National Association For Sport and Physical Education

It is obvious that there is health crisis in America today. Exploding rates of obesity and diabetes mark a society that not only eats poorly, but lacks almost all types of physical activity. There is, however, a national association for sport and physical health in America, designed to assist physical education teachers in designing curriculum, meeting national standards, and generally promoting daily physical activity that fosters a lifelong activity.

There are currently five organizations that comprise the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). The largest of those organizations is the NAPSE, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. The NAPSE currently maintains that physical education is a critical component to education in the 21st century, and that every child in a K-12 program should receive some sort of physical education daily. This emphasis on the physical educational needs of every child is part of a whole-child initiative, in which the changing demands of society require that the body and not just the mind be educated.

This national association for sport and physical health believes that physical fitness is more than an educational requirement, but a foundation for improved personal health. Only through education can a person learn realistic ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. By setting a national standard for health, the health of the nation can be improved.