A Study of the Effectiveness of the Triple Play Program

Author

Michael Patrick Dorsey, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

1-1-2009

Degree Name

Master of Science in Education

Department

Recreation

First Advisor

Glover, Regina

Abstract

An Abstract of the Thesis of Michael Patrick Dorsey, for the Master's of Science in Education in Health and Recreation, presented on April 7, 2009, at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Title: A Study of the Effectiveness of the Triple Play Program Major Professor: Dr. Regina Glover Many different factors in the environment today's children are raised in has been associated with an increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity. A concurrent increase in sedentary behavior and dietary fat intake, along with a decrease in physical activity and traditional physical education programs has helped yield this trend in children and adolescents. Many programs are being conducted both in after-school, community-based and during school hour settings in order to supplement amounts of physical activity children receive on a daily basis. The primary focus of this study was to measure the effectiveness of one such after-school, community based program; the Triple Play program of the Carbondale Boys and Girls Club. The instruments utilized were the Triple Play knowledge pre-and post-test, a physical fitness pre- and post-test (which consisted of push-ups, sit-ups and a timed wall-sit exercise), along with data from two jump rope challenge activities. After collecting data from the study, independent t-tests and when appropriate, paired t-tests were performed to measure any statistically significant data from the participant's scores. The findings from this study show that the Triple Play program did not have a significant effect on participant's scores on a knowledge pre- and post-test, or improve strength and/or endurance in the push-up and timed wall-sit exercise. There was statistically significant improvements in the sit-up and jump rope challenge data between testing dates, and a paired t-test showed a significant improvement in participant's who took place in both jump rope challenges. Though no statistical analysis could me made with regard to whether the Triple play program provided structured physical activity, the program did provide the participants with a wide range of structured physical activity designed for the participants in attendance, on each day. The improvement in two of the physical fitness tests suggests that these programs have promise to be effective at improving physical fitness in the children who participate while providing participants with beneficial, structured physical activity.