Urban Inititiatives' Health and Education Soccer Program
This project's parent organization is Urban Initiatives
It operates in United States
It uses Football (Soccer)
Entered the Sport for Health Award
More about Urban Inititiatives' Health and Education Soccer Program
In an effort to prevent childhood obesity, Urban Initiatives' (UI) health and education soccer program is designed to get children living an active and healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, in the low-income Chicago communities we serve health problems are exasperated for an array of reasons: the reduction in the amount of physical education, limited access to nutritious foods, the accessibility of safe play space, etc.
UI’s objective is to prevent students in the communities we serve from becoming either overweight or obese and invites all students to participate on a non-competitive, fun-based sports team regardless of their skill level. Soccer is a great means to tackle childhood obesity because playing on the UI soccer team is fun for kids, it provides a much-needed opportunity them to participate in organized vigorous physical activity and first through fourth grade boys and girls are able to all play together at relatively the same skill level.
The program currently serves 360 students and is comprised of 3, 8-week seasons during each school year. Each week consists of 3 program sessions: 2 before or after school practices and 1 after school game. Each session includes at least an hour of soccer activity, a health tutorial, and a nutritious snack. Playing soccer is incentive for the kids to attend program sessions and while we have their attention we teach health lessons on topics such as nutrition and the important of exercise.