General Information

History: The Fit-For-Fun Program has long history of introducing Minnesota kids and families to the fun and health benefits of running and fitness.

• Minnesota’s first youth running program established in 1988
• On of the first youth programs in the country
• 65 schools have participated since 1988
• Over 35,000 student have participated in the program
• Awarded 1998 Minnesota Council on Physical Activity Award of Excellence for its
outstanding promotion of fitness, wellness, and health for Minnesota’s children

What is Fit-For-Fun: Fit-For-Fun is a 7 week school-based youth educational and fitness training program climaxing with registered children participating in the

Program Mission: To develop fit and healthy children who have a high level of functional and cognitive fitness, wellness and health which will allow them success in the gym, classroom and in life...Emphasis is placed on running for individual enjoyment and competing against oneself for fitness improvement. Individual effort and improvement are acknowledged and rewarded, not quantitative accomplishments.

Program Goals:

• To introduce children and parents to the fun of recreational running
• To introduce children and parents to the health benefits of aerobic fitness activities
• To help children and parents prepare for the actual running of a major Twin Cities running
event.

Coaches Clinics: Two coaches clinics will be scheduled to provide important program and registration information and to provide coaches the opportunity to pick-up race numbers.

Clinic Locations: Clinics will happen sometime in April.

Rational For Program: America’s kids are in trouble from the standpoint of health and fitness. Research is clear: kids today are less physically fit, more obese and less heart-health-wise than their peers of ten years ago. The government funded National Children and Youth Fitness Study (NCYFS) uncovered some alarming facts. Findings include statistically significant increases in skinfold measurements and body fat, extreme hours of television viewing by adolescents, and poor participation by children in structured, guided physical education programs. NCYFS is just one among many studies pointing to the same conclusion: a crisis in youth fitness, health and wellness.

Because physical activity is so directly related to preventing disease and premature death and maintaining a high quality of life, we must accord it the same level of attention that we give other important public health practices that affect the entire nation. Physical activity thus joins the ranks of essential health objectives such as sound nutrition, the use of seat belts and the prevention of adverse health effects of tobacco...Audrey F. Manley...Acting Surgeon General.

Program Curriculum: The Fit-For-Fun Program is more than just getting kids and parents registered for a race event. It is more an educational “tool”. The actual learning of healthy living concepts, the importance of aerobic activity, and physiological concepts associated with all forms of fitness are more important than the actual run training. To support this cognitive learning component Preferred One has sponsored the creation of a youth training and fitness development curriculum guide. Each participating coach will receive a complimentary copy of this 65 page handbook to assist them and their young athletes in their 7 week journey towards fitness and health, climaxing with the running of the Fit-For-Fun 2K at the Get in Gear Race Event the last Saturday in April. This curriculum guide/training handbook is divided into five sections:

Program Benefits:

• School Grants: Three participating schools who register either the most total children…or… the highest percentage of runners (registrants vs. total school population) for the 2K Saturday race event …or…from a random drawing, will receive a $250.00 physical education equipment grant.

• Coaches Gift: Each head coach (and usually an assistant coach) receives a “coaches sweat shirt”.

• All children receive an incentive/prize for program participation donated by PreferredOne

• All schools receive a coaches youth training handbook. This handbook contains sections devoted to:

Basic program information
General physiology and developmental information
“How-to-do-it” of fitness development
Curriculum of fitness activities and exercises
General and specific information related fitness information

Register early. In past years there have been rewards given to the first 10 – 12 coaches of register their schools and then participate in the 2K event.