The effects of a combined physical activity and health education program on health knowledge and well-being of socially vulnerable children.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the football-based health education program "11 for Health" on health knowledge and well-being in the setting of a 10-week residential stay in a Danish charity home for socially vulnerable children. Six hundred and fourteen children participated in the study, of which 305 took part in the standard program plus "11 for Health" (SG+: 12.4 ± 1.4 (mean ± SD) years) and 309 took part in the standard program (SG: 12.4 ± 1.6 years). We used a crossover design over two full years. The study examined changes in health knowledge and well-being through questionnaires. Overall health knowledge increased more in SG+ than SG over 10 weeks (6.6 vs. 3.4%, p < 0.05). The overall well-being scores were markedly improved (p < 0.05) by 4.54 ± 7.17 AU in SG+ and 4.51 ± 7.16 AU in SG, with no between-group differences. Specific improvements (p < 0.05) were seen in all well-being subcategories, raising the well-being scores to the national average. In conclusion, a 10-week stay at a Danish charity home, the Christmas Seal Home, markedly affected health knowledge and well-being of socially vulnerable children. When the football-based health education program-11 for Health-was added, there were additional positive effects on health knowledge.

Essential Improvements in Fat Percentage and Cardiometabolic Fitness After a Residential Stay for Socially Vulnerable Children-With and Without the "11 for Health" Concept.

The Danish Christmas Seal Homes offer a 10-week residential stay for socially vulnerable children. We aimed to examine the effects on body composition and cardiometabolic fitness variables of the standard program (SG) and whether substituting physical activity sessions with sessions from a football-based health education program is beneficial for the participants ("11 for Health"; SG+). Three hundred and nine children participated in SG (12.4 [1.6] y) and 305 in SG+ (12.4 [1.4] y). Fat percentage was lowered by 6% for females (from 37% to 31%) and 8% for males (from 36% to 28%), with no between-group differences. We observed improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (3 and 5 mm Hg, respectively), resting heart rate (10 beats/min), aerobic fitness, jump performance, and relative muscle mass with no between-group differences. Furthermore, there were between-group differences in insulin levels for females (1.7 pmol/L; 95% CI, 0.3 to 3.0) and postural balance for males (1.0 s; 95% CI, 0.0 to 2.0), both in favor of SG+, and covered distance in the Andersen test for females (26 m; 95% CI, 3 to 49) in favor of SG. In conclusion, a 10-week stay at the Danish Christmas Seal Home resulted in clinically relevant improvement in fat percentage and cardiometabolic fitness in socially vulnerable children, regardless of the program type.

Well-Being, Physical Fitness, and Health Profile of 2,203 Danish Girls Aged 10-12 in Relation to Leisure-time Sports Club Activity-With Special Emphasis on the Five Most Popular Sports.

ABSTRACT: Madsen, M, Larsen, MN, Cyril, R, Møller, TK, Madsen, EE, Ørntoft, C, Lind, RR, Ryom, K, Christiansen, SR, Wikman, J, Elbe, AM, and Krustrup, P. Well-being, physical fitness, and health profile of 2,203 Danish girls aged 10-12 in relation to leisure-time sports club activity-with special emphasis on the five most popular sports. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2283-2290, 2022-This study investigated the relationship between leisure-time sports club activities and well-being as well as physical health parameters in 10-12-year-old Danish girls. Two thousand two hundred three girls took part in the study, which included questionnaires on participation in leisure-time sports clubs, well-being, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 children's test, long jump, balance tests, body composition, blood pressure (BP), and resting heart rate (RHR). Data were analyzed according to whether the girls participated in leisure-time sport and according to the 5 most frequently reported sports. Girls enrolled in leisure-time sports had higher physical well-being (49.3 ± 8.6 vs. 45.2 ± 8.3), psychological well-being (50.4 ± 9.0 vs. 49.4 ± 9.8), experienced more peer and social support (50.2 ± 10.0 vs. 48.9 ± 10.7), and perceived a more positive school environment (52.5 ± 8.0 vs. 50.5 ± 9.3), as well as showing higher Yo-Yo (+39%), long jump (+10%), and balance performance (+15%) than girls not involved in sport clubs. The girls active in sports clubs had higher relative muscle mass (+5%), lower fat percentage (-11%), body mass index (-5%), RHR (-3.4 b·min -1 ), and diastolic BP (-1.4 mm Hg) compared with girls not involved in sport ( p < 0.05). Girls who played soccer showed higher aerobic fitness compared with inactive girls (+67%), dancers (+39%), swimmers (+38%), and gymnasts (+16%). Gymnasts had a lower fat percentage than inactive girls (-19%), team handballers (-10%), swimmers (-12%), and soccer players (-4%). Girls participating in club-based leisure-time sports showed higher well-being and better fitness and health profiles than girls not involved in any sports club activities. Girls involved in soccer had better aerobic fitness and gymnasts a lower fat percentage.

Physical Fitness and Body Composition in 8-10-Year-Old Danish Children Are Associated With Sports Club Participation.

Larsen, MN, Nielsen, CM, Ørntoft, CØ, Randers, M, Manniche, V, Hansen, L, Hansen, PR, Bangsbo, J, and Krustrup, P. Physical fitness and body composition in 8-10-year-old Danish children are associated with sports club participation. J Strength Cond Res 31(12): 3425-3434, 2017-We investigated whether physical fitness and body composition in 8-10-year-old Danish children are associated with sports club participation. The study included 423 schoolchildren, comprising 209 girls and 214 boys, of whom 67 and 74%, respectively, were active in sports clubs. Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 for children (YYIR1C), balance, jump and coordination tests, together with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, were used to determine exercise capacity and body composition. Children active in sports clubs had better (p < 0.05) YYIR1C (33%, 767 ± 26 vs. 575 ± 29 m), 20-m sprint (3%, 4.33 ± 0.03 vs. 4.48 ± 0.04 seconds), coordination (6%, 68 ± 1 vs. 72 ± 1 second), and balance test performances (9%, 19.3 ± 0.5 vs. 21.2 ± 0.7 falls·min) and lower fat mass index (16%, 3.8 ± 0.1 vs. 4.5 ± 0.2 kg[fat]·m) than children not active in sports clubs. Ball game players had better (p < 0.05) YYIR1C (38%, 925 ± 39 vs. 671 ± 28 m), 20-m sprint (4%, 4.25 ± 0.03 vs. 4.42 ± 0.04 seconds), and coordination test performances (5%, 65 ± 1 vs. 69 ± 1 second), along with higher (p < 0.05) lean body mass (5%, 24.00 ± 0.22 vs. 22.83 ± 0.25 kg) and whole-body BMD (2%, 0.90 ± < 0.01 vs. 0.88 ± <0.01 g·cm) compared with children active in other sports. The study showed that 8[FIGURE DASH]10-year-old Danish children engaged in sports-club activity, especially ball game players, have better exercise capacity and superior body composition compared with children not active in sports clubs.

Technical Actions, Heart Rate, and Locomotor Activity in 7v7 and 8v8 Games for Female Youth Soccer Players.

Ørntoft, C, Larsen, MN, Andersen, TB, Rasmussen, LS, Póvoas, SCA, Randers, MB, and Krustrup, P. Technical actions, heart rate, and locomotor activity in 7v7 and 8v8 games for female youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 30(12): 3298-3303, 2016-The purpose of this study was to evaluate technical performance, heart rate (HR), and activity profile in 7v7 and 8v8 soccer games for 9- to 10-year-old girls (U11). A total of 24 female youth players participated in the study, all playing 20-minute 7v7 and 8v8 games with 160 and 223 m per player, respectively. Technical actions, HR, and activity profile were measured during the games using video filming, HR monitors, and 5-Hz Global positioning system (GPS) units. The number of technical actions was higher in 7v7 than in 8v8 games (34 ± 19 vs. 28 ± 14; p = 0.03; d = 0.37), as was the number of successful actions (25 ± 16 vs. 20 ± 12; p = 0.01; d = 0.35), with no difference in success rate for technical actions (70 ± 13 vs. 69 ± 14%; p = 0.63; d = 0.07). No differences were found between 7v7 and 8v8 in total distance covered (1,574 ± 251 and 1,622 ± 281 m; p = 0.66; d = 0.18), peak speed (19.5 ± 2.6 and 20.7 ± 1.5 km·h; p = 0.16; d = 0.56), mean HR values (85 ± 5 and 86 ± 6%HRpeak; p = 0.85; d = 0.18), and time of >90% HRpeak (37 ± 16 and 35 ± 14% of playing time; p = 0.70; d = 0.13). Distance covered at the highest running speeds of >16 km·h was lower in 7v7 than in 8v8 games (34 ± 24 vs. 63 ± 34 m; p = 0.018; d = 0.98), as was the number of entries into this speed zone (8 ± 5 vs. 13 ± 7; p = 0.006; d = 0.82). In conclusion, more technical actions and successful actions were observed in 7v7 than in 8v8 games, but players covered more ground with high-speed running in 8v8 games. This study also revealed that HR values were high in both game formats for U11 adolescent female players, with no difference between formats.

Exercise Intensity and Technical Involvement in U9 Team Handball: Effect of Game Format.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the exercise intensity and technical involvement of U9 boys' and girls' team handball during different game formats, and the differences between genders. Locomotor activity (total distance, distance in speed zones, accelerations, and decelerations), heart rate (HR), and technical involvement (shots, goals, and duels) metrics were collected during various 15 min game formats from a total of 57 Danish U9 players (37 boys and 20 girls). Game formats were a small size pitch (20 × 13 m) with 3 vs. 3 players and offensive goalkeepers (S3 + 1) and 4 vs. 4 players (S4), a medium size pitch (25.8 × 20 m) with 4 vs. 4 (M4) and 5 vs. 5 (M5) players, and a large size pitch (40 × 20 m) with 5 vs. 5 (L5) players. Boys and girls covered a higher total distance (TD) of high-speed running (HSR) and sprinting during L5 games compared to all other game formats (p < 0.05; ES = (-0.9 to -2.1), (-1.4 to -2.8), and (-0.9 to -1.3) respectively). Players covered the highest amount of sprinting distance in L5 games compared to all other game formats (p < 0.01; ES = 0.8 to 1.4). In all the game formats, players spent from 3.04 to 5.96 min in 180-200 bpm and 0.03 min to 0.85 min in >200 bpm of the total 15 min. In addition, both genders had more shots in S3 + 1 than M5 (p < 0.01; ES = 1.0 (0.4; 1.7)) and L5 (p < 0.01; ES = 1.1 (0.6; 2.2)). Team handball matches have high heart rates, total distances covered, and high-intensity running distances for U9 boys and girls irrespective of the game format. Locomotor demands appeared to be even higher when playing on larger pitches, whereas the smaller pitch size and fewer players led to elevated technical involvement.

Fitness and Performance Testing of Male and Female Beach Soccer Players-A Preliminary Investigation.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare performance on sand and a firm surface and to describe the physical capacity of male and female beach soccer players. Methods: Sixty-six male and 29 female competitive beach soccer players voluntarily participated in this study. Firstly, within-subjects test scores were compared to scores on a firm surface (criterion validity; n = 15 men) and reconducted on a second occasion (reliability; n = 51 men). Secondly, the best score on sand was retained to compare test performance between ages (classified as below 20, 20-30, and above 30 years) and sexes. Performance assessments included sprint time over 5 and 15 m (once on a firm surface and twice on sand), standing long jump (SLJ, once on a firm surface and twice on sand) and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1, once on a firm surface and once on sand; only data for men were available). Results: Five-m sprint and Yo-Yo IR1 performance on sand were not correlated to performance on a firm surface (P > 0.05). Test-retest reliability was acceptable for the 15-m sprint and SLJ tests (ICC > 0.90; CV < 5%). Performance in 15-m sprint and maximal sprinting speed were moderately lower in male players aged above 30 years. compared to players aged below 30 years (d = 0.35-0.42; P < 0.05). Irrespective of the age group, weight-bearing power-based performance mass was moderately to very largely higher in male players than in female players (d = 0.42-0.88; P < 0.05). Conclusions: The lack of a consistent relationship between performance on sand and on a firm surface might indicate the need to develop specific test batteries for sand-based athletes. Age-related differences in physical performance were evident only in sprint capacity. Further studies are warranted to elucidate our preliminary findings and to develop the sand specific tests.

Activity Profile, Heart Rate, Technical Involvement, and Perceived Intensity and Fun in U13 Male and Female Team Handball Players: Effect of Game Format.

The aim of the study was to compare the activity pattern, heart rate (HR), technical involvement, and subjective perceptions in U13 boys and girls playing team handball in five game formats. Activity pattern, heart rate (HR), technical involvement, perceived fun, and exertion were recorded from four girls teams (n = 24) and four boys teams (n = 24) played during a 1-day tournament consisting of five different game formats of 15-min duration: Medium court size, 4v4 (M4v4), 5v5 (M5v5), and 6v6 (M6v6), and large court size, 5v5 (L5v5) and 6v6 (L6v6). Girls covered more total distance (TD) and high-speed running (HSR, 13-17.9 km·h-1) on the large court compared to the medium court (p < 0.05; ES = 2.1-3.1 and 1.2-2.5, respectively). Boys covered more distance as HSR and sprinting on the large court compared to the medium court, but only more TD on the large court compared to the medium court with the same number of players, (p < 0.05; ES = 1.0-1.8, 1.0-1.8, and 1.1-1.8, respectively). Team handball for U13 boys and girls is a high-intensity activity irrespective of court size. Increasing the court size with a fixed number of players increased the total distance and HSR, whereas manipulating the number of players on a fixed court size appears to influence technical involvement.