Erin Hoops

Why Basketball

 

There are Seven Parts to this page.

 

Click the blue Part Link to read what interests you.

 

Part I - Statistics Canada Survey of Children and Youth's Participation in Activities

 

Part II - Why Basketball (and more) is Important in Schools

 

Part III - Crisis in Student Health: Some Facts

 

Part IV - Trends in Physical Activity Among Children & Adults: The Shame of it All

 

Part V - Barriers That Lead To Physical Inactivity

 

Part VI - Children's Lifestyle Could Pose Health Care Crisis

Part VII - Benefits of Youth Engagement

 

 

Part I of Why Basketball 

From:

 

 

This material is severely summarized from a major Statistics Canada Survey.

This material comes from:

 

The Daily. Wednesday, May 30, 2001

National Longitudinal Survey of Children & Youth: 

Participation In Activities

 

Which can be reached using this link www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/010530/d010530a.htm

 

Children who participate in organized activities outside of school such as sports, music, the arts or clubs tend to have higher self-esteem, interact better with friends and perform somewhat better in school, according to new data from the National Longitudinal Survey on Children and Youth.  Over 23,000 children were involved in this survey.  Hence all data is highly significant because of the numbers involved.

 

The data indicate, for example, that among young people aged 12 to 15, those who rarely or never participated in organized sports were more likely to report having lower self-esteem and difficulties with friends. They were also more likely to smoke.

 

Younger children who participated tended to have positive school outcomes

For the most part, 76% of parents reported that their children were doing very well or well in school. Preliminary findings show that children between the ages of 4 and 9 who participated in activities, particularly sports, tended to have fewer difficulties in reading or math than those who rarely or never participated.

In the survey, a test designed to measure receptive or hearing vocabulary is administered to children between 4 and 6 years of age. In 1998/99, 29% of those who had little or no involvement in activities showed delayed development in vocabulary, about twice the proportion (13%) of those who had participated in activities.

Research has indicated that children who participate in activities generally gain and improve skills, as well as learn how to interact with others. According to their parents, younger children who had little or no involvement in activities were twice as likely to exhibit lower levels of pro-social behaviour, indicating a relationship between activity participation and socialization skills for young children.

Given that the number of older children participating in activities other than organized sports was relatively small, the analysis focuses only on youth who participated in organized sports.

Friendships (Social Skills)

Among teens, as with younger children, participation in activities appears to be related to social skills. Teens who had rarely or never participated in organized sports over the four years of the survey reported that they were much less likely to see their friends outside school and were more than three times as likely to report problems with friends.

 

                   right click the chart to save it.

 

Self-Esteem

Studies have shown that one potential long-term benefit of participating in sports activities is increased self-esteem. The study's data shows a relationship between activity participation and self-esteem for older children. Some 16% of youth who had rarely or never participated in sports reported low levels of self-esteem, four times higher than those who had always participated.

In addition, youth who had participated in organized sports in 1994/95 and 1996/97, but had stopped participating by 1998/99, were three times more likely to report lower levels of self-esteem than those youth who had always participated.

Expressing Opinion

Youth who participated in organized sports regularly over the years were more likely to report that expressing their opinion was important, and they had a more positive outlook on their personal futures in the next five years.

 

Happiness

While one-third of youth aged 12 to 15 indicated that they were not happy with how they looked, the proportion was much higher among those who had never or rarely participated (42%) than among those who had always participated (24%).

 

Weight

This same pattern prevailed among youth trying to lose weight. Some 25% of youth who had always participated in organized sports indicated they were trying to lose weight, compared with 40% of those who rarely or never participated, or stopped participating. In all cases, more females than males reported trying to lose weight.

 

Health

While the majority of youth reported that they were in excellent or very good health, the proportion was higher among those who participated regularly in sports over time (90%) than for those who had rarely or never participated (70%). It is important to note that, in some instances, it may be poor health that prevents participation in sport (e.g., a severe disability), while in other cases it may be inactivity that leads to poor health.

 

Smoking

Finally, of the youth who had never or rarely participated in organized sports between 1994/95 and 1998/99, 23% reported that they smoked, almost three times the proportion of those who always participated (8%). Again, those who stopped participating by 1998/99 were twice as likely to report that they smoked than those who had always participated.

While findings demonstrate a relationship between participating in extracurricular activities and some positive outcomes such as improved health, higher self-esteem, and improved emotional and social skills, there is not enough analysis to date to infer that participation causes these outcomes.

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Note:

The Advisory

Group's

Report cited

here is well 

developed and

well written. 

It is worth

a good look.

Why? - Part II

Why Basketball (and more)

is important in schools...

 

"The experiences of educators across North America, as well as the findings of numerous research studies, indicate that co-instructional activities (once/still called extracurricular activities) such as sports and the arts are vitally important parts of a student’s education. Students who participate in co-instructional activities have greater opportunities to develop character, critical thinking skills, social skills, and talents. They learn first-hand the importance of teamwork, responsibility, commitment, and hard work. These qualities are sought after by employers and improve students’ chances for successful careers.

"Participation in co-instructional activities improves a student’s chances of avoiding risky behaviours, such as dropping out, becoming a teenage parent, engaging in delinquency, smoking, or abusing drugs or alcohol. It can also reduce racism by providing students with positive forms of contact with students from different ethnic and racial backgrounds."

From

The Report of the Minister's

Advisory Group on the Provision

of Co-instructional Activities

Ontario Ministry of Education

April 2001

 

To Access the full report

Click on the blue link

that follows and you will be

on the Ont. Ministry of Education's

web site reading the full report.

(P.S. You need Acrobat Reader to read this report

and it will take this click a moment or two to load.)

 

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/reports/coinste.pdf 

Further,

in this Erin Hoops

site, click the blue link

that follow to go to

another quote on the

Value Of Sports in schools.

 

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Why? - Part III

Crisis In Student Health: Some Facts

  • The likelihood that children will never smoke is directly related to the amount of physical activity: more than 80% of Canadians between the ages of 10 and 24 who are active have never smoked...so get kids active in sports at an early age to help (subtlety) prevent them from taking up smoking.

  • The Canadian Council on Social Development reports that two-thirds of Canadian children are not physically active enough for optimal growth and development...so why not get them involved in basketball.

  • The percentage of overweight boys increased from 15% in 1981 to 35.4% in 1996.

  • The percentage of overweight girls increased from 15% in 1981 to 29.2% in 1996.

  • The percentage of obese children  increased from 5% in 1981 to 16.6% in 1996 for boys and from 5% in 1981 to 14.6% in 1996 for girls.

  • A 1998 Gallup Poll reported that 74% of the Canadian population is in favour of instituting 30 minutes of daily physical education in schools.  Despite this fact, only 10% of the 15,800 Canadian schools have quality daily physical education programs.  (Source: Canadian Medical Association 2000)

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Why? - Part IV

The material which follows is a small extract of the total material available at

http://www.activehealthykids.ca/ 

 

Mission Statement

The Foundation for Active Healthy Kids is committed to increasing physical activity in all children and youth by providing visionary leadership, serving as a knowledge broker, and supporting effective programs.

 

Trends In Physical Activity Among Children and Adults

 

The Shame of it all

 

Prevalence of Overweight and Obese Children

ages 7 - 13 years in Canada 

Dark blue - 1981

Light blue - 1996 (ouch)

 

The percentage of overweight boys increased from 15% in 1981 to 35.4% in 1996


The percentage of overweight girls increased from 15% in 1981 to 29.2% in 1996


The percentage of obesity in children tripled over that period of time, from 5% to 16.6% for boys and from 5% to 14.6% for girls

 

Two-thirds of Canadian school-aged children are not active enough for optimal development and they become more inactive as they get older

Physical activity reduces stress, strengthens the heart and lungs, increases energy levels, helps you maintain and achieve a healthy body weight - and it improves your outlook on life.

The likelihood that children will never smoke is directly related to the amount of physical activity; more than 80% of Canadians between the ages of 10 and 24 who are active have never smoked


Girls who are physically active in sports are 92% less likely to use drugs and 80% less likely to have unwanted pregnancy


A 1998 Gallup poll reported that 74% of the Canadian population is in favour of instituting 30 minutes of daily physical education in schools. Despite this fact, only 10% of the 15,800 Canadian schools have quality physical education programs daily

 

Only 15% of teenagers exercise enough to be physically fit


The average child watches 26 hours of TV each week, not including time spent on the computer and playing video games

 

Physical activity on a regular basis can increase a person's average life expectancy by as much as two years

 

Regular physical activity can help prevent and limit the effects of heart disease and strokes

Two national studies by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute found that the health of 63% of Canadian children are threatened because of high levels of physical inactivity

 

Inactivity leads to doubling the risk of developing heart disease as compared to those who exercise regularly

 

Activity and fitness levels early on in childhood carry over into adulthood, when sedentary habits have their impact

 

Adolescents who develop a habit of being physically active when they are young will be more likely to remain active throughout their entire lives

 

In 1 minute with 45 to 50 beats, the heart of a fit person pumps the same amount of blood as an inactive person's heart pumps in 70 to 75 beats. Compared to the well-conditioned heart, the average heart pumps up to 36,000 more time per day - 13 million more times per year!

Benefits of continual physical activity include weight control, lower blood pressure, less stress, lower risk of heart disease and better academic performance

 

In Ontario, 61% of adults aged 18 and older are considered insufficiently active for optimal health benefits in 2000 compared to 79% in 1981


In Ontario, 67% of women and 54% of men are inactive

 

 

Why? - Part V

Barriers that lead to physical inactivity

There are various constraints that prevent children and youth from participating in physical activity programs. Often cited as a barrier is lack of money. This lack of money can be on the part of the families, in the educational system, or in the community recreation departments. Aspects of the programs themselves that are barriers to participation include excessive focus on competition, the structure of the program, bias towards males, and the lack of youth input in the planning of the programs. Other barriers to physical activity are lack of family support and the inability to obtain information on the programs.

The computer age and television age has lead to the advent of the sedentary lifestyle. On a positive note, television is a very powerful medium that can influence our children and youth to get active.

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Why? - Part VI

 

 

Children's Lifestyles Could Pose Health Care Crisis

By MICHAEL TUTTON -- Canadian Press

HALIFAX (CP) -- The unhealthy lifestyles of Canadian children will lead to an eruption of illnesses over the next two decades unless there is more preventative medicine and exercise, a royal commission was told Wednesday.

In its submission to the Royal Commission on Health Care, the Canadian Paediatric Society cited data showing "marked increases in asthma rates" and rising rates of childhood injury.

"Exercise activity decreased in frequency during the 1990s," said the society's written report.

Childhood health problems will grow with age, said Dr. Jack Holland, spokesman for the society, in his submission to Roy Romanow, chairman of the royal commission.

Holland said the "big five" illnesses -- diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, asthma and mood disorders -- all find their roots in childhood and adolescence.

The society, representing 2,000 child-health workers and pediatricians, cited U.S. studies that predict dramatic rises in diabetes by 2050.

The U.S. data estimates diabetes will increase by 105 per cent over the next five decades, to 29 million Americans from 11 million.

Holland said that trend will be similar in Canada and result largely from the sedentary lifestyles of youth.

"The major factors contributing to the increased rate of diabetes are obesity and inactivity," he said. "Approximately 25 per cent of Canadian children are obese and a further 10 per cent are overweight.

"The prevalence is rising in epidemic proportions."

He said computers, televisions and "the widespread devaluation of sports in our schools are co-conspirators in the evolution of diabetes and heart disease."

Romanow was at halfway point of his Canada-wide public hearings when he heard Holland's presentation -- one of about 20 given Wednesday on how Canada's medicare system can be sustained.

To date, the commission has heard from people attending 12 hearings, several focus groups, and an online survey completed by more than 12,000 Canadians.

The pediatric society also said that improvements in the nutrition of pregnant mothers would prevent later illnesses, as would increased immunization programs in schools.

Romanow said he was moved by the society's submission and agreed with its dire predictions.

"I'm really convinced that the accuracy and the truth of your observations are very powerful," the former Saskatchewan premier said. "Children may be 25 per cent of the population, but they're 100 per cent of our future.

"The current trends are absolutely frightening. I'm told childhood obesity is basically an epidemic, but somehow we don't see it as such."

But Romanow seemed uncertain that the health system would be the best way to address problems like a lack of physical education in schools, or rising child poverty levels.

"It seems there are areas that reside outside the health-care system," he said.

Holland urged the commission to recommend that a national strategy on youth health be undertaken. He also called for a national immunization strategy, and for increased funding for public health programs under the Canada Health Act.

"It can be done, but it can't be done strictly within the confines of the ministry of health," Holland said.

He cited Sweden, Finland and Norway as examples of nations where youth are a key part of national health programs.

"Their immunization rates are higher, their injury rates lower, and their under-five mortality rates are the best in the world."

The theme of expanding the scope of the Canada Health Act, along with urging Ottawa to spend more on health, dominated the hearings in Halifax.

Health Minister Anne McLellan said the increase in obesity is of concern and more needs to be done in terms of public education about preventive strategies.

Health Canada's best known fitness-promotion program, Participaction, was terminated last year under former health minister Allan Rock.

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Part VII - Benefits of Youth Engagement

From: 

http://www.engagementcentre.ca/files/Whatis_WEB_e.pdf

When youth are engaged, they may experience many significant benefits. Researchers have

found links between engagement and several different kinds of positive health outcomes,

including the following:

Decreased alcohol use

Grade 7 students who were involved in planning alcohol-free activities for their

schools reduced their drinking significantly more than did students who only

participated in the activities. 1

Decreased marijuana and hard drug use

Students in grades 8, 10 and 12 who reported being involved in extra-curricular

activities were less likely to use both soft drugs such as marijuana and hard drugs

such as cocaine and heroin than students who were less involved. 2

Lower rates of school failure and drop-out

Students who were involved in extra-curricular activities were less likely to drop out

of school than students who were not.This was particularly true for youth from poor

families and youth with poor social and academic skills. These young people were

5 times less likely to drop out than similar youth who weren't engaged. 3

Lower rates of sexual activity and pregnancy in girls

Girls who were involved in a national volunteer program were 41% less likely

to become pregnant as teens, when compared with girls who were not involved

in the program. 4

Lower rates of anti-social and criminal behaviours

Boys and girls who were more involved in extra-curricular activities were less likely

to be arrested for criminal offenses as young adults than those who did not

participate in extra-curricular activities. 5

Lower rates of depression

Eighth graders who participated in structured after-school activities had significantly

lower levels of depression than those who did not participate in such activities. 6

1. Komro, K.A., Perry, C.L., Murray, D.M., VeblenMortenson, S., Williams, C.L., & Anstine,

P.S. (1996). Peer-planned social activities for preventing alcohol use among young

adolescents. Journal of School Health, 66(9), 328-334.

2. Jenkins, J. E. (1996). The influence of peer affiliation and student activities on adolescent

drug involvement. Adolescence, 31, 297-307.

3. Mahoney, J. L., & Cairns, R. B. (1997). Do extracurricular activities protect against early school

dropout? Developmental Psychology, 33, 211-253.

4. Allen, J.P., Philliber, S., Herrling, S. & Gabriel, K.P. (1997). Preventing teen pregnancy

and academic failure: Experimental evaluation of a developmentally based approach.

Child Development, 64, 729-742.

5. Mahoney, J.L. (2000). School extracurricular activity participation as a moderator in the

development of antisocial patterns. Child Development, 71(2), 502-516.

6. Mahoney, J. L., Schweder, A. E., & Stattin, H. (2002). Structured after-school activities as a

moderator of depressed mood for adolescents with detached relations to their parents.

Journal of Community Psychology, 30(1), 69-86.

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For more information on Why Basketball in this web site click the blue titles below:

Basketball's Effect On Learning

A New View Of Physical Activity

Value Of Sports In School
 
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