History of PE

and Sports in
America
Matthew P. Endaya
BPED - 1
 During the 1800s
Physical Education was influenced by 3 nation

German
Sweden England
y
 Germany
 The Jahn system made by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn
 Military (Like Jumping, Running, Throwing, Climbing).
 Jahn’s students Charles Beck, Charles Follen, and Francis Leiber brought the Jahn
system to America.
 Sweden
 The Ling system (Gymnastics) by Per Henrik Ling.
 Swinging, Climbing, Vaulting, Swinging ladders, Ring, Bars.
 Hartwig Nissen brought Ling system to America and later developed/produced
many gymnastic equipment.
 England
 Brought over sports and games.
 Had a system that stressed moral development.
 1825
Charles Beck (August 19 1789 – March 19 1866) was the first hired Physical
Education teacher in America.
Was a German-born American classical scholar, Harvard professor and a friend of
Charles Follen.
 1861
Edward Hitchcock Jr. (May 23 1828 – February 16 1911) was an American Physical
Educator.
He is the first one who created an American P.E. program that emphasis on a scientific
base and consistent measurement of progress that still used in this century.
 1885
William G. Anderson invited 60 people who were interested in Physical Education
and it’s future. They formed an organization “The Association for the Advancement of
Physical Education” and Dr. Edward Hitchcock was elected the first president of the
organization.
 End of an era..

The association for the Advancement of Physical Education conference basically

change the game. Changed from Gymnastics based P.E to the beginning of the modern
era of P.E.
 End of the 19th Century
Many physical activities and sport emerged during the 18 th Century in America.
 First competitive football game played
 First public swimming pool opened.
 Basketball was invented.
 Tennis was introduced.
 Swedish Gymnastic was introduced.
 Softball was invented.
 First public golf course built.
 Volleyball was invented.
 Early 1900’s
America P.E. started to take shape
 Dance
 YMCA/YWCA
 Playground
 Sports
 Outdoor Education
 Health
 Intramurals
 Mid 1900’s

In 1954 60% of American children failed the test of minimum muscular fitness
compared to 9% of European children. Leading to an uproar, Presidents got involved.

School’s physical education programs were pressured and forced to focused more on
fitness afterward.
 Late 1900’s
Physical education began to change again. Moving away from fitness and more
towards lifestyle physical activity.
 Gaining skills in activities
 Enjoying the activities outside of class.
 Today’s Physical Education
Today’s P.E. still has a lot of components from its early days in America. Like trying
to get fit and build muscles but that’s just a small part of P.E. in todays curriculum.
Nowadays it’s more about progressing, learning new things/activities, understanding
how to stay healthy. Technology in today’s world is getting so advance and helpful,
lots of P.E. programs are using it to help kids have a healthy lifestyle.
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