The Warsaw Academy of Physical Education (Warszawska Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego, AWF) has been assessing the fitness levels of Polish children and young people for several decades. The findings from the ‘PE with AWF’ project, launched during the pandemic, have revealed data that is deeply concerning. After evaluating the physical fitness of over 100,000 schoolchildren, the results indicated a significant decline in fitness levels within this age group since 2010.

Prof. Bartosz Molik, Chancellor of AWF in Warsaw, summarised the project’s outcomes: "Nearly all children lack fundamental movement skills and fail to meet basic physical competence. They do not achieve the movement competencies outlined in the core physical education curriculum."

The data revealed that 94% of children struggled with tasks such as jumping over a skipping rope, kicking a ball, running over hurdles, dribbling a basketball, or performing a forward roll—skills collectively known as Fundamental Movement Skills in Sport (Fundamentalne Umiejętności Ruchowe w Sporcie, FUS).

Prof. Molik emphasised: "These are simple tests, and we do not assess them quantitatively, such as how many times a child jumps a rope. We focus on whether they are capable of performing the activity." He added: "The assessment of fundamental movement skills in children aged six to twelve showed that 94% do not meet FUS standards, meaning they lack the necessary competence to be considered physically fit."

Are the FUS standards really an effective measure of overall fitness? Critics argue that half of the six tasks children are asked to perform rely on technical skills specific to certain sports. For example, shooting and receiving a ball are not activities that a fit person with no interest in sports would necessarily be proficient at. The same applies to dribbling a basketball or running over hurdles.

As Professor Molik explained, "When a child scores the full five points, it means the task is performed in an appropriate, flawless manner." This perfection-based scoring system raises questions about whether the FUS truly reflects broader physical fitness or simply the ability to master specific movements.

However, this does not mean that the issue of declining physical fitness in children should be ignored. The AWF report also revealed worrying levels of abdominal obesity, affecting 20-25% of boys and 15-17% of girls aged six to twelve. Abdominal obesity is considered the most dangerous form of obesity for health and the most challenging to treat.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, children should engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Thus, even high-quality physical education classes, held for 45 minutes four times a week, cannot fully address the problem.

The key lies in encouraging children to engage in activities they enjoy. This could range from playing football with friends in the backyard to skateboarding or even running with the family dog in the park. Ideally, parents should include their children in their regular physical activities, such as bike rides, swimming, or walks in nature.

Source: biznes.newseria.pl