THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TYPE AND FEMALE INVOLVEMENT IN THE GOALPOST AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM

Amanda Taylor Clemson University Youth Development Leadership April 18, 2012

THE PROBLEM The CDC reports that the rate of childhood

obesity in youth ages 6-11 have increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.8% in 2008.

The obesity rate for youth ages 12-19 has increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.

In 2005 the CDC reported that females (51.7%) were more likely than their male counterparts (40%), to not attend physical education class one or more days in the average school week.

High school females (72.2%) did not meet currently recommended levels of physical activity.

THE PROBLEM YOUNG GIRLS FACE Girls ages 11-17 believe the perception of

being overweight, not just weight alone that inhibits participation in sports and physical activities.

Girls ages 11–17 say they do not play sports because they do not feel skilled or competent (40%).

23% of girls say that they do not play sports because they do not think their bodies look good.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Percentage of Children Who Are Overweight or Obese: 2005*

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

2007 Rates of Overweight and Obese Children

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

THE PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to evaluate

which type of physical activity; free-play, intentional-play or skills/drills, had the greatest affect in increasing physical activity in 5th and 6th grade females enrolled in the GoalPOST program. Findings from this study, in conjunction with future process and outcome evaluations, will contribute to the body of knowledge linking specific physical activity options and the opportunity for females to become more physically active.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1) What are the types of afterschool physical

activities (free play, deliberate play, skills and drills) that are most preferred by 5th and 6th grade girls?

2) What are the types of activities that make 5th and 6th grade girls more physically active?

3) What is the self-reported level of social interactions among 5th and 6th grade girls during various types of afterschool physical activity ?

GOALPOST Goal-oriented Performance in Out-of-School

Time

GoalPOST is offered to 3rd-6th grade students in 7 Title I elementary schools in Anderson County, South Carolina.

This study was designed to operate within Objective 2 of the GoalPOST program.

DESCRIPTION OF SUBJECTS A stratified sample

of the population was used for this study.

Fifth and Sixth Grade students enrolled in the GoalPOST program at Pendleton Elementary School.

Males and Females

INTERVENTION This study consisted of

taking the fifth and sixth grade students out of their normally scheduled physical activity program and exposing them to one of the three physical activity alternatives, three days a week for 55 minutes over the course of one month. The three alternatives included; Free play, Skills and Drills, and Intentional Play.

FREE PLAY Free Time Allowed to use time

however they chose If weather

permitting, could take place outside.

Given physical education equipment to use.

SKILLS AND DRILLS Presidential Fitness

Test. Students given a pre

and post intervention test.

Designed to be more like a “typically physical education class.”

INTENTIONAL PLAY Specific task

oriented. Progression of

games from basic to more difficult.

Designed to allow the students to develop tasks while playing fun games.

METHODS This study is a cross

sectional survey. It is both a

qualitative and quantitative design.

After each exposure to the intervention, students were given a 5 question survey.

Observations were also recorded by researchers.

Survey Components Age Gender Grade How much fun did

you have today? How much did you

learn today? How physically active

were you today? How much did you

get to play with your friends today?

LITERATURE REVIEW Sothern, Loftin, Suskind, Udall, and Blecker (1999) looked at

the need for physical activity programs to help prevent chronic disease and the enhancement of overall health in children. The article found that moderate intensity exercise of a non-structured nature  seems to facilitate most of the disease prevention goal and health promoting benefits.

The purpose of the study designed by Cowan and Forster (2009), is to determine to extent to which non-traditional strength training programs will impact the fitness of youth. The President’s Challenge Presidential Fitness Test was used to test the physical ability of the study group. The study found that the Strength training program did have positive results including, increase in Curl-Up numbers, decrease in Shuttle Run time, decrease in Endurance Run time, and an increase in Right Angle Push-ups.

IMPLICATIONS This study will hope

to better understand which activity type is emotionally, socially and physically better for female students.

Results from this study can be used to develop a program specifically for the benefit of females.