Inactivity in our school-aged children has increased to the level that the Surgeon General’s office has declared obesity a pending national epidemic. There are many reasons for the continual drop in physical activity levels amongst the young. Included in these reasons are: sedentary lifestyles resulting from computer and game use, the lack of physical activity by parents which reinforces a child’s avoidance of activity, as well as school districts limiting or altogether eliminating physical education in the public school curriculum. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a recreation-based physical activity program that connects parents and their children together in a supportive youth sports program increases physical activity in both groups. Design: Parents and their children enrolling in a community recreation sports league were recruited to participate in a weekly 2-hour evening activity session. Parents enrolling their children were required to attend a new 1-hour orientation program focusing on improved parental behavior at youth sporting events and towards increased participation with their children. Seventy-six families volunteered to participate in this program, which was sponsored by the community recreation department. Children participating in this study ranged in age from 6 years to 15 years old, and parents from 26 years to 56 years old. The 2-hour sessions were broken down into components (physical fitness, skill development, and fun activity play). The emphasis was on whether a program that encourages regular physical activity and skill development between parents and child enhance independent physical activity by parent and child. Parents and their children underwent physical fitness testing at the start of the program and again after 6-months. Parents and children kept daily physical activity logs and daily recordings from a pedometer. To support and encourage physical activity by the family as a whole, homework (list of possible family activities both around the house and at neighborhood recreation centers) was given to participants. Results: Correlations between fitness status (pre- and post-testing) and activity levels (self-reported and pedometer recordings) ranged from .75 to .86. Multiple regression analyses identified several independent physical fitness predictors of fitness status such as number of steps taken daily, amount of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity (3-6.0 METs), and vigorous physical activity (>6.0 METs). This study supports the idea that increased active participation by parents in terms of teaching their child sport skills and actively engaging in family activities can positively affect physical fitness in both parent and child. Keyword(s): adult fitness, physical activity, youth sports