Co-authored by PlayCore Health & Wellness Advisor, Russ Carson, PhD, during his tenure at the University of Northern Colorado, Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs is the first all-in-one resource on this hot topic.
What is CSPAP?
The Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) is a multicomponent framework by which school districts and schools use for planning and organizing opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the nationally-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime.
Why is CSPAP important?
Schools play a vital role in ensuring children and adolescents get the nationally recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day, as the school setting provides a wealth of opportunities for systematic physical activity infusion into youth behaviors, values and goals. The CSPAP model was outlined as a position statement for the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) in 2008, and in the past decade has spread to campaigns, research guides, trainings, and a national collaborative of over 90 supporting organizations, mobilizing CSPAP into a national and international framework for physical activity & education.
What are some ways I can help implement CSPAP?
• Page 10 of the book shows a variety of “Great ideas” to help schools get moving. Familiarize yourself with them and think of how your products and programs can help schools implement these ideas.
• Be familiar with the interventions in table 5.1 ( pp70-75) and consider ways your product can facilitate similar programs in your customer schools.
• Be prepared to discuss how your products and services can help promote physical activity during PE, during class, at recess and lunchtime, before and after school, and with staff, families, and the community at large. Refer to chapters 6-11 for more information.
• Consider non-traditional settings where your products and services can help implement CSPAP.
• Create prepackaged kits that schools can purchase to implement CSPAP programming.
• Work with the school CSPAP contacts to help build the case for funding new CSPAP initiatives and how you can help.
• Get involved in local policy and governance to help drive the importance of CSPAP in schools.
Who are the school contacts for CSPAP?
If the school is currently planning or implementing a CSPAP program, your contact may include:
• PA Champion-usually a physical educator
• Supportive Administrator-Leader at school or district
• CSPAP Committee-This group may include teachers, parents, physical educators and will be selected at the school level to best represent their interests.
As a proud partner with SHAPE America, PlayCore proudly supports this resource to help educators generate and sustain successful initiatives to increase youth physical activity and promote long-term engagement in active behavior.