees. Thestudent’s partner kneels behind with hands cupped under the student’s head.
The student being tested curls up, slowly sliding the fingers up the legs until thefingertips touch the knees, then back down until the head touches the partner’shands. The curl-ups are done to a metronome (or audio tape, clapping, drums) with
one complete curl-up every three seconds, and are continued until the student can
do no more at the required pace. The student should remain in motion during theentire three second interval.
Scoring
Record only those curl-ups done with proper form and in rhythm. See page 8 forqualifying standards.
Rationale
Partial curl-ups, completed slowly with knees bent and feet not held, are also anindicator of strength and endurance of the abdominal muscles.

Fitness Fundamental
Did you know… Children and adolescents need time for structured and unstructured
physical activity during and outside of the school day.

442. Shuttle RunObjective
To measure speed and agility.
TestingMark two parallel lines 30 feet apart and place two blocks of wood or similar object (approximate
size of 2"x2"x4") behind one of the lines. Students start behind opposite line. On the signal“Ready? Go!” the student runs to the blocks, picks one up, runs back to the starting line, places
the block behind the line, runs back and picks up the second block and runs back across thestarting line.
Scoring
Blocks should not be thrown across the lines. Scores are recorded to the nearest tenth of asecond. See page 8 for qualifying standards.

3. Endurance Run/WalkObjective
To measure heart/lung endurance by fastest time to cover a designated distance.
Testing
On a safe, one-mile distance, students begin running on the count “Ready? Go!”
Walking may be interspersed with running. However, the students should beencouraged to cover the distance in as short a time as possible.
Scoring
Before administering this test, students’ health status should be reviewed.
Also, students should be given ample instruction on how to pace themselves
and should be allowed to practice running this distance against time. Sufficient
time should be allowed for warming up and cooling down before and after the test.
Times are recorded in minutes and seconds.
n Option for 6–7 year olds . . . 1/4 milen Option for 8–9 year olds . . . 1/2 mile
The same objective and testing procedures are used as with the mile run. See page 8 for qualifying standards.

Rationale
Shorter distance runs are included as options for younger children. Younger children can be prepared to run the mile. However, someteachers find it easier to administer a shorter run, which provides good information on cardiorespiratory endurance of young children.

Did you know… If the track is a 1/4 mile track (inside lane measurement) and thelanes are 42 inches wide (a common width), then one lap in lane 4
will be .262 miles and one lap in lane 8 will be .279 miles.
54. Pull-ups
Objective
To measure upper body strength/endurance by maximum number of pull-ups completed.
Testing
Student hangs from a horizontal bar with arms fully extended and feet free from floor, using
either an overhand grasp (palms facing away from body) or underhand grip (palms facing
toward body). Small students may be lifted to starting position. Student raises body until chinclears the bar and then lowers body to full-hang starting position. Student performs as many
correct pull-ups as possible.
ScoringPull-ups should be done in a smooth rather than jerky motion. Kicking or bending thelegs is not permitted and the body must not swing during the movement. See page 8 forqualifying standards.

OR 4a. Right Angle Push-ups
Objective
To measure upper body strength/endurance by maximum number of push-ups completed.
Testing
The student starts in push-up position with hands under shoulders, arms straight,fingers pointed forward, and legs straight, parallel, and slightly apart (approximately
2–4 inches) with the toes supporting the feet. Keeping the back and knees straight,
the student then lowers the body until there is a 90-degree angle formed at the elbows
with upper arms parallel to the floor. A partner holds her/his hands at the point of the90-degree angle so that the student being tested goes down only until her/his shoulders touch the partner’s hand, then backup. The push-ups are done to a metronome (or audio tape, clapping, drums) with one complete push-up every three seconds, and arecontinued until the student can do no more at the required pace. The student should remain in motion during the entire three secondinterval.
Scoring
Record only those push-ups done with proper form and in rhythm. See page 8 for qualifying standards.
Rationale
Right angle push-ups provide a good indicator of the range of strength/endurance found in children and youth, whereas some areunable to do any pull-ups. Pull-ups remain an option for those students at higher levels of strength/endurance.

OR 4b. Flexed-Arm Hang
Students who cannot do one pull-up or want an alternative to the pull-ups or right angle push-ups
may do the flexed-arm hang in order to qualify for the National or Participant Physical Fitness Awards.
To qualify for the Presidential Award, students are required to do pull-ups or right angle push-ups.
Objective
To measure upper body strength by maintaining flexed-arm hang position as long as possible.
Testing
Using either an overhand grasp (palms facing away from body) or underhand grip (palms facing
toward body), student assumes flexed-arm hang position with chin clearing the bar. Students may belifted to this position. Student holds this position as long as possible.
Scoring
Chest should be held close to bar with legs hanging straight. Timing is stopped when student’s chin touches or falls below the bar.
See page 8 for qualifying standards.
66

5. V-Sit Reach
Objective
To measure flexibility of lower back and hamstrings.
Testing
A straight line two feet long is marked on the floor as the baseline. A measuring line
four feet long is drawn perpendicular to the midpoint of the baseline extending two
feet on each side and marked off in half-inches. The point where the baseline andmeasuring line intersect is the “0” point. Student removes shoes and sits on floor withmeasuring line between legs and soles of feet placed immediately behind baseline, heels 8–12 inches apart. With hands on top ofeach other, palms down, the student places them on measuring line. With the legs held flat by a partner, the student slowly reaches
forward as far as possible, keeping fingers on the measuring line and feet flexed. After three practice tries, the student holds thefourth reach for three seconds while that distance is recorded.
Scoring
Legs must remain straight with soles of feet held perpendicular to the floor (feet flexed). Students should be encouraged to reachslowly rather than “bounce” while stretching. Scores, recorded to the nearest half-inch, are read as plus scores for reaches beyond
baseline, minus scores for reaches behind baseline. See page 8 for qualifying standards.

OR 5a. Sit and Reach
Objective
To measure flexibility of lower back and hamstrings.
Testing
A specially constructed box is used with a measuring scale marked in centimeters, with 23 centimeters at the level of the feet.
(Details for construction are available at presidentschallenge.org or by contacting the President’s Challenge office.) Student
removes shoes and sits on floor with knees fully extended, feet shoulder-width apart, and soles of the feet held flat against theend of the box. With hands on top of each other, palms down, and legs held flat, the student reaches along the measuring line as
far as possible. After three practice reaches, the fourth reach is held while the distance is recorded.
Scoring
Legs must remain straight, soles of feet against box, and fingertips of both hands should reach evenly along measuring line.
Scores are recorded to the nearest centimeter. See page 8 for qualifying standards.

President’s Challenge Sit and Reach Box
The President’s Challenge offers a sit and reach box to help you test
students’ flexibility. It has a built-in footplate, a maximum reach indicator, andscales in inches and centimeters. Assembly is easy and requires no tools.
See inside back cover for ordering information.

Physical Fitness Test
Score Pads
(Actual Size: 5" x 7")
Item Code #310
$2.00

Physical Fitness Test Score Pads
President’s Challenge
Sit and Reach Box
Item Code #350
$119.95

Our 50-sheet test score pads make it easy towrite down scores and comments on the physicalfitness test, then tear off the pages and give themto students, or take them back to your office.
See inside back cover for ordering information.
7

ORBuilding a Healthier Nation­—One Student at a Time
Qualifying Standards for all students ­— The Presidential Physical Fitness Test
In order to qualify for this award, participants must achieve at least the 85th percentile in all 5 events represented
below. These standards are based on the 1985 National School Population Fitness Survey and validated in 1998, bymeans of comparison with a large nationwide sample collected in 1994.
Curl-Ups

Age(# oneminute)

GIRLSBOYS6789101112131415161767891011121314151617

Partial*Curl-Ups
OR

33
36
40
41
45
47
50
53
56
57
56
55
32
34
38
39
40
42
45
46
47
48
45
44

ShuttleRunV-Sit
Reach

(#)

(seconds)(inches)

22
24
30
37
35
43
64
59
62
75
73
66
22
24
30
37
33
43
50
59
48
38
49
58

12.1
11.5
11.1
10.9
10.3
10.0
9.8
9.5
9.1
9.0
8.7
8.7
12.4
12.1
11.8
11.1
10.8
10.5
10.4
10.2
10.1
10.0
10.1
10.0

+3.5
+3.5
+3.0
+3.0
+4.0
+4.0
+4.0
+3.5
+4.5
+5.0
+6.0
+7.0
+5.5
+5.0
+4.5
+5.5+6.0+6.5
+7.0
+7.0
+8.0
+8.0
+9.0
+8.0

The National Physical Fitness Award

Sit andReach

OR (centimeters)

3130
31
31
30
31
31
33
36
37
38
41
32
32
33
33
33
34
36
38
40
43
42
42

One-Mile
Run

Distance Options**(min:sec)(min:sec) OR 1/4 mile
10:15
1:55
09:22
1:48
8:48
8:31
7:57
7:32
7:11
6:50
6:26
6:20
6:08
6:06
11:20
2:00
10:36
1:55
10:02
9:30
9:19
9:02
8:23
8:13
7:59
8:08
8:23
8:15

(min:sec)
1/2 mile

Rt. Angle
Push-Ups

Pull-Ups(#)

OR2
4
55667710111113
22223322221
1

3:30
3:30

3:58
3:53

(#)
914
17182227
313940424453
914171820
19202120202425

Chart reflects 85th percentile of scores that students must reach for the Presidential Physical Fitness Award.

In order to qualify for this award, participants must achieve at least the 50th percentile in all 5 events represented
below. These standards are based on the 1985 National School Population Fitness Survey and validated in 1998, bymeans of comparison with a large nationwide sample collected in 1994.

GIRLSBOYS

Age
678
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
6
7
8
910
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

Curl-Ups

Partial*(# oneCurl-Ups(#)
minute) OR
2228
31
32
35
37
40
42
45
45
45
44
23
25
29
30
30
32
35
37
37
36
35
34

10
13
17
20
24
26
32
39
40
45
37
42
10
13
17
20
24
27
30
40
30
26
26
40

ShuttleRun(seconds)
13.3
12.8
12.2
11.9
11.5
11.1
10.6
10.2
9.9
9.7
9.4
9.4
13.8
13.2
12.9
12.5
12.1
11.5
11.3
11.1
11.2
11.0
10.9
11.0

V-Sit
Reach

Sit andReach(inches) OR (centimeters)
+1.0
+1.0
+0.5
+1.0+1.0+1.0
+1.0
+0.5
+1.0
+2.0
+3.0
+3.0
+2.5
+2.0
+2.0
+2.0
+3.0
+3.0
+3.5
+3.5
+4.5
+5.0
+5.5
+4.5

26
25
25
25
25
25
26
26
28
30
30
34
27
27
28
28
28
29
30
31
33
36
34
35

One-Mile
Run

Distance Options**(min:sec)(min:sec) OR 1/4 mile
12:36
11:40
11:05
10:30
9:48
9:20
8:40
8:06
7:44
7:30
7:10
7:04
13:12
12:56
12:30
11:52
11:22
11:17
11:05
10:23
10:06
9:58
10:31
10:22

(min:sec)
1/2 mile

2:21
2:10
4:22
4:14

2:26
2:21
4:56
4:50

Pull-Ups(#)
11122223
5678
1111111111
1
1Rt. Angle
Push-Ups
OR(#)
78
9
12
14
15
18
24
24
30
30
37
6
8
9
12
13
11
10
11
10
15
12
16

OR

FlexedArm
Hang(sec)
68
10
10
12
11
12
14
20
30
28
30
5
6
8
8
8
7
78
9
7
7
7

Chart reflects 50th percentile of scores that students must reach for the National Physical Fitness Award.

The Participant Physical Fitness Award
Those who attempt all five events but have one or more scores below the 50th percentile (see chart above) are eligible
for the Participant Award.
To see more specific percentiles for these test events, you can also download the President’s Challenge Normative DataSpreadsheet at www.presidentschallenge.org. Click on any category, then choose Downloads at the bottom of thepage, and see Forms.
*Norms from Canada Fitness Award Program, Health Canada, Government of Canada with permission. **Note: 1/4 and 1/2 mile norms from Amateur Athletic Union Physical Fitness Program with permission.

8