Over the last few years we have heard elementary schools, high schools, universities and colleges have been dropping fitness, exercise and sport programs. Recess has been eliminated at some elementary school, physical education at middle schools has been challenged, gym class in high school is no longer mandatory. Many sport and fitness programs have been axed due to lack of funds.

Kids and students need PE/exercise/sports but schools many times don’t have the money, budget or increasing liability $$ to cover it. The outdated Presidential Challenge fitness test is being replaced by the voluntary The Presidential Youth Fitness Program after 2012-2013 school year. This program introduces new ideas like FITNESSGRAM® assessment protocol used to measure each of the five health-related components of physical fitness (aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition) www.presidentialyouthfitnessprogram.org.

This program places a lot of the responsibility on parents, individual schools and students to participate. Many of these people and organizations have failed in this department due to some valid reasons. In today’s world of skeleton operation, workforces are being asked to compete and produce beyond production levels of the previous years. This is the new normal. Personal time and family time has dwindled. The cost of equipment or just to go see an event has skyrocketed. As economic pressures increase time to exercise decreases for most of society. In most cases fitness does not pay you cash to pay the rent.

We need to designate down time for fitness in our corporate life, personal life, family life and school life. Physical fitness and mental fitness has to be learned and practiced simultaneously. Mandatory school programs have to be there to attempt to direct students in this direction.  If there is no introduction our system has failed in the most rudimentary way. Understanding the feeling you get when you are fit goes a long way in life.  After that, it is a matter of making the time for your well-being.

A high five goes out to those who worked to update what used to consist of pull-ups, endurance run/walks, curl–ups ,v-sit and shuttle run but are we any better off now that its replacement is simply voluntary. We have seen high body fat increase over the years.  The answer recently has been to eliminate things like soda machines in schools.  How about not selling hamburgers, pizza or ice cream. Like responsible investing that is taught in high schools and colleges, you need to diversify.  Balance your diet; exercise regularly (60 min a day is what the government program has decided for you…. not really realistic… 40 min 3-4 times per week is a more rational goal). Try to participate in activities that help you sweat away the stress that comes with trying to keep up with life.

Sport, fitness and team programs cannot be allowed to disappear.  School organized sports programs are a necessity.  Life lessons, team participation, individual achievement and personal growth can happen early in life on a track, field, court, production stage, course, rink, ring or in a gym.

American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a policy statement in favor of “expansion of school physical education, dissuading children from pursuing sedentary activities, providing suitable role models for physical activity and making activity-promoting changes in the environment.

OdorBalance® participates in assisting booster clubs, school athletic organizations and team sports across the nation with an easy to initiate, paperless, fundraising program. Don’t let the sport and fitness programs shrink or disappear diluting fundamental needs in physical education for our youth. We can help. www.odorbalance.com/fundraising