Historic traditions and future directions of research on teaching and teacher education in physical education

Given the unprecedented growth in the knowledge base of physical education and in the number of new physical education teacher education faculty, and given that many of the field's leaders are retired or soon will be, it is imperative that the "conceptual torch" be passed in a thoughtful way. For this reason, a conference was held October 11-14, 2007, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to bring experienced and beginning researchers together to reflect on research about teaching and teacher education in physical education and to engage in a dialogue on what has been accomplished, what the knowledge base looks like, and where teaching professionals need to head in the future so that continued progress will be made. Speakers from three generations of scholars were invited to address these subjects, and the conference was organised around six theme areas: Research on Teaching Physical Education; Teacher and Student Cognition; Philosophic Issues; Impediments and Challenges; Youth Sport, Physical Activity, Public Health, and Social Change; Research on Physical Education Teacher Education; These conference proceedings capture the maturation process of physical education as a field of study, for the purpose of preserving the intellectual treasures of its evolution. They will serve as an important resource for teachers and students alike.