Background School-based extracurricular sport remains an effective strategy to increase physical activity. However, school sport is often limited to a small number of elite athletes. Few schools provide more inclusive sport programs that offer a wider array of activities regardless of ability. Purpose The aim of this study was to examine school sport participation in middle schools (ages 11-14) with contrasting school sport delivery strategies (intramural vs. interscholastic). Methods Data were obtained through an online survey administered to students at four public middle schools (grades 6-8) in a southeastern US city (n02,582). Results More students participated in school sports at intramural schools. Boys were more likely to participate in afterschool sports at intramural schools. Low-income and Black children, two groups at greater risk of physical inactivity and other negative outcomes, had greater participation in intramural programs. Conclusions After-school intramural sports in middle school is a promising strategy for increasing sport participation.

Empirical research on the effects of school sport policies on children's physical activity is limited. This study examined sport policies (intramural vs. varsity), physical settings within schools, and supervision in relation to physical activity using the System for Observing Play and Leisure in Youth (SOPLAY). Data were collected on physical activity levels of children in four middle schools. Regression analyses assessed the main effects of sport policy, type of physical activity setting, and supervision as well as interactions. Regression models were stratified by gender. Children in intramural schools were more likely to use indoor spaces and be boys. Regression models indicated that varsity sport programs were associated with lower physical activity levels among boys but not girls. Significant associations between type of physical activity settings and physical activity levels were observed only for boys. Adult supervision was not associated with children's physical activity levels. Finally, descriptive results showed athletic facilities were under-utilized in all schools.

Team identification, the degree to which an individual feels psychologi cally linked to a team, has been a focal point in studies of sport fans and sport spectatorship (e.g.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that campus recreation could play an important role in student development by providing opportunities for students to cope with the increasing pressures and stress of college life. Forty-four university students completed pre-tests and daily diaries for five weeks surrounding their final exams. Hierarchical multiple regression procedures were used to control the confounding effect of personality, initial anxiety, and physical health on the predictive relationship between recreational sport participation and perceived social support with stress-related anxiety. The results confirmed the hypothesis that after controlling for personality variations, initial anxiety and physical health, both perceived social support and participation in recreational sports could buffer stress-related anxiety.

The sociodemographic characteristics of middle school students appear to be a significant factor in their perception of constraints to sport participation. Identifying constraints associated with sport participation can enable policy-makers and administrators to be more deliberate in channeling resources.

The purpose of this article is to examine the role of school-based extracurricular initiatives in facilitating immediate and long-term positive impact on physical activity, healthy behavior, and obesity in children. A critique of the role of various sports-related initiatives that have been developed to address the obesity epidemic currently facing children within the United States is provided, with a specific emphasis on intramural sports as a preferred mechanism to encourage long-term involvement in sport and physically active pursuits. The article presents support for the notion that a physical education curriculum that includes intramurals before, during, and after school can help children learn the skills to enjoy participation in a variety of sports designed to facilitate lifelong active living.

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These results suggest partnerships between schools and other community agencies to share facilities and create new opportunities for afterschool physical activity programs are a promising health promotion strategy.