YES! We Can PLAY: A Physical Activity and Nutrition After-School Program for Middle School Students

Sixth graders will participate in a 6 month after-school program in which each daily session will last 90 minutes, 60 minutes of which will be moderate to vigorous physical activity. Two sports tracks will be offered during each 8-week season, and children will choose which they prefer. Coaches will be trained through a one day capacity building session and will receive online training throughout the program. Coaches will integrate sports readiness/physical activity programming, nutrition and healthy eating, and social emotional learning into the program with a focus on habit formation. A text-based platform will be utilized to encourage habits learned in the active portion of the program during June and July as well as on weekends during the intervention. Parents will be sent fliers weekly summarizing concepts addressed, and will be invited to cooking classes to watch students compete.