Physical Activity Policies at National and Subnational Levels: A Study in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Mexico.

BACKGROUND: National physical activity (PA) policy processes are only beginning to be studied in Latin America, and little attention has focused at the subnational level. This study examined national-subnational relations in the policy process (agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation) in selected Latin American countries. METHODS: The Global Observatory for Physical Activity's (GoPA!) INTEGRATE-PA-Pol tool was applied in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Mexico. Data were collected in matched pairs of the capital plus one noncapital city among national and subnational policymakers (n = 27), previously identified by the GoPA! Country Contacts. PA policy development and implementation were assessed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Twenty-three (response rate = 85.2%) informants provided data, mainly from the health sector (52.2%), followed by the sport (26.1%), transport (13.0%), and education (8.7%) sectors. Most informants reported that their countries had a current PA policy embedded within noncommunicable diseases prevention plans (46.2%), other plans (46.2%), or obesity prevention/management/control plans (7.7%). Respondents at the subnational level rated PA promotion as central (64.3%), while the national-level role was important but not central (75.0%). National and subnational policymakers indicated low-to-little involvement in the other level's PA policy processes across the 5 policy stages. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that collecting national and subnational PA policy data across countries with the active collaboration of the GoPA! network was feasible. We also successfully identified governmental interactions throughout the PA policy process, suggesting suboptimal engagement between national and subnational levels.

La formación y adquisición de conocimiento para entrenar y dirigir de los entrenadores del fútbol élite de Costa Rica

El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar aspectos relacionados con la formación y las fuentes de conocimiento que hoy en día poseen los entrenadores de futbol élite costarricense, tanto para dirigir como para entrenar, y que ejercen influencias en la toma de sus decisiones de su entorno deportivo. Para ello, se ha realizado una investigación cualitativa, en la cual la recolección de los datos se hizo a través del método denominado triangulación metodológica. Este consistió en la aplicación de 2 herramientas metodológicas, la entrevista y el cuestionario, cuyos resultados al final fueron comparados entre sí. La población del estudio fue de 10 entrenadores de la liga de primera división del fútbol costarricense. Los resultados indicaron que los entrenadores basan su labor de dirigir y entrenar en casi todas las subcategorías de adquisición de conocimientos que se plantearon en el estudio; sin embargo, las subcategorías de experiencia como jugador, experiencia profesional y el manejo de herramientas tecnológicas fueron a las que le asignaron mayor valor, sobre todo para el ámbito de dirigir en la competencia. Al mismo tiempo, se encuentra que la subcategoría interacción entre colegas fue a la que le asignaron el menor valor. Las conclusiones del estudio deberían ser tomadas en consideración a la hora del diseño curricular en la formación de entrenadores de fútbol.

This study aimed to explore the aspects related to the formation and sources of knowledge that Costa Rican elite soccer coaches have in order to coach and train, and how those aspects influence the decision-making process of soccer coaches' in their sport environment. For this purpose, a qualitative research project has been carried out, where data was collected through the method specifically known as methodological triangulation, which consisted in the application of two methodological tools, the interview and the questionnaire, whose final results were compared with each other. The study population consisted of 10 coaches of the Costa Rican First Division Soccer League. The results indicate that coaches base their work of coaching and training on almost all subcategories of acquisition of knowledge that were raised in the study. However, the subcategories of experience as a player, professional experience, and the use of technological tools were assigned a greater value, especially regarding the field of coaching in competition. At the same time, the subcategory interaction between colleagues was assigned the lowest value. The conclusions of the study should be analyzed when designing curricula in the training of soccer coaches.

O objetivo deste estudo foi explorar aspectos relacionados com a capacitação e às fontes de conhecimento que os técnicos de futebol de primeira divisão da Costa Rica possuem atualmente, tanto para dirigir e treinar, quanto para exercer influências na tomada de decisões no seu ambiente desportivo. Para tanto, realizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa, na qual a coleta de informações foi realizada por meio do método conhecido como triangulação metodológica, que consistiu na aplicação de dois instrumentos metodológicos, a entrevista e o questionário, cujos resultados foram comparados ao final. A população do estudo foi de 10 treinadores da primeira divisão do futebol costa-riquenho. Os resultados indicaram que os treinadores baseiam seu trabalho de dirigir e treinar, em quase todas as subcategorias de aquisição de conhecimento que foram levantadas no estudo, no entanto, as subcategorias de experiência como jogador, experiência profissional e uso de ferramentas tecnológicas foram as que mais atribuíram valor, especialmente ao campo de dirigir para competência. Ao mesmo tempo, verifica-se que a subcategoria interação entre os colegas recebeu o menor valor. As conclusões do estudo devem ser levadas em consideração ao projetar currículos na capacitação de treinadores de futebol.