“SPARK & Recreation” Engaging Youth in Physical Activity

1. “SPARK & Recreation” Engaging Youth in Physical Activity Presented by: Ellen Ormsby East Coast, Program Representative The SPARK Programs

2. How to create a positive learning environment Strategies that increase youth MVPA and fitness levels Common barriers faced by after school programs and how to overcome them Session Objectives Attendees will learn:

3. Nationwide Health Crisis • The % of overweight and obese children has more than doubled in the last 30 years • 400,000+ deaths annually due to inactivity and poor diet • 25% of young people do not participate in any vigorous physical activity • Time students spend active in school PE classes is decreasing

4. Health Effects of Physical Activity ++ Psychological well-being – – Anxiety and depression ++ Self-Esteem ? Moral and social development – Overweight and obesity + HDL cholesterol – Blood Pressure – Insulin Resistance ++ Skeletal health – Musculoskeletal injuries

5. The SPARK Vision  LIFELONG WELLNESS 

6. SPARK and Recreation • What We’ve Learned • Positive Environments • Increasing Activity & Fitness Levels • Overcoming Barriers

7. PE and PA “Hall of Shame” • Being picked last for teams • Standing in lines waiting for a turn • Fitness as punishment • Focus on star athletes • Grouping by gender • Sharing 1 ball with 30 close friends • Big people throwing balls at little people • Relay races • Elimination games • Inappropriate-sized equipment

8. Increasing Fitness Levels of Youth • Programs Can Help Teach Students: • Acceptable levels of physical fitness • A variety of basic movement skills • To enjoy and seek out physical activity

9. Overcoming Barriers What Challenges Do You Face? • Untrained staff responsible for leading activity • Multiple grade levels represented • Instruction non-existent • Social skills rarely taught • Equipment limited – untapped potential

10. SPARK Activities • All-Inclusive • All Skill Levels • All Children Successful • Always Active!

11. Time to move! Activity: “Workout Buddies”

12. After School Resources

13. Leading SPARK AS • What You Have • List of materials & resources and where to find them • How to Use It • Guides leaders and explains components of the manual

14. SPARK Activity Ready Set Go!

15. SPARK Activity • Game Reset • Home Play • Guidelines • The Right Fit

16. Guideline Alignment • Character Matters • Food Facts • Fitness Focus • Move More

17. Guideline Alignment • Goals: • Maximize quality of after school experiences • Reinforce components of healthy lifestyle • Provide alignment to 3 national organizations • Home Plays and Think Abouts • can be found on sparkfamily.org

18. National Organizations President’s Challenge www.presidentschallenge.org Let’s Move www.letsmove.org NIOST (National Institute of Out-of-School Time) www.niost.com

19. AS Session Format SPARK AS Sessions are flexible! • Activities are about 15 minutes long • Use separately or combine • Add an ASAP for warm-up • Team teach / plan ahead • Make it fun! • Sections • ASAPs • Personal Best • Fitness Fun • Cool Cooperatives • Great Games • Super Sports

20. ASAPs • Purpose: • Instant activity • Little or no equipment • Few instructions or rules • Promote health-related fitness

21. Personal Best • Purpose: • Encourages regular physical activity and healthful eating • Tracks personal progress • Teaches importance of healthy mind and body connection • Reinforces social skills & behavior traits

22. Personal Best • Fitness Personal Best • President’s Challenge • Active Lifestyle Personal Best • PALA+ • Character Matters Personal Best • Character Matters Wall • STEM Personal Best • Science, Technology, Engineering, Math

23. Fitness Fun • Purpose • Make fitness activities fun & challenging • Integrate 5 components of fitness • Guide for improving and maintaining fitness • 5 Main Themes: • Fitness Circuits • Group Fitness • Jump Rope • Movement Bands • Walk/Jog/Run

24. Cool Cooperatives • Purpose • Focus is on cooperation • Build trust and reinforce teamwork • Communicate and problem solve • 4 Main Themes: • Team Builders • Cooperative Dances • Kin Ball Games • Parachute Play

25. Disguising Fitness Personal Best & Fitness Fun Sections • Active Lifestyle Personal Best • Fun & Fitness Circuits • 4,3,2,1 • Intro to Movement Bands

26. Great Games • Purpose • Increase MVPA • Skills & strategies transfer to other games • Keeps the “play factor” as the main priority • 4 Themes • Chasing and Fleeing • Aerobic Games • Playground Games • Simple Games

27. Super Sports • Purpose • Provide opportunities to practice sport skills • Apply skills & strategies in a variety of sports • Engage in small-sided, modified games • 7 Sport Themes • Basketball • Flying Disc • Football • Net Sports • Soccer • Softball • World Games

28. Provides: • Curriculum Resources • e-Manual • Task & Station Cards (English and Spanish) • Home Play Activities and Think Abouts • Blank Activity Schedules • SPARKfit • Fitness & nutrition mini-lessons • Circuit training videos • Goal setting tools • G.Y.M. – Great Young Minds • Academic integration section

29. Curriculum Resources

30. What questions do you have?

31. FREESPARK RESOURCES!

32. Visit Us! sparkpe.org sparkfamily.org • Blogs • Webinars • E-Newsletter • Grant Information

33. More Information Ellen Ormsby:ellen.ormsby@schoolspecialty.com Contact SPARK: E-mail: spark@sparkpe.org Phone: 1-800-sparkpe

34. Be a Part of the SPARK Family! • Free Demo Trial • of the • SPARK Family Website • To get started today: • Go to www.sparkpe.org • At the top, click on the sparkfamily.org icon • Click on the yellow Demo Trial button