Assessing physical activity provides the opportunity to measure general health and well being.
Download the variety of tools for assessing physical activity on this page.
Physical Activity assessments are numerous and needed to indicate the effectiveness of interventions or programs. The list below was originally compiled for Physical Education for Progress Grants. Select from the list below when measuring physical activity program interventions.
The School Health Index (SHI)
Self-Assessment & Planning Guide 2014 is an online self physical activity assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. It’s easy to use and completely confidential. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/shi/index.htm
SOPLAY: System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth
Thom McKenzie, Ph.D.
SOPLAY is a validated tool for directly observing and assessing physical activity and associated environmental characteristics in free play settings (e.g., recess and lunch at school). SOPLAY provides objective data on the number of participants and their physical activity levels during play and leisure opportunities in targeted areas. Separate scans are made for males and females, and simultaneous entries for contextual characteristics of areas including their accessibility, usability, and whether or not supervision, organized activities, and equipment are provided. The predominant type of activity engaged in by area users is also recorded (e.g., basketball, dance). A free 27 minute SOPLAY/SOPARC Introduction, Practice, and Assessment Training DVD is available from Active Living Research.
Active Living Research Website
Active Living Research Parks Assessment
Activity Living Research & Recreation Assessment
Active Living Research- School Age Youth K-12 Assessment
Active Living Research SOPLAY Observation Form
SHI for Elementary School Download
SHI for Middle & High School Download
PASS
Active Living Research- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
PASS is a free, user-friendly, web-based, 8-item physical activity assesssment tool that assesses and increases awareness of evidence-based physical activity practices at elementary schools.
More information on this resource can be found here: http://activelivingresearch.org/physical-activity-school-score-pass
PASS increases awareness of evidence-based PA practices (e.g., PE, recess, activity breaks, active transport). We reviewed evidence-based literature, created PASS, revised it on reviews of teachers and administrators, and developed an on-line version.
Physical Activity Evaluation Handbook
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity CDC
Recognition of the importance of physical activity has reached a new height in America. In fact, physical activity was recently named as one of the 10 leading health indicators in Healthy People 2010.1 Consequently, the imperative to evaluate our physical activity programs is greater than ever.
PASS
Active Living Research- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
PASS is a free, user-friendly, web-based, 8-item physical activity assessment tool that assesses and increases awareness of evidence-based physical activity practices at elementary schools.
More information on this resource can be found here: http://activelivingresearch.org/physical-activity-school-score-pass
PASS increases awareness of evidence-based PA practices (e.g., PE, recess, activity breaks, active transport). We reviewed evidence-based literature, created PASS, revised it on reviews of teachers and administrators, and developed an online version.
