Infusing health-related physical fitness in physical education teacher education

Our growing appreciation for physical activity and its health-related benefits exemplifies the need for physical educators who are adequately prepared to facilitate the development of the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and fitness levels that will enable a child to maintain a physically active lifestyle across the life span. Unfortunately, there is some evidence to suggest that physical education teacher education programs may not adequately prepare prospective physical educators to meet this professional responsibility. Faculty members within the West Virginia University School of Physical Education have recently initiated a curricular revision that is intended to enhance the prospective physical educator's ability to promote children's physical activity and fitness by infusing this content throughout the undergraduate curriculum. The purpose of this paper is to describe the infusion of a health-related physical fitness education strand into the physical education teacher education curriculum.