Version 1
: Received: 27 June 2023 / Approved: 28 June 2023 / Online: 28 June 2023 (09:53:46 CEST)
Version 2
: Received: 20 July 2023 / Approved: 21 July 2023 / Online: 21 July 2023 (07:05:47 CEST)
Barrachina, V.; Marcen, C.; Mainer-Pardos, E.; Arbones-Arque, I. Proximity Sports as a Sustainable Strategy for the Promotion of Physical Activity at an Early Age: The KIA Project. Sustainability2023, 15, 12043.
Barrachina, V.; Marcen, C.; Mainer-Pardos, E.; Arbones-Arque, I. Proximity Sports as a Sustainable Strategy for the Promotion of Physical Activity at an Early Age: The KIA Project. Sustainability 2023, 15, 12043.
Barrachina, V.; Marcen, C.; Mainer-Pardos, E.; Arbones-Arque, I. Proximity Sports as a Sustainable Strategy for the Promotion of Physical Activity at an Early Age: The KIA Project. Sustainability2023, 15, 12043.
Barrachina, V.; Marcen, C.; Mainer-Pardos, E.; Arbones-Arque, I. Proximity Sports as a Sustainable Strategy for the Promotion of Physical Activity at an Early Age: The KIA Project. Sustainability 2023, 15, 12043.
Abstract
This article presents the main results of the Kids in Action (KIA) project, which aimed to promote physical activity and sport among children aged 3 to 11, by linking the education, sports and family sectors. It applies the concepts of proximity consumption and the 15-minute city to sustainable and healthy habits. This study aims to evaluate the application of the concept of proximity to the provision of physical sports activities from an early age, to reduce the drop-out rate of PA, through collaboration between schools, local government and the sports sector. A mixed methodology was used, applying a survey and interviews with the stakeholders to identify good practices in the promotion of physical activity at an early age. A total of 147 children and 10 adults (3 family members, 4 school managers or teachers and 3 sports managers) participated. The main results included the importance of introducing sport and providing adequate facilities, especially through guided workshops, as this not only influences the actual participation in sport but also the intention to continue practising it. It is observed that children with less affinity towards conventional sports benefit particularly from initiatives such as the KIA programme. On the other hand, the lack of available resources and the influence of the sports culture in families are identified as the main barriers, factors that harm the quality of participation.
Keywords
children; sport clubs; healthy habits; physical activity promotion; mixed methods
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Other
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Commenter: Celia Marcen
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author