Abstract
Title: SPORTS FOR ACHIEVING WELLNESS
Author: Paul Queen, Jr.
Affiliations: 1Wellness Coordinator, St. Johns Downtown United Methodist Church, 2Wellness Consultant, Houston Parks and Recreation Department (Soccer for Success and The First Tee FM Law Park), 3President/CEO, Quality Wellness.
Purpose: An age-old proverb reads, “It takes a community/village to raise a child”. The purpose of this project was to utilize sports as a vehicle to promote healthy community development. Method: Targeting the Southeast quadrant of Houston, Texas and using multiple community centers we initiated futsal (indoor soccer) team play for girls and boys ages 6 to 18. Each participant’s height, weight, physical activity, medical/athletic injury history and family health history was documented and assessed. Before, during and after game play we offered a festival atmosphere with music, zumba, nutritional tips and commissioned health professionals to consult the parents, siblings and players. Results: We were able to communicate and consult directly to an age demographic ranging from 6 to 62 about the epidemic of childhood obesity and its effects within the Latino community. 90% of the grandparents, parents, players and siblings participated in either playing futsal, zumba, dancing or visited our health professional booths, with only 10% opting to only sit a watch game play. Results were unaffected by the facilitating community centers. Conclusions: Results suggest that by utilizing specific activities of interests (soccer, organized youth sports); catering to the visual, auditory and/or hands-on (physical) participation of our target group we sparked interest, awareness and opposed obesity and sedentary lifestyles.
Keywords: Sports, Community, Wellness, Lifestyle, Nutrition
Recommended Citation
Queen, Paul Jr.
(2012)
"Sports For Achieving Wellness,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 6:
Iss.
2, Article 16.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol6/iss2/16