Stan LeProtti
| Stan LeProtti | |
|---|---|
 Stan Leprotti.png | |
| Born | Stanley James LeProtti 11 August 1921 Oakland, California |
| May 10, 1997May 10, 1997 | |
| 🏳️ Citizenship | American |
| 💼 Occupation | Coach, WWII veteran |
| 📆 Years active | 1957-1997 |
| 👔 Employer | University of South Carolina, Troy State University, Western Washington State University, La Sierra High School |
| Known for | The Motivation Factor and The La Sierra System |
Stanley James LeProtti was born on 11 August 1921 to Stanley F. LeProtti (WWI veteran) and Adehlia H. LeProtti in Oakland, California.[1] LeProtti joined the United States Army during the outbreak of WWII. After WWII, LeProtti attended San Francisco State College and graduated in 1950.[2] In 1963, LeProtti received a master's degree from San Luis Obispo.[2]
The Motivation Factor
After his discharge from the Army, Stan LeProtti became the coach for La Sierra High School in Carmichael, California between 1957-1964.[2] During his time there, he initiated a nationally acclaimed physical literacy program, La Sierra System, that was adopted and exemplified by the Kennedy Administration. As a member of President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, LeProtti wrote The Motivation Factor in 1958 to illustrate to President Kennedy the most effective measure of physical education. After leaving La Sierra High School, Stan LeProtti took his physical education program and applied it to the collegiate levels. LeProtti was the rugby coach for Western Washington University from 1964-1970. [2]He became the Assistant Professor of Physical Education at Troy State University in 1971[3] [1] and later pursued the position of Assistant Professor and Director of Project Readiness at the University of South Carolina. [4]
The Motivation Factor and La Sierra System
Principles of the Program
- Physical Fitness [5] [2]
- Physiological Fitness [5]
- Motivation and Team Membership [5]
- Standards of Conduct [5]
- Efficient Teach Methods [5]
- Other-Color System [5]
The success of The Motivation Factor relied heavily on the Kennedy Administration to introduce this knowledge to the public. In turn, the program was heavily modified through the nation but allowed the Kennedy Administration to expand this program into over 4,000 schools in the United States specifically addressing the lack of physical education and obesity.
La Sierra System
There was a total of four main levels including White, Red, Blue, and Navy, with the Purple and Gold Levels considered to be sub-levels of Blue.[6] Students in the white shorts were considered rookies, while those in navy colored shorts were considered the ultimate athlete. The color scale and physical requirements consisted of the following:
- White Shorts (Rookies): All high school freshman begin in this level and work to build up physical strength to complete all the Intermediate level requirements in order to advance.[6]
- Red (Intermediate): 10 pull-ups, 32 push-ups, 12 bar-dips, 60 sit-ups, 6'9" standing broad jump, 34 second shuttle run, rope climb with hands only, 20 second agility run, 3-minute 880-yard run, 7-minute mile, carry partner on back for 880 yards, climb six holes of the vertical pegboard, and complete a 50-yard swim in 36 seconds.[6]
- Blue (Advanced): 14 pull-ups, 48 push-ups, 18 bar-dips, 7'3" standing broad jump, 24 hanging leg lifts, 52-second shuttle run, 15-second rope climb with hands only, 19-second agility run, 4:20 1320-yard run, one trip of a vertical pegboard, 5 extension press-ups, run 1.5 miles in 10:30, and complete a 50-yard swim in 32 seconds; students must also have a B or higher in the class.[6]
- Purple (Advanced-II): Achieve all “median performance standards” of Blue/Advanced.[6]
- Gold (Physically Gifted): Achieve the “ceiling performance standards” of Blue/Advanced.[6]
- Navy (Highly Coveted Level): 34 consecutive pull-ups and carry another student on their back for 5 miles. [6]
All ninth-grade students began in white shorts and every student had the opportunity to level up twice a year by hitting the “ceiling performance in all fitness tests” of whatever test battery they were attempting. Each class began with a 400-meter jog and a 12-minute strength endurance routine for warm-up. To move on to the next level and earn the corresponding colored shorts, specific physical tasks had to be completed both correctly and timely. Additionally, students had to continually meet their level’s minimum requirements before they could move on and test into a more advanced level.
History
Historical Regulations and Recommendations
In the aftermath of WWII, the problem of obesity and stagnation began to enter the minds of Americans. The introduction of mechanization for agriculture needs, and the television produced a new social atmosphere in America. This created an introspective look that American’s were becoming lackadaisical in the 1960’s. In response to American’s combating a new perceived image of obesity and their countries health, President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition was created on July 16, 1956. Prior to taking office, John F. Kennedy in 1960, promoted the first recommendation and regulations of a well-balanced life, that mentality and physicality were vital to the nation. In Sports Illustrated, President Kennedy outlined the four methods to achieve this.[7][3]
- We must establish a White House Committee on health and fitness to formulate and carry out a program to improve the physical condition of the nation.[7]
- The physical fitness of our youth should be made a direct responsibility of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.[7]
- The governor of each state will be invited to attend the annual National Youth Fitness Congress.[7]
- The President and all departments of government must make it clearly understood that the promotion of sports participation and physical fitness is a basic and continuing policy of the United States.[7]
This establishment was spurred from the President Council of Youth fitness and his inaugural address responding to a "Soft America". President Kennedy addressed the nation with his March 30, 1962 Physical Fitness Statement, "A country is as strong as its citizens".[8] [4] By identifying this nationwide epidemic, the Kennedy Administration responded with a message of "fitness, vigor, and preparedness" and utilized federal resources to pilot six physical education programs across the nation. The most notable program piloted was La Sierra High School Physical Education under the tutelage of Stan LeProtti.
Social Impacts and Discontinuation of The La Sierra System
Positive Impacts
The most obvious impact was the improvement of physical strength of all students who completed the rigorous program. When students began to strive for excellence and reach the next level, it was especially obvious to see the impact the program created in the health and physique of each participant. The program improved the person’s overall strength, agility, power, and endurance, even so that the most average or underdeveloped person had the opportunity to become one of the strongest and healthiest people. [9] The program was renown to strengthen people in groups and numbers, and their sole development was based on competition, pride, and motivation. The improvements in students' physical health contributed to the decrease in risk for obesity and other comorbidities.
One of the most admired impacts of the La Sierra System was the instillment of motivation within all the young males who attended the school within the program. Many people who came out of the program felt strengthened not only physically but also mentally. Since the program was based on everyone's effort for them to reach their goals, or to improve and move on to the next level, motivation was a common theme within all of the students as well as the opportunity for each to learn of their own strength and perseverance. Boys of all ages, sizes, and physical appearances started on the same level then could prove themselves to be of higher strength. [9] The incentive of the colored shorts and status that came with them, created a craving within each boy to compete and stay motivated to always do their best.
Discontinuation
During its time, the program was very successful, yet despite all its effort the momentum of the program began to slow down. Since John F. Kennedy was such a huge advocate for the La Sierra Fitness program, the support system for this program fell after President Kennedy was assassinated. Due to decrease in national support, the school experienced need for budget cuts and struggled greatly. In the end, the program was discontinued completely due to the closing of La Sierra High School in Carmichael, CA in around 1983. [10] With the closing of the La Sierra, others schools nationwide lost their model for the program, thus the discontinuation of the program elsewhere.
La Sierra System Versus Leader Directed Calisthenics
The Effects of Two Conditioning Programs on the Physical Fitness Level of Ninth Grade Boys, a study conducted by Joseph H. Buckley of Central Washington University in 1966. [11] The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of two presenting conditioning programs in ninth grade boys (i.e. Group A: La Sierra System versus Group B: Leader Directed Calisthenics). A total of 38 ninth-grade students from Lincoln High School, Tacoma, Washington were followed by American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (A.A.P.H.E.R) now know as the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation and participated in their respective programs for 12 weeks. Each student was given a pre, and post physical fitness test outlined by A.A.P.H.E.R. Following the 12 weeks of vigorous conditioning, Buckley concluded Group A: La Sierra System, made the greatest gains in the test items that required muscular strength and endurance.[11] Group B, Leader Directed Calisthenics, made their greatest gains in the test items that required speed and agility. [11] Also noted by Buckley, circuit training lended itself to all-around development of muscular strength, muscular endurance, and circulatory endurance. In contrast to leader directed mass calisthenics, circuit training provided motivation and opportunity for an individual to develop at his own rate.
Legacy
Doug Orchard's Documentary, The Motivation Factor (2017), documents Stan LeProtti's, development and presentation of classical physical education in the 1950's and 1960's.[12]
Awards
- 1987 Healthy American Fitness Award [5]
References
- ↑ "1940 Census Alameda, California". 1940 Census. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Western Washington MABEL: Multimedia Archives Based Electronic Library". Western Washington. Western Washington University. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ↑ "Troy State University Statement 1975 - Summer 1977". Troy State Transcript. Troy State University. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ↑ "NEWSLETTER Presidents council of Physical Fitness and Sports". United States Government. Presidents Council of Physical Fitness and Sports. Aug 1972. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Leprotti, Stan. "The Motivation Factor" (PDF). La Sierra Physical Education Color Tests. Presidents Council of Physical Fitness and Sports. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 "La Sierra Student Handbook" (PDF). La Sierra Student Handbook. La Sierra Highschool. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Kennedy, John (26 December 1960). "Council of Youth Fitness Soft American". Sports Illustrated: 15–17. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ↑ Kennedy, John. "STATEMENT FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS FILM, 30 MARCH 1962". STATEMENT FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS FILM, 30 MARCH 1962. JFK Library. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Gordon, Stanley. "How America Can Get Physically Tough" (PDF). The Lean Berets. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ↑ "What is La Sierra". Project G. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Buckley, Joseph. "THE EFFECTS OF TWO CONDITIONING PROGRAMS ON THE PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVEL OF NINTH GRADE BOYS". THE EFFECTS OF TWO CONDITIONING PROGRAMS ON THE PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVEL OF NINTH GRADE BOYS. Central Washington State. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ↑ Orchard, Doug. "The Motivation Movie". The Motivation Factor. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
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