2. Call conferences of appropriate groups of agencies to discuss mutual problems and plan coordinated action. 3. Keep the Council informed of plans, developments, and achievements through established liaison channels. 4. Call on the Council for assistance by way of information and counsel and through consultation with staff members who may serve communities on request. 5. Call on Advisory Committee members for counsel in their specialized areas when they are readily available. 6. Develop programs to educate parents for youth fitness needs. 7. Strive to have youth themselves participate in planning and administering youth fitness programs. Community Area 1. Inventory its present and potential leadership, facilities, and programs. 2. Encourage all planning commissions and citizens groups to provide adequate space and facilities for recreation and other physical activities. 3. Emphasize to school boards the need for planning community schools with facilities available for youth fitness programs during nonschool hours. 4. Schedule conferences called by mayors, or other responsible civic officials, to advise citizens, formulate programs, and stimulate interest in youth fitness. 5. Conduct surveys and develop programs which can serve youth fitness needs on a comprehensive, continuous, year around basis. State Area 1. Provide an adequate portion of appropriate funds and other fitness facilities and programs. 2. Pass enabling State legislation requiring that housing developments provide adequate space for youth fitness activities. 3. Hold State conferences called in each instance by the Governor on fitness of American youth. 4. Consider the need for additional State legislation. 5. Participate in and support a research effort for the development of effective youth fitness programs. Area of Professional Groups (Medicine, Nutrition, Physical Education, Recreation, Health Education, and Realty Development) 1. Establish appropriate standards for fitness facilities and make such standards available to all communities throughout the country. 2. Increase the understanding of professional responsibility. 3. Stress the concept of service to people as an essential civic contribution. 4. Broaden and improve the curricula requirements for degrees in these fields. 5. Reexamine leadership preparation. 6. Continue to give attention to the need for leaders of programs of physical education: (a) To recognize the very important differences in maturation rates, motor skills, and emotional tensions of the participants. (b) To encourage and arrange special activities for handicapped individuals. 7. Establish a research committee to facilitate development of a balanced and comprehensive program in the various fields required for a successful youth-fitness program throughout the country. 8. Direct immediate concentrated research at: (a) Measuring fitness. (b) Measuring the contribution of various activities toward fitness. (c) Reasons for lack of participation in activity programs. (d) Inventorying facilities and appraising their use for activity programs. (e) An assessment of trained personnel. 9. Provision should be made for adequate recreation space and facilities in all building development. Home Area 1. Develop favorable attitude toward fitness to provide appropriate example. 2. Stimulate family participation and cultivate parent-child relationship to the highest realistic degree. 3. Provide best possible home opportunities, indoors and outdoors, for youth-fitness activities. 4. Participate with neighbors and general citizenry through PTA, other clubs, all youth-serving organizations, and at the polls in the interest of youth fitness. Summary of Action on Specific Topics Common to All Discussion Groups 1. Proposed Legislation To Establish Council on Youth Fitness.-The general reaction to the proposal was that no action should be undertaken at this time to change the present structure of the President's Council on Youth Fitness. This reaction was an endorsement of the need for continued "grassroots" support of youth fitness as evidenced by the conferees in response to this point. 2. Pilot Projects for Youth Fitness.-The conferees reacted unfavorably to pilot projects, but favorably to the plan of youth fitness action programs and each group had certain constructive changes to add to this idea as well as pointing out the need for local funding of these projects. 3. Youth Fitness Committees.-There was general agreement of the worthwhileness of the proposal for youth fitness committees in States, communities, on school campuses, in industrial plants, and other such establishments. 4. A National Youth Advisory Board.-There was general agreement that young people should be tied into youth fitness planning and activities in place of establishing an overall National Board of Youth. 5. A National Youth Fitness Week.-General acceptance of this proposal was expressed by most groups. 448243-57 19 Additional Suggestions Made by Individual Conferees In order to provide an opportunity for expression of individual or minority opinion, the following items are included in this report: 1. The Council should take cognizance of the important part that dental health occupies in the fitness of our youth. 2. The Council should continue to recognize the importance of the need for proper nutritional standards in achieving youth fitness. 3. Each high school should form an amateur athletic club to help carry on the fitness activities for the youth of the community. 4. Broad and varied sports programs should be developed to increase incentives for physical activity. 5. The money to support the present structure of the President's Council should be placed in the President's budget. 6. Architects, municipal planners, and realty developers should be urged to take an interest in youth fitness and design appropriate physical activity facilities for home and community use. 7. In assessing adequacy of facilities and equipment, the factor of safety should receive prominence. 8. Due recognition must be given in all programs and facilities for youth fitness for the youths who have permanent handicaps or have been partially rehabilitated. 9. Consideration should be given to the setting up of a private organization to be known as the Youth Fitness Foundation. 10. Standing committees in addition to the Executive Committee, President's Citizens Advisory Committee, should be established. 11. Existing child-labor laws should be reevaluated to give recognition to the importance of work in attaining youth fitness. |