An after-school program to promote physical activity, cognitive development, and academic achievement in children in Skoolzout Centres.

Over the past 6 years, our research team has developed an evidence-based after-school program called Wollongong Sport. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Wollongong SPORT when implemented in Big Fat Smile after-school centres. We hypothesise that, over a 18 week period, children in centres randomised to implement Wollongong SPORT will significantly increase their after-school physical activity, academic performance and cognitive development compared with children in the control group. Wollongong SPORT is a physical activity and academic enrichment program for 5-10 year-old children. It will be implemented three afternoons per week in the intervention centres. The Program has two components: one is optional tutoring, and two is the physical activity sessions (90min). BFS Centre staff and pre- service UOW education students will be trained to implement the Program over a six-month period. The UOW students will be recruited through a compulsory 4th year undergraduate subject (EDSE401) in which they are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of service in a local community-based organisation. The aim of the physical activity sessions is to engage children for at least 50% of the time in Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA), which is consistent with international policy and has been achieved in our pilot studies. Children will participate in team sports such as soccer and basketball, and activity sessions based on popular TV shows such as The Amazing Race and Survivor. All activities have been designed to be fun whilst at the same time challenging (both tactically and physiologically). There is an optional tutoring element available if the participant child wishes to take part in tutoring before the afternoon's sports session. The optional tutoring session will run for a maximum of 30 minutes. The sports program will run for 90 minutes. Giving a total program time of 2 hours, if the child takes part in the optional tutoring. Otherwise the participant will take part in up to 90 minutes of sports games. Currently there are two intervention centres, requiring 6 students per centre to run the program. Each intervention centre will receive equipment up to the value of $500 to assist with running the program. Physical activity and cognitive development data will be collected at baseline and 6-month follow-up by trained research assistants blinded to group allocation. Physical activity will be measured during centre hours using the Actigraph accelerometer (worn on child’s hip using an elastic belt). Cognitive development will be measured using the Figural Intersections Task (a measure of working memory/attentional capacity). All instruments are valid and reliable among primary school-aged children.