Alberta Medical Association (AMA) Youth Run Club

Alberta Medical Association (AMA) Youth Run Club

Overview, Background, Benefits

Presented by[organization or individual]

AMA Youth Run Club – Origin

• Partnership between Ever Active Schools and Alberta Medical Association (AMA) – late 2012o Joint concern about low rates of kids’ physical activityo Joint concern about future health impacts of

inactivity• AMA Youth Run Club – modeled on Doctors Nova

Scotia’s “Kids’ Run Club”o Developed by Doctors Nova Scotia in 2004o Award-winning (awards from CICH & CPHA)o Now in year 10 in NS – 17,500 students, 260 schools

AMA Youth Run Club - Goals• Main goals:

o Increase kids’ activity levels Only 1 in 10 Canadian kids active enough

o Decrease kids’ recreational screen time Average is >5 hours/day; decrease to 1-2 hours/day

o Educate kids on the benefits of being activeo Positively effect long-term healthy lifestyle habits

• Other goals:o Increase community engagemento Develop youth leaderso Develop school champions

AMA Youth Run Club – Early Results• Small-scale pilot test April-June 2013o 74 schools across Alberta (exceeded target of 20)o Approx. 50% rural and 50% urbano 4,000+ kidso Very successful, positive feedback

• 2013-14 goal – 200 schools across Albertao More than 200 schools as of late 2013 o About 10,000 students participatingo List of schools & locations

(http://everactive.org/alberta-medical-association-youth-run-club)

http://everactive.org/alberta-medical-association-youth-run-club

http://everactive.org/alberta-medical-association-youth-run-club

AMA Youth Run Club – What It Is• Free; no cost• Inclusive for all fitness levels

o Walk/run approacho Non-competitive

• Adaptable for kids from kindergarten to Grade 12• Coach – teacher, parent, community, peer leader• Flexible – school decides how to adapt and implement

o What ages/gradeso When – lunch, before or after school, recesso How many times a week

AMA Youth Run Club – What It Is …• Year-long recommended for maximum benefit

o Fall/spring running; alternative sport activity in winteror

o Some schools run throughout the winter, too• Option of template programs – goal of a “virtual”

marathon/half-marathono 14 to 21 runs – done over 4 weeks to several monthso Finish with a final “fun run” (2.1, 4.2 or 5 km)

• Schools register their club by signing up online o www.everactive.org/alberta-medical-association-youth-run-club

http://www.everactive.org/alberta-medical-association-youth-run-club

AMA Youth Run Club - Supports• Resources

o Coach’s handbook & runner’s handbooko Running logo “Eat, move, play challenge”o Initial form letter to adapt and send to parentso Regular e-newsletter for coaches (with tips, ideas)

• AMA Youth Run Club Coordinator Hayley Degausto Phone or email adviceo On-site school visit on request

• Incentiveso End of year finisher’s prize for participantso Contests schools can enter throughout the year

AMA Youth Run Club – Important Health Messages

• In development – to reinforce health messages:o Physician volunteers to visit run clubs on request to

present a “Tip of the Week” topic: Benefits of physical activity Limiting screen time Sun safety Injury prevention Other health topics

o Connections between run clubs and local PCNso Increasing other partnerships

AMA Youth Run Club – Latest Results

Alberta Medical Association (AMA) Youth Run Club

Documents

Transcript of Alberta Medical Association (AMA) Youth Run Club