Social Mechanisms for Promoting Physical Activity in After School Programs for Underserved Middle School Youth

"The Get-to-Know-You small group sessions (30 minutes) were designed to increase friendship building skills and involved interactive student-led discussions and activities designed to foster the assets needed to build and support friendships, group cohesion, and staff connections through PA. The PA component of the program (60 minutes) was designed to promote a positive PA social experience and meet youth social affiliation goals. Available games to choose from were novel, inclusive, emphasized teamwork, and centered on social goals. Three different PA stations were offered each program day in which youth rotated. One day each week was designated as a choice day, whereby youth activity preference ratings were used to determine which activities were offered that day."