JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Effective and scalable interventions are needed to combat chronic low levels of youth physical activity. Afterschool sports sampling programs may be vital interventions to teach sports, increase physical literacy and physical activity that lead to healthy lifelong habits that maintain into adulthood.

Objective:

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of an afterschool sports sampling intervention among underserved youth in the Midwest.

Methods:

Youth (N=81) in three middle schools in a large Midwest city participated in a 6-month afterschool physical activity intervention that aimed to increase moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity. Improve physical literacy, and decrease BMI. Difference scores for this two-group, post-test only design were calculated. A series of t-tests were conducted to assess between group differences.

Results:

The intervention group had significantly better physical literacy (t = 24.91, p < 0.01) and engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity minutes per week (t = 4.28, p < 0.05), and steps per day (t = 4.29, p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

An afterschool sports sampling program may be one effective solution to combat youth physical inactivity. Future research should assess the scalability of this intervention on larger populations and in different areas.