ACSM, NAK, NASPEM, NSCA Encourage Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents
Posted: May 8, 2026 in Suppliers
ACSM
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), with the support of the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK), the North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine (NASPEM), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), strongly support efforts that encourage children and adolescents to be physically active and to develop lifelong habits that promote health and wellbeing. National attention to youth fitness can help elevate awareness and mobilize resources to support physical activity in schools and communities.
Simultaneously, ACSM and its partner organizations underscore the significance of how youth fitness is evaluated. Over several decades, research and practice have evolved from performance and norm-based fitness testing, towards health-related physical fitness approaches grounded in scientific principles and aligned with positive health outcomes. These approaches focus on key components such as cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition, using criterion-referenced standards linked to health rather than peer comparison.
The priority should be appropriately designed and implemented health-related fitness assessments that serve as educational tools within school physical education programs, particularly when paired with comprehensive fitness education, supportive instructional resources, and meaningful communication with families.
As policymakers revisit national youth fitness initiatives and considering the release of the 2026 Presidential Fitness Test, ACSM and the supporting organizations encourage continued emphasis on evidence-based, health-focused models that support positive relationships with physical activity. Several assessment options in the new program, including the PACER, push-ups, and plank, align with components commonly used in FitnessGram® and other health-related fitness assessments. However, important implementation details for some tests, including the timed sit-up, have not yet been released, making it difficult to evaluate alignment with current best practices.
Additionally, the award standards appear to reflect high percentile, performance-oriented benchmarks that substantially exceed widely accepted health-related fitness standards. While performance-based goals may recognize athletic excellence and motivate some youth, current evidence does not support highly competitive norm-referenced standards as an effective primary strategy for motivating most children and adolescents toward lifelong physical activity.
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK), the North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine (NASPEM), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) support framing fitness as a component of lifelong health and welcome opportunities to work collaboratively with the Administration, policymakers and partner organizations to promote balanced youth fitness initiatives that prioritize long-term health outcomes while supporting physical education programs with adequate resources.
