CANFit Resources & Downloads

CANFit
2140 Shattuck Ave., Suite 610
Berkeley, CA 94704
phone: 510-644-1533
fax: 510-644-1535
info@canfit.org

Physical Activity

Adolescents need at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. However, recent studies have shown that physical activity rates have sharply declined in adolescents. Only 29% of California adolescents report that they getting the 60 minutes per day recommended. (Source: California Teen Eating, Exercise and Nutrition Survey (Cal TEENS), 1998.)

Suggested resources on Physical Activity:
Handouts | Articles | Educational Materials | Web Sites

Handouts

Physical Activity Pyramid for Your After School Program: (2.02 GB, 1 page) You've all heard of the Food Pyramid. CANFit has developed a Physical Activity Pyramid on how to get the activity you need every day.

Rain or Shine: Clean Your Room, Dance, Activity Circuits. (3.03 GB, 4 pages) See page 2 for activities you can do on cold, rainy days. Plus these activities work well in situations with limited space.

Active Ice Breakers: Knots, Houdini Hoops, Group Juggling, Straddleball. (2.02 GB, 4 pages) See page 2 for activities that you can fit in whenever possible. Start each day with an active ice breaker.

Flexibility Stretches: See page 4 for upper body flexibility stretches (3.03 GB, 6 pages), page 7 for flexibility stretches to reduce stress (2.02 GB, 8 pages), and page 5 for stretches to use before and after physical activity (3.03 GB, 6 pages).

Trainings in Physical Activity for Youth Providers: (2.02 GB, 2 pages) In addition to the trainings that CANFit provides for after school staff serving adolescent youth, such as Recipes for Success, the organizations listed in this table offer a variety of trainings in physical activity for program staff. Examples include teaching youth providers indoor and outdoor games, incorporating sports into after school programs, creating an activity program, and building a community playground.

Articles

Airhihenbwa CO, Kumanyika S, Agurs TD, et al. Perceptions and beliefs about exercise, rest, and health among African Americans. American Journal of Health Promotion, 1995, 9: 426-429.

Chang TL, Fields CB, Brenner RA, et al. Sports Injuries: An Important Cause of Morbidity in Urban Youth. Pediatrics, 2000, 105(3).

Children's Physical Activity and Nutrition: A CDC Supplemental Issue. Preventive Medicine, 2000, 32(2).

Mehrhof J, Ermler K. (Eds.) Middle school physical activities for a fit generation. National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), 1996. To order, call 703-476-3410, write: National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), 1900 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1599, or e-mail naspe@aahperd.org.

Sallis JF, McKenzie TL, et al. Effects of health-related physical education on academic achievement: Project SPARK. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 1999, 70: 127-134.

Taylor, et al. Physical activity among African American and Latino middle school girls: Consistent beliefs, expectations, an experience across two sites. Women & Health, 1999, 30(2): 67-82.

Wilson R, Leonard B, Martin M, et al. Creating physical activity programs in American Indian communities. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1995. To order, call the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at 770-488-3168.

Educational Materials

Gendar, J. Grass games and moon races: California Indian games and toys. Berkeley, CA: Heyday Books, 1995. To order, call 510-549-3564, or write: Heyday Books, P.O. Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709.

Ideas Three: Middle school physical activities for a fit generation. Reston, VA: National Association for Sports and Physical Education, 1996.

Media-Smart Youth: Eat, Think, and Be Active! Interactive after school education program for young people ages 11 to 13 designed to help teach them about the complex media world around them, and how it can affect their health--especially in the areas of nutrition and physical activity. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Download the curriculum at www.nichd.nih.gov/msy.