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1)64 I EUMMONSIMMINEMENINEVAIMmire EDfRIAIL Leadership in the Fitness Field by William C. Scalzo As reported before, in almost every NRPA publication, the fitness era is being analyzed,sur- veyed, and in some instances questioned. NRPA, along with the President's Council on Physi- cal Fitness and Sports, recognized the challenge and established the Fitness Coalition. Now, certain notions are being confirmed and new directions are being established. Various surveys have confirmed the public's support of staying fit by exercising during leisure hours. The diversity of sports selected by the fitness-minded has continued to grow with in- creased interest in biking and other self-directed activities. This is verified in a recent article in the New York Times which used survey data to illustrate that 44 percent of Americans partici- pate daily in some kind of athletic activity.The top four activities in which Americans claim to participate at least once or twice a week include: swimming(33 percent), calisthenics(29 per- cent); jogging (29 percent), and bicycling(28 percent). The article, based on a scientifically-drawn national random sample of Americans 14 years and older, indicated that Americans point to self-improvement goals as the driving force behind their fitness activity.The study,commissioned by Miller Lite,stated,"Americans derive immense satisfaction from meeting internalized goals." When asked to rank different reasons for engaging in sports on a ten-point scale, Americans ranked "enjoyment of the game" and "improved health" at about nine, while the "thrill of victory," related to competition, ranked only midway between six and seven. • The study went on to illustrate overwhelming evidence that the shared level of sports in- volvement is connected strongly to the quality of family life. Certainly this data reaffirms that fitness is very important to the American people, to their minds and bodies. Furthermore, numerous medical studies have confirmed its value in reducing hypertension,heart disease,and stress. Major corporations have recognized these benefits and the subsequent increased produc- tivity and reduced sick time of fit employees, and many have established fitness centers. With this knowledge as well as the heritage of the physical fitness movement in NRPA, the Fitness Coalition has gone forward with development of goals and objectives, professional development and training, and marketing strategies. This work is intended for the recreation and park agencies who deliver the fitness and wellness related services.The goals and objectives are limited to five:(1)to use plain language to describe fitness and to easily communicate this to the public;(2) to stress personal goal setting;(3) to support the role of local recreation and park agencies in promoting community fitness programs;(4)to make full use of the 1980s technology in sharing fitness information,and(5)to encourage research to further define fitness programs. The 1984 Olymics will further amplify the role of fitness in our society as millions watch the events in Yugoslavia and Los Angeles next year. This, in turn, provides the local recreation and park agency with an opportunity to promote their fitness services using the goals listed above. They can look to the excellent models already developed to bring fitness services to their clients. These models are available from Long Beach,California's,"March for Fitness"to New Rochelle, New York's, "Fitness Van." In addition, most states have developed governors' councils on physical fitness that bring together various professionals in the fitness field to exchange ideas and programs. Also, opportunities exist for the leisure professional to tune her or his skills through the American College of Sports Medicine in Madison, Wisconsin; the Cardiac Wellness Training Project for Park and Recreation attc n Personnel at the University of Colorado; and the School of Sports Management, North Carolina State University, to name a few. The Fitness Coalition Professional Development Committee will be working to enhance the training availa- ble through a needs assessment for each level of service delivery of wellness/fitness activities., • At this stage of development in the fitness promotion, it is imperative that the recreation and park professionals grasp the leadership role. Now is the time to meet the challenge of the NRPA Board of Trustees resolution that created the Fitness Coalition, "to advocate the importance of fit- ness to people of all ages through local park and recreation agencies." Willirrnu C.Sca/zn is Director, Essex County Depart of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Newark, NI. 26 PARKS& RECREATION/DECEMBER 1983