Homeruns for health: an intervention using sports to increase physical activity in kids attending an after-school program

This health behavior intervention targets the physical activity of kids (ages 6-14) at the Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley in Moline, Illinois. This intervention was developed with the application of the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) during a 10-week long internship at the Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley’s (BGCMV) facility. A trend of lengthy “screen time” and a lack of emphasis on the importance of physical activity were both noticed during said internship. To address these observations, help was sought out from varsity athletic programs at Augustana College, a private institution in the area. The goal of this intervention is to have the club members be active for at least one hour a month with the help of Augustana College varsity athlete volunteers. Each month, a different team will volunteer to: teach the kids about their respective sport, the benefits of staying physically active, and play the sport with the kids. This intervention will also instill positive lifestyle habits in the club members by being educated on the importance of being physically active, being taught the rules of sports to pique their interest, and allowing them to participate to get the experience and feel for them. It is important to expose the kids to healthy habits so that they can start to build these habits during their adolescence and carry them on into adulthood