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Colonial Period (1607-1783)
Colonist brought sports with them from their native lands. Some of these sports we the earliest versions of the sports we know today. Colonists had brought with them European games and sports such as bowling, football, cricket, quoits, and cards. -
National Period (1784-1861)
Charles Beck taught German gymnastics to students. Beck was the first credited PE teacher in the United States. -
National Period
Baseball was invented in Cooperstown, New York. The man credited with the invention was Abner Doubleday. -
National Period
First intercollegiate competition: a crew race between Yale and Harvard. The boat race occured in the Thames river in New London Connetticut -
Civil War-1900's
Founding of forerunner of Amateur Athletics Association. AAU has become a common acronym that athletes are familiar with. -
Early Twentieth Century (1900's-1940's)
While gymnastics were still being taught in PE, there was a debate on what style to teach. The debate led to a turnover in the curriculum that went back to military drill style teachings. -
Early Twentieth Century
The Playground Movement was started as an aid to crowded cities and long tiresome industrial work days. Children were exposed to a fun activity outdoors that promoted being active. -
World War 1
Government legislation led to the growth of PE programs in some states. States fought for physical activity time to be implemented into the daily schedule of students as would a math or history class would. Other countries were advancing their Physical Education requirements at this time and America felt as though they needed to as well. -
World War 1
The committee of Women's Athletics began a year after this time period began. This committee was created by the American Physical Education Association. -
Golden Twenties
The idea of "new" physical education was brought about. The PE system moved away from gymnastics into the sports and games aspect of physical activity. -
Depression Years
Due to the economic hardship the American government was facing during the depression many PE programs we cut. PE was not valued as an essential program which lead to schools not having funding to continue it on. -
Mid Twentieth Century
Under Eisenhower's presidency the President's Council for the "Physical Fitness Movement" was stated. This was due to American children scoring low on the standardized muscular fitness testing in schools. -
Mid Twentieth Century
The Special Olympics were introduced in 1968. This organization was started to give individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to compete at a national level. -
Recent Developments (late 1900's)
Title IX was developed to ban sexual discrimination in athletics and academics in schools. This gave an equal opportunity to everyone although it started out geared towards females. -
Recent Developments
The American Academy pf Physical Education changes their name to the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Under this new name the becomes a wider study of movement in the body. -
Recent Developments
The No Child Left Behind act gives federal power to some education programs that the sates have. This law ensures that children are tested throughout schooling to ensure they are learning. -
Recent Developments
MyFitnessPal is an app the calculates how many calories you have consumed from food and burned from exercise. This new technology is beneficial to everyone as it is simple and easy to track. -
Recent Events
There has been a recent petition to get a ban on the infamous PACER Test in PE on the grounds of child cruelty. The pacer test tests your cardiovascular endurance. -
Recent Events
Wearable tech includes new technology and has completely altered the way we acquire and evaluate personal data. Many physical education departments recognize that feedback from daily activities is important and thus, have begun including the use of heart rate monitors and pedometers into their programs. -
Recent Events
The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) officially changes its name to SHAPE America.
