NAKHE Newsletter
May 2026
What are we measuring anyway?
On July 31, 2025, Executive Order 14327 reestablishing the President’s Fitness Test (PFT) was signed. Then, on May 5, 2026, the ceremonial signing of the executive order, along with a media rollout, placed the President’s Fitness Test squarely in the public eye. The PFT was replaced by the Presidential Youth Fitness Program in 2012, shifting the focus from competitive, performance-based benchmarks to health-related fitness. At that time, the Institutes of Medicine weighed in, stating that “fitness is not a competitive sport,” illuminating the negative fallout of standards-based fitness assessment.
For me, the PFT invokes memories that I wouldn’t exactly recognize as positive. Spending some of my youth on a rural North Carolina farm, feats of strength were part of many of my weekends—hauling firewood, chopping wood, pulling my red wagon full of bricks from a fallen chimney across the uneven terrain of our backyard to fill a septic ditch, and more. Yet I received a surly helping of humble pie when I could not complete the PFT pull-up test. Little did I know at the time that the pull-up test for girls has poor concurrent validity for strength. All I knew was that I was embarrassed and not who I thought I was: strong. I do not remember how the cardiorespiratory and other tests went—only the strength test. But do not worry—I went on to win strength competitions later in life.
Which brings me to several questions today—what are we really testing anyway? What is the goal of standards-based fitness testing? Is America “strong again” if our upper echelon of athletic youth is acknowledged while the other 97–99% are perhaps embarrassed, unmotivated, and more likely to glean little enjoyment from physical education? What if assessment discourages the very activity that we are trying to measure, possibly undermining the holy grail of lifelong fitness and movement? What are we measuring if a child’s confidence improves when they are not percentile-ranked? What would meaningful youth fitness assessment look like in 2026?
And this is where we, as scholars and leaders in kinesiology find ourselves, in a position where we can make our mark on the conversation. There is opportunity in the uncertainty to guide our future fitness educators—to smooth the way, to enhance fitness for all youth, to affirm the practice of fitness literacy and lifelong movement. We can use the reestablishment of the PFT to exercise our mental muscle: to educate new professionals on physical literacy, sustainable fitness, motivation, inclusive pedagogy, fitness self-efficacy, and health outcomes. I assert that the pinnacle measurement is not performance on a single day, but whether a child continues on a path of movement as part of a meaningful life.
This is a pivotal moment for each of us to reflect on—and then clearly communicate—our values as leaders in our field: to continue advancing evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, educationally sound fitness practices.
As we say, NAKHE: Where Scholars Come to Lead.
Lead on, NAKHE.
Regards,
Resa
2027 Annual NAKHE Conference: Blazing New Trails: Exploring Innovative Frontiers Through Bold Perspectives
January 5-8, 2027
Eldorado Hotel and Spa
309 W San Francisco St.
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Phone: (505) 988-4455
Hotel Website: https://www.eldoradohotel.com/
Conference Planner: Jeremy Elliott
Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico and the oldest U.S. state capital, is renowned for its distinctive Pueblo-style adobe architecture, rich Indigenous and Spanish heritage, and status as a major hub for Southwest art. Known as "The City Different," it features over 250 art galleries on Canyon Road, the Meow Wolf immersive art experience, and New Mexican green chile cuisine.
The historic Santa Fe Plaza, lined with adobe Talavera pottery shops, art galleries, Mexican restaurants, and the stunning Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (the oldest church in the United States), attracts roughly 1.5 million tourists each year. The heart of the city for nearly 400 years, the plaza is the perfect place to explore one of the state’s most remarkable cities.
Trip Adviser says, “Surrounded by city landmarks, including art and history museums, the Santa Fe Plaza is the heart and soul of the capital city. Sit back on one of the square’s benches to people-watch and take in the small-town feel. Then, set out to explore the countless art galleries, shops, and flea markets in the area. Try the local street food from the food carts, or if you’re in the mood to splurge, check out the dozen or so high-end restaurants. You can also sign up for a walking tour to learn more about the city’s rich history.”
Our conference hotel, the Eldorado Hotel and Spa, is ideally situated to make the most of Santa Fe’s attractions. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, the largest collection of one of the 20th century's most influential artists, whose greatest work was inspired by New Mexico, is literally across the street from the conference hotel, and the Santa Fe Plaza is less than 4 blocks away (0.2 miles).
Click the picture to register for the up and coming conference.
Dear valued NAKHE members:
The NAKHE Marketing Committee would like to extend our efforts to highlight the work of our membership, and in particular, the research that you all conduct. As such, we are working on creating a monthly NAKHE Podcast where we can explore more in-depth interviews with those who have recent publications in any of our NAKHE Journals.
If you and/or your research colleague(s) would like to be a featured guest on the podcast, please reach out to Lisa Paulson at pauls640@d.umn.edu. Interviews will be conducted via Zoom and/or during this year’s LDW (for those who are planning to attend).
Furthermore, if you are a NAKHE member that has experience in podcasting and would be willing to assist the Marketing Committee with podcast creation/editing, please contact Marketing Committee Chair Haley Blount at blounth@nsula.edu. There may be a possible stipend awarded to the interested podcast editor.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Please consider submitting an article to #NAKHE ‘s Journals-
IJKHE - https://www.nakhe.org/submit-to-the-journal.html
Education for Empathy in Physical Education: A PRISMA Review
Costa, S., Eschenauer, S., & Vors, O. (2025) https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2025.2586511
Why Oppose a Common Form of Practice? A Response to Parry ET Al
Collins, D., Carson, H. J., Price, A., & Waldouck, D. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2025.2586516
Physical Education Research in Peer-Reviewed Arabic Language Journals: A Case for Consideration
Hastie, P. A., & Alshuraymi, A. N. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2025.2586500
Director, Master of Public Health (MPH) Program - University of Tennessee at Martin
State: Martin, TN
Position: Director, Master of Public Health (MPH) Program
Deadline: June 1, 2026
Dean, College of Health Sciences - University of Michigan-Flint
State: Flint, MI
Position: Dean, College of Health Sciences
Deadline: June 10, 2026
Assistant/Associate Professor, Teaching (non-tenure track) - Wayne State University
State: University Center , MI
Position: Assistant/Associate Professor, Teaching (non-tenure track)
Deadline: June 10, 2026
NAKHE Member Highlight Form 🤩
The NAKHE Marketing Committee would like to highlight our members in our social media and newsletter! Please fill out the information form by clicking here to be considered as our next featured member. If you have any questions, please contact Haley Blount (the committee chair) at blounth@nsula.edu.
Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
NAKHE Marketing Committee
