Background
Primary Hypotheses | |
We hypothesize that participation in MLSE LaunchPad programming and wrap around services will result in: | |
a) For youth aged 6–12: | • Increased physical literacy • Increased physical activity [28] • Increased rates of continued participation in sport or physical activity [33] |
b) For youth aged 12–18: | • Increased positive health behaviors relating to physical activity, sleep, nutrition, smoking, substance use and sexual activity [29, 34] • Increased life skills including critical thinking, resilience, self-esteem, self-regulation, social competence and grit [26] • Increase academic outcomes including school attendance, academic performance and high school graduation rates [26, 34] • Increased rates of continued participation in sport or physical activity [34] |
c) For youth aged 19–29: | • Increased personal income |
Secondary Hypotheses | |
We hypothesize that a) volume of participation and b) duration of participation will correlate positively with the primary outcomes listed above. |
Methods/design
Study design
Ethics
Study population
Inclusion criteria
- Age 6–29 years
- Registered member of MLSE LaunchPad
- Attending programming at MLSE LaunchPad
- Ability to speak, understand and read English
- Physically able to participate in programming with or without the use of assistive devices-Recruited within 8 weeks of commencing program participation.
Sample size
Recruitment
Study setting
Intervention
Age | Available Programming | Expected Outcomes | Evaluation Tool |
---|---|---|---|
6–12 | Learn to Play (Sport Plus) • Registered, structured 8-week program, 1x/week for 1 h • Coach led according to programming curriculum designed to build sport specific skills, general movement skills, and sport-specific knowledge • Minimal competition • Sport options: basketball, soccer, futsal, ball hockey, football, multisport, rugby, rock climbing, golf, lacrosse, dance, tennis, run club, adapted sport Open Gym (Sport Plus) • Unregistered, semi-structured sport program offered multiple times per week in 1-h blocks • Participant-directed learning that is supported by a coach to develop intrinsic motivation and autonomy, general movement skills, and participant-selected movement and/or sport skills Sport + Nutrition (Sport Plus) • Registered, structured 9-week program, 1x/week for 2 h • On-court physical activities, sports, and games of low organization, plus kitchen activities and nutritional education • Co-led by kitchen instructor and on-court coach • Designed to develop general movement skills, general kitchen skills, and understanding of health concepts (nutrition, physical activity etc.) PA Day Programming (Sport Plus) • Registered 1-day full-day program that includes sport and physical activity programming as well as off-court activities • Program runs on school holidays throughout the school year Day Camp (Sport Plus) • Registered 2-week full-day program that includes sport and physical activity programming as well as off court activities Plus Sport Program Partners • Quantum Sports Learning Association – Registered after-school academic support and athletic coaching program, 1 day/week for 2 h/session • Square Circle – registered after-school social circus program, 2 days/week for 2 h/session • New Leaf Yoga – unregistered after-school yoga program, 1 day/week for 1 h Homework Club Homework support is available from 4 to 6 pm 3 days/week | Increased Physical Literacy Increased Physical Activity Increased rates of participation in sport and physical activity | PLAYself 1-week pedometry Self-report of regular sport/physical activity participation All outcomes are also assessed through scheduled qualitative data collection |
13–18 | Learn to Play (Sport Plus) • Registered, structured 8-week program, 1x/week for 1 h • Coach led according to programming curriculum designed to build sport specific skills in tandem with a relevant life-skill, general movement skills, and sport-specific knowledge • Minimal competition • Sport options: basketball, soccer, futsal, ball hockey, football, multisport, rugby, rock climbing, golf, lacrosse, dance, tennis, run club, adapted sport League Play (Sport Plus) • Registered, structured program – duration is variable (5x/week for 1 week, 2x/week for 4 weeks, or 1x/week for 9 weeks) • Coach led including practice plans & game play, designed to build sport specific skills in tandem with a relevant life-skill, knowledge of sport-specific rules, tactics, and team play • Each program day includes practice time, a game, and a team meal • Sport options: basketball, soccer, ball hockey, multisport, volleyball Multi-Day School Field Trip (Plus Sport) • Structured 8-week program in collaboration with local schools • Classes attend 4 half-day sessions 1x/2 weeks • Program content is a blend of physical activity and workshop-style learning with two options: Sport + STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and “Fuel for Fun” (nutrition and physical activity) • Concepts taught in programs are reinforced at school by the classroom teacher Boys’, Girls’, & Co-ed Leadership Camps (Plus Sport) • Registered, structured 5 day (1 week) full-day program • Coach led blend of on-court and off-court programming including sport-specific skills, general movement skills, teambuilding & leadership activities, and life skills Leaders-In-Training (Plus Sport) • Registered, structured 8-week full-day program (5 days/week) • Participants must apply • Program includes 2 weeks of job skills training and certifications, 5 weeks of coaching day camps, and 1 week of professional development field trips Open Gym (Sport Plus) • Unregistered semi-structured sport program • Participant-directed learning that is supported by a coach to develop intrinsic motivation and autonomy, general movement skills, and participant-selected movement and/or sport skills • Drop-in game play is available Plus Sport Program Partners: • Peacebuilders International – Registered restorative justice program, 3 h 1 day/week for 6 weeks; youth diverted from the court system participate in a blended off-court and on-court program that includes talking circles and complimentary physical activities as an alternative to sentencing • Pathways to Education Group Mentoring – Registered program, 3 h 1 day/week for 24 weeks; youth participate in a blend of off-court and on-court activities relating to themes such as identity and anti-oppression, communication and teamwork, and relationships • Pathways to Education Iron Chef – Registered program, 2 h 1 day/week for 8 weeks; youth participate in a blend of activities in the kitchen and on the court relating to food budgeting, food preparation, and healthy physical activity • SoCirc – Registered social circus program with a performance element, 3 h 1 day/week for 8 weeks | Increased Life Skills Increased Academic Performance Increased Health Behaviour Increased or continued sport and physical activity participation | Life Skills • Resilience (Child & Youth Resilience Measure) • Self-Esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) • Self-Regulation (Motivation and Self-Regulation Subscale from the School Attitudes Assessment Survey) • Social Competence (Social Competence Teen Scale) • Grit (Grit Scale) Academic Performance • Self-Reported School Attendance • Report Card • Self-Report of highest grade/level completed Health Behaviour • Healthy Behaviour Questionnaire • 1-week pedometry Self-report of regular sport/physical activity participation All outcomes are also assessed through scheduled qualitative data collection |
19–29 | Plus Sport Program Partners • NPower Canada – Classroom-based technical support professional training program that runs 5 half-days/week for 10 weeks with an on-court sport and activity component for 1 h/day 2 days/week • Covenant House – Kitchen-based hospitality placement training program that runs 5 full days/week for 8 weeks with an on-court sport and activity component for 1 h/day 2 days/week Open Gym (Sport Plus) • Unregistered semi-structured sport program • Participant-directed learning that is supported by a coach to develop intrinsic motivation and autonomy, general movement skills, and participant-selected movement and/or sport skills | Increased employment, apprenticeship, or training placement Increased rate of participation in sport or physical activity | Self-report of placement in job, apprenticeship, or training full- or part-time Self-report of regular sport/physical activity participation All outcomes are also assessed through scheduled qualitative data collection |
All Ages | Events • One-time events providing specific demographic groups with novel experiences with specific intended outcomes, such as: - Empowering Girls through Sport - Kyle Lowry/Adidas event - Michael B. Jordan appearance - Community Celebration days (facility launch and anniversary celebrations) - Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Camp - Toronto Maple Leafs “Next Gen” game - Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors viewing parties - Basketball clinics - 3 on 3 basketball tournaments - MLSE game experiences Drop-in Counselling • Drop-in counselling with Child and Family Therapists • Therapists are available several hours each week in an on-site Wellness Room Snack Program • Fresh after-school snacks are provided 3 days/week for participants and their families | Outcomes relate to age-specific outcomes identified above | n/a |
Core programming
Wrap-around services
Outcomes
Participants aged 6–12 | |
a) Increased physical literacy | Indicator: |
PLAYself Physical Literacy Assessment for Youth [36] 22-item graded self-report scale used to evaluate level of physical literacy | |
b) Physical activity minutes/day | Indicator: |
One-week pedometry producing at least 3 days of valid data with a minimum wear time of 10 h/day | |
c) Continued engagement in sport | Indicator: |
Self-report of regular sport/physical activity participation | |
Participants aged 12–18 | |
a) Life skills: | Indicator: |
i. Critical Thinking ii. Resilience iii. Self-esteem iv. Self-regulation v. Social Competence vi. Grit | Critical Thinking in Everyday Life Scale [37] 20-item self-report Likert scale used to measure use of critical thinking skills including reasoning, enquiry, analysis/information processing, flexibility, and evaluation Child & Youth Resilience Measure [38] 12-item self-report scale used to measure ability to sustain well-being Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale [39] 10-item self-report Likert scale used to assess global self-esteem Motivation and Self-Regulation Subscale; derived from the School Attitudes Assessment Survey [40] 4-item self-report Likert scale used to measure ability to initiate and continue behaviours required to achieve academic goals Social Competence Scale for Teenagers [41] 9-item self-report scale used to measure positive social skills necessary to get along well with others and function constructively in groups Grit Scale [42] 8-item self-report scale used to measure stamina in dimensions of effort and interest |
b) Academic Performance: | Indicator: |
i. School Attendance ii. Academic Performance iii Academic Attainment | Self-report of number of missed school days over past two weeks measured as a percentage GPA as per last report card; failed courses marked as “R” on TDSB report cards will be input as 45% Self-report of highest grade/level completed |
c) Physical Outcomes | Indicator: |
i. Physical activity minutes/day ii. Health Behaviours iii. Continued engagement in sport | One-week pedometry producing at least 3 days of valid data with a minimum wear time of 10 h/day Healthy Behaviour Questionnaire 6-item, author-designed scale used to measure behaviours relating to sleep, nutrition, physical activity, smoking, substance use, and risky sexual behaviour Self-report of regular sport/physical activity participation |
Participants aged 18–29 | |
a) Employment | Indicator: |
i. Employment Status ii. Personal Income | Self-report of placement in job, apprenticeship or training; full- or part-time Self-report of personal income level |
b) Sport Participation | Indicator: |
i. Continued engagement in sport | Self-report of regular sport/physical activity participation |