702
Views
11
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Assessing the contribution of informal sport to leisure-time physical activity: a new perspective on social innovation

, ORCID Icon, , &
Pages 161-174 | Received 30 Nov 2018, Accepted 15 May 2019, Published online: 24 May 2019
 

ABSTRACT

Rationale/purpose: Most social innovation research within health-oriented SDP initiatives has focused on improvements to structured program contexts, with less attention to informal sport. The purpose of this study was to analyze leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) across a range of activity settings, and provide informed recommendations for SDP organizations to integrate informal sport into LTPA-promoting initiatives.

Methodology: Data was collected through systematic observations of sport facilities at twenty schools in North Carolina. A two-way factorial analysis of variance was utilized to assess variation in physical activity across different activities and levels of organization (i.e. formal vs. informal).

Findings: Findings reveal significant variation across different activities, as well as the level of organization (i.e. formal vs. informal). In addition, sport activities were not associated with significantly higher levels of physical activity than other forms of physically active leisure.

Practical implications: Sport managers must recognize the contribution of various sport and leisure activities to maximize the role of sport in promoting LTPA. In addition, preconceived notions regarding the inherent health benefits of sport must be altered in order to promote LTPA.

Research contribution: SDP organizations incorporate informal sport are key to promoting LTPA, but require program-, process-, and socially transformative social innovation.

Acknowledgements

The views expressed in written materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The authors would like to thank all participating schools, principals, and athletic directors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this work was made possible by FOA CDC-RFA-DP11-1115PPHF11 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 689.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.