Comparing Campers’ Physical Activity Levels Between Sport Education And Traditional Instruction in a Residential Summer Camp

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To date, studies examining physical activity (PA) levels have largely been dedicated to the school setting, while there is little known about the activity levels of children who participate in traditional or summer day camps. METHODS: Participants were 83 11- to 12-year-old campers who partook in either Sport Education or traditional instruction at a large residential summer camp. All lessons were video recorded and coded using the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT), which categorizes PA levels as well as contextual characteristics. RESULTS: Results indicated that campers who participated in Sport Education spent a higher percentage of time (61.6%) engaged in moderate to vigorous activity than campers in the traditional activity unit (42.2%). In addition, campers spent less time idly within Sport Education (27.9%), than its counterpart (39.5%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that utilizing the Sport Education model may provide campers with higher levels of PA within this context.