ReBOOT Intramurals - Physical Health and Education Canada

Overview

ReBOOT Intramurals was a program implemented by Physical Health and Education Canada (PHE Canada) that targeted youth with low physical activity and sport participation in schools, with a particular focus on young women and girls.

In Canada, 59% of girls participate in sport. As girls enter adolescence, overall participation rate drops by 22% and only 16% of adult women report sport participation. Rooted in principles related to equity, inclusion, and the right to play, this pilot tested a new design-lab model for creating and delivering intramural sport programs in high schools to increase girls’ participation in quality sport and physical activity. The pilot was implemented in four high schools in Ottawa, Ontario, with girls between the ages of 12 and 17 and 483 girls participating in total.

Outcomes

Results of the ReBOOT intramurals found that it caused:

• elevations in levels of weekly physical activity;
• increased physical activity levels at recess/lunch breaks;
• reduced sedentary behaviour during school hours;
• increased enjoyment of physical activity during recess/lunch breaks;
• increased self-efficacy for sport and physical activity;
• increased opportunities and environments for sport and physical activity during recess/lunch breaks.

Quotes

“The initiative has allowed us to increase the number of activities we offer and expand on the types of activities we offer so that more non or low-participating students had the opportunity to participate in fun physical activities on a more regular basis. The students had a great time trying these new activities and we hope to keep it going next year!”

“I had a great experience, organizing all these events and seeing a change in girls and their physical activity.”

Additional Information

More information about the ReBOOT Intramurals program is available on the PHE Canada website.

Check out the YouTube video (English only).

Post-Pilot

• ReBOOT toolkit launched and downloaded 3000 times.
• Led to development of SPIRIT, a similar model for 2SLGBTQI+ youth.
• ReBOOT core learnings embedded in the implementation of 6 new PHE Canada projects, involving 600 students across 38 schools and will reach 2000 students in 8 provinces and 1 territory upon completion.

To learn more about this or other pilot projects to improve sport participation in Canada, contact Sport Canada at sportcanadainnovation@pch.gc.ca.