What is President's Challenge?

The President's Challenge Physical Activity, Nutrition and Fitness Awards program is the long-standing program of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition administered through a co-sponsorship agreement with the Amateur Athletic Union. The President's Challenge helps people of all ages and abilities improve their fitness, physical activity and nutrition habits through a suite of recognition programs to help Americans of all ages live healthier lives.

Partner with the President's Challenge program by becoming a President's Challenge Advocate. Click here for more information.

Since the program's founding as a fitness test for youth in the 1960s, it has grown to include awards for youth, adults, and schools for fitness, physical activity and healthy eating.

Physical Fitness Test

President's Challenge Youth Physical Fitness Test Update. Click here for more info.

In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a literature review has been conducted to compile the evidence on fitness measures as they relate to health outcomes among youth. This review (completed in November, 2011) was provided to an Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee charged with examining the literature and making recommendations on appropriate fitness tests for American youth that can be conducted in a school setting. The IOM committee's draft recommendations are due February, 2012 and a final, public report is expected by the summer of 2012. The IOM committee is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

More information about the committee is available at http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Nutrition/FitnessMeasuresYouth.aspx

• Physical Fitness Test : Measures the physical fitness of kids and teens
• Adult Fitness Test : Measures an adult's aerobic fitness, muscular strength, flexibility, and other aspects of health-related fitness

Physical Activity and Nutrition

• Presidential Active Lifestyle Award: Activity + Nutrition (PALA+): For people who want to make physical activity and healthy eating part of their everyday lives

Physical Activity

• Presidential Champions Challenge : For people who want to be more active, more often

• School Recognition

  • Demonstration Centers : Recognize schools for promoting the overall health and well-being of their students
  • State Champion Schools : Recognize schools that have a high percentage of students qualify for the Presidential Physical Fitness Award
  • State Coordinators : Help to identify and certify these schools in each state. The PCFSN is pleased to recognize a partnership with the American College of Sports Medicine that has helped to identify ACSM members willing to volunteer their time as a state coordinator.