The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) serves as a catalyst to promote, encourage, and motivate Americans of all ages to become physically active and participate in sports. Assisted by elements of the U.S. Public Health Service, the PCPFS advises the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on how to encourage more Americans to be physically fit and active.

The mission is to:

• Communicate with the American public on the importance of physical activity/fitness and exercise and their link to good health by developing and distributing a range of publications.
• Increase physical activity participation and opportunities by encouraging the development of community, recreation, physical fitness, and sports programs.
• Promote physical activity and fitness in schools by encouraging innovative health and physical education programs.
• Highlight the gaps and barriers in order to stimulate needed research studies in sports medicine, physical activity, fitness, and sports performance.
• Collaborate with business, industry, government and labor organizations on innovative programs to reduce the financial and health care costs associated with physical inactivity.
• Cooperate with medical, dental and other allied health care professional associations to encourage patient counseling on sound physical activity and fitness habits and practices.

The President’s Council initiates and administers programs, often in partnership with other groups, which reach individual people in schools, homes, workplaces and communities.

The council places special emphasis on programs to help our nation’s youth lay the foundation for active and fit lives. The PCPFS believes that physical activity and fitness offers important health benefits. And, just as important, the council recognizes the fact that sports and participating in sport activities help individuals develop character, discipline, confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of well-being.