{"id":{"repo_id":"gsu","oai_identifier":"oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1087"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/gsu/oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1087","repository":{"repo_id":"gsu","name":"Georgia Southern University","base_url":"https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Effectiveness of the Spark Program in Increasing Fitness among Children and Adolescents","abstract":"The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the SPARK program in increasing cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness among children and adolescents. It was hypothesized that participation in the SPARK program would significantly increase fitness as measured by the FITNESSGRAM physical fitness battery. 247 children age 7-12 at the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County, Inc. were placed in either a treatment group that received the SPARK program twice a week or a control group that went to a study hall. Fitness assessments were performed before and after the 6-week physical activity program. Results indicated a significant increase in measures of flexibility and upper body muscular strength and endurance. Statistical significance was not found for measures of aerobic capacity, lower-body muscular strength and endurance, and body-mass-index (BMI). However meaningful changes in BMI percentiles were found, indicating a decline in risk classification with physical activity, independent of increases in fitness.","abstract_html":"The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the SPARK program in increasing cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness among children and adolescents. It was hypothesized that participation in the SPARK program would significantly increase fitness as measured by the FITNESSGRAM physical fitness battery. 247 children age 7-12 at the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County, Inc. were placed in either a treatment group that received the SPARK program twice a week or a control group that went to a study hall. Fitness assessments were performed before and after the 6-week physical activity program. Results indicated a significant increase in measures of flexibility and upper body muscular strength and endurance. Statistical significance was not found for measures of aerobic capacity, lower-body muscular strength and endurance, and body-mass-index (BMI). However meaningful changes in BMI percentiles were found, indicating a decline in risk classification with physical activity, independent of increases in fitness.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Sales, Latrice Stephanie"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)","degree_level":"Thesis (open access)","degree_discipline":"Department of Health and Kinesiology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Starla McCollum","Jonathan Metzler","Drew Zwald"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2007,"date_issued":"2007-07-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2007-07-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:26:17Z","subjects":["ETD","Physical activity","Fitness","SPARK","Children","Adolescents","FITNESSGRAM","Physical education for children","Evaluation","SPARK (Sports","Play and Active Recreation for Kids)"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/87","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Starla McCollum","Jonathan Metzler","Drew Zwald"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Sales, Latrice Stephanie"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-10-17T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Department of Health and Kinesiology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis (open access)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["ETD","Physical activity","Fitness","SPARK","Children","Adolescents","FITNESSGRAM","Physical education for children","Evaluation","SPARK (Sports","Play and Active Recreation for Kids)"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/87"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the SPARK program in increasing cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness among children and adolescents. It was hypothesized that participation in the SPARK program would significantly increase fitness as measured by the FITNESSGRAM physical fitness battery. 247 children age 7-12 at the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County, Inc. were placed in either a treatment group that received the SPARK program twice a week or a control group that went to a study hall. Fitness assessments were performed before and after the 6-week physical activity program. Results indicated a significant increase in measures of flexibility and upper body muscular strength and endurance. Statistical significance was not found for measures of aerobic capacity, lower-body muscular strength and endurance, and body-mass-index (BMI). However meaningful changes in BMI percentiles were found, indicating a decline in risk classification with physical activity, independent of increases in fitness."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Effectiveness of the Spark Program in Increasing Fitness among Children and Adolescents"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Starla McCollum","Jonathan Metzler","Drew Zwald"],"dc:creator":["Sales, Latrice Stephanie"],"dc:date.available":["2013-10-17T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the SPARK program in increasing cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness among children and adolescents. It was hypothesized that participation in the SPARK program would significantly increase fitness as measured by the FITNESSGRAM physical fitness battery. 247 children age 7-12 at the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County, Inc. were placed in either a treatment group that received the SPARK program twice a week or a control group that went to a study hall. Fitness assessments were performed before and after the 6-week physical activity program. Results indicated a significant increase in measures of flexibility and upper body muscular strength and endurance. Statistical significance was not found for measures of aerobic capacity, lower-body muscular strength and endurance, and body-mass-index (BMI). However meaningful changes in BMI percentiles were found, indicating a decline in risk classification with physical activity, independent of increases in fitness."],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/87"],"dc:subject":["ETD","Physical activity","Fitness","SPARK","Children","Adolescents","FITNESSGRAM","Physical education for children","Evaluation","SPARK (Sports","Play and Active Recreation for Kids)"],"dc:title":["Effectiveness of the Spark Program in Increasing Fitness among Children and Adolescents"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Department of Health and Kinesiology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis (open access)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:26:17Z"}