Presidential Fitness Test 2025 Is Back — Is It a Step Forward or Backward for Youth Fitness?

Hey everyone,

Did you hear the news? The Presidential Fitness Test — yep, that same one some of us barely survived in school — is officially making a comeback in 2025. 🙃

👉 According to a recent deep-dive article on Ntaifitness, the test is being reinstated by executive order and will roll out to public schools across the U.S. this fall.

What’s different this time?

New leadership from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (PCSFN)

Mental health & inclusion adjustments

More resources for teachers and parents

Bigger emphasis on youth patriotism and national fitness standards

Personally, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, childhood obesity and physical inactivity are real problems, and getting kids moving again sounds like a win.

On the other, I still remember how embarrassing it felt to struggle with pull-ups in front of the whole class. 😬
This article does a great job of breaking down both sides — including history, test structure, preparation tips, and even how to earn awards like PALA+ or Presidential certificates.

Here’s the guide if you want the full scoop:
🔗 https://www.ntaifitness.com/en/presidential-fitness-test-guide

So let’s discuss:

Is bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test in 2025 a smart move?

Will it help kids — or just pressure them?

Can we balance discipline, health, and fun?

Curious to hear what others think — especially if you’re a parent, teacher, coach, or (like me) someone still traumatized by the shuttle run 😅

Let’s talk 👇

As a PE teacher, I actually welcome the structure. We've been missing national benchmarks in school fitness since the original test was phased out.

I appreciate that the 2025 version seems more inclusive, and the resources in that article (especially the training guides) are really helpful.

Hoping they continue refining it though — we can’t go back to shame-based models.

I'm on the fence. I like the idea of accountability and awards for effort, but I worry about how kids with different abilities will be treated.

Does anyone know if the new test includes accommodations for IEPs or alternative assessments?

The article mentions "growth-based scoring" — but I’d love more clarity.

Ah yes… 1 mile run in 95° heat while Coach screamed “You’re not done until you puke.” 😅
Presidential patches were cool though.

Thanks for the article — brought back memories and nightmares. That new PALA+ thing sounds better for my own kids tbh.

As a fitness coach, I think the idea is solid but outdated. We need personalized, progressive goals — not percentile charts from the 80s.

That said, the training advice in the Ntaifitness article was legit. I’d just hope future versions allow tech integration — think fitness tracking apps for PE class.

What’s interesting is how this ties into broader national messaging.

Trump’s Executive Order frames fitness as patriotic, which is politically loaded.

The article covered both the policy and the public response fairly well. I’d love to see more discussion around how we measure "success" in national youth programs like this.

Great post on the return of the Presidential Fitness Test! I’m torn on whether it’s a step forward or backward—love the focus on getting kids active, but the competitive vibe might stress some students out, like the old pull-up struggles mentioned.

I noticed the Pacer Test is still a big part of these discussions, especially since it’s a key component in FitnessGram, which replaced this test back in 2013.

There’s a cool thread on why the FitnessGram Pacer Test is such a big deal in 2025 that dives into its science and why it’s trending with memes.

Anyone else think the Pacer’s beeps are making a comeback because of this revival? What’s your take on balancing competition with health-focused fitness?