1. Consolidation and Specialization: 1930-Present
Chapter 3
Consolidation and
Specialization:
1930-Present

2. The Cultural Context: 1930-1940
Great Depression (1929) created a transitional period
President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted major economic reforms
New governmental programs were created that had an effect upon sport, fitness, and physical education professions
Urbanization and the revolutionary changes in travel helped evolve physical education professions

3. Sport, Fitness, and Physical Education: 1930-1940
Professional sports suffered during the Great Depression
University sport programs were curtailed due to widespread acknowledgements of abuses
School physical education programs suffered due to the lack of community support
Recreational participation increased substantially, allowing all classes to participate without the concept of having money

4. Sport, Fitness, and Physical Education: 1930-1940, cont’d
Federal and private sector economic intervention allowed young men and low income families to have opportunities to engage in activities as part of the “work relief” Act
Eventually, the physical education profession weathered the economic crisis and made three important gains during this period:
NEA organized a national committee in 1931 known as the National Study of Professional Education in Health and Physical Education

5. Sport, Fitness, and Physical Education: 1930-1940, cont’d
Eventually, the physical education profession weathered the economic crisis and made three important gains during this period, cont’d:
AAHPE became a department of the NEA in 1937
Published findings in 1938 by the College Physical Education Association, exerting efforts to influence standardized PE curriculum over the next 30 years, a.k.a. The La Porte Model

6. Sport, Fitness, and Physical Education During the War Years
All armed forces participants underwent physical tests and performed basic training
Fitness tests in the school systems increased due to poor performance by recruits
Recreational sports were promoted as part of rest and recovery for service personnel
Motor learning specialists were developed to improve soldiers’ skills (motor and visual)
Wounded soldiers created the development of Adapted Physical Education for rehabilitation and activity experience from leisure participation

7. Expansion and Growth During the Post-War Years
Increased population explosion and strong economic recovery created the following results:
Expansion of sport
professional and intercollegiate growth in sports
mass market of leisure activities, i.e., golf
return of the Olympic Games
youth sports boom
televised sports events

8. Expansion and Growth During the Post-War Years, cont’d
Expansion of physical education
Lifetime sport inclusion into PE curriculum, i.e., golf and bowling
Conference participation furthered the profession
Umbrella concept increased the needs for specialization of the profession

9. Expansion and Growth During the Post-War Years, cont’d
Fitness crisis
Acknowledgement of poor muscular fitness resulted in the development of the Kraus-Weber Test
National crisis was publicized by President Eisenhower and the national emphasis of fitness was created (Weston, 1962)
Formation of the Presidential Physical Fitness test
Thoughts of prevention vs. treatment aspect through fitness became recognized

10. The Mid-1950’s and On: Forces that Shaped Our Current Culture of Fitness and Sports
Sport in the post-1950’s era
Major expansion of sports created the following trends:
women’s movement (Title IX)
environment movement (outdoor sports)
civil rights movement (integration in sports)
youth sports movement (increased variety and year-round programs)

11. The Mid-1950’s and On: Forces that Shaped Our Current Culture of Fitness and Sports, cont’d
Sport in the post-1950’s era
Major expansion of sports created the following trends (cont’d):
Sport camps for youths and adults
Money in professional sports increased
Sport equipment business and endorsement concept
Differences between professional vs. amateur became blurred
Increased problems with drug usage, scandals, reputation has scarred sports nationally

12. The Mid-1950’s and On: Forces that Shaped Our Current Culture of Fitness and Sports, cont’d
Fitness renaissance and the aerobics era
The Kraus-Weber tests laid the foundation for the influence of fitness in our society
The term “fit” has become a national trend
Dr. Kenneth Cooper (1968) coined the term “aerobics” and created a popular exercise boom
Regular people (non-professional athletes) partake in regular forms of fitness contests, i.e., marathons, triathlons
Recent studies show the decline among American health, especially youths (Mokdad et al., 2001) due to the lack of activity

13. The Mid-1950’s and On: Forces that Shaped Our Current Culture of Fitness and Sports, cont’d
School physical education since the 1950’s
Lifetime sport fitness inclusion since the 1950’s
Martial arts and adventure trends created due to the current culture
Scientific foundations introduced (“knowing as well as doing” concept)
Sport education concept introduced in the 1990’s
Title IX caused additional concerns due to equity changes

14. Academic Discipline Movement
Franklin Henry (1964) outlined the relevant issue concerning the viability as an academic discipline
Post 1950’s reforms aimed at producing more scientists and increasing rigor of educational programs at all levels
The most well-developed scientific area due to this movement was “exercise physiology”

15. Academic Discipline Movement, cont’d
Sub-discipline areas that developed later were:
Biomechanics
Sport psychology
Sport history
Motor learning
Sport sociology
Sport philosophy
Academic journals and major umbrella organizations brought cohesiveness and organization to the profession

16. Consolidation and Specialization: 1930-Present
Chapter 3
Consolidation and Specialization: 1930-Present