Reaching older people with PA delivered in football clubs: the reach, adoption and implementation characteristics of the Extra Time Programme

Abstract

BackgroundOlder adults (OA) represent a core priority group for physical activity and Public Health policy. As a result, significant interest is placed on how to optimise adherence to interventions promoting these approaches. Extra Time (ET) is an example of a national programme of physical activity interventions delivered in professional football clubs for OA aged 55+ years. This paper aims to examine the outcomes from ET, and unpick the processes by which these outcomes were achieved.MethodsThis paper represents a secondary analysis of data collected during the evaluation of ET. From the 985 OA reached by ET, n=486 adopted the programme and completed post-intervention surveys (typically 12 weeks). We also draw on interview data with 18 ET participants, and 7 staff who delivered the programme. Data were subject to thematic analysis to generate overarching and sub themes.ResultsOf the 486 participants, the majority 95%, (n= 462) were White British and 59.7% (n=290) were female. Most adopters (65.4%/n=318) had not participated in previous interventions in the host clubs. Social interaction was the most frequently reported benefit of participation (77.2%, n=375). While the reach of the club badge was important in letting people know about the programme, further work enhanced adoption and satisfaction. These factors included (i) listening to participants, (ii) delivering a flexible age-appropriate programme of diverse physical and social activities, (iii) offering activities which satisfy energy drives and needs for learning and (iv) extensive opportunities for social engagement.ConclusionsFindings emerging from this study indicate that physical activity and health interventions delivered through professional football clubs can be effective for engaging OA.

Improving the physical and mental well-being of typically hard-to-reach men: an investigation of the impact of the Active Rovers project

“…Furthermore, the multi-method approaches to data capture, as advocated by previous studies (i.e. Pringle et al 2014;Hunt et al 2013Rutherford et al 2014;and Parnell et al 2015) are recommended for future studies in this area.…”

“…Prenton Park), or the allure of the football club, and representing the badge that was the key to maintaining the participant's motivation to engage in PA. Other professional football community based health studies would certainly support this supposition (i.e. Parnell et al, 2015). However, from a more pessimistic perspective, we would have anticipated any proxy measure of success, to be the participants intrinsically engaging in PA away from the Active Rovers environment.…”

“…More recently, Parnell et al (2015) conducted a secondary analysis of a PA-led health improvement programme delivered by professional football clubs for older adults aged 55+ years.…”

‘It brings the lads together’: a critical exploration of older men’s experiences of a weight management programme delivered through a Healthy Stadia project

“…Similarly, some charities such as Age Concern have provided training to football club community trusts (see Parnell 2015) and training on working with men .…”

“…football clubs, stadia) may facilitate health promotion in men , including older men Bingham et al 2014;Parnell et al 2015;Schmidt et al 2014), the active construction of a particular form of masculinity emphasising competition, aggression, and personal dominance over others may exclude other 'non-hegemonic' men (Robertson 2003;Spandler and McKeown 2012). These can include OM, who often find difficulties in joining the competitive performance of team sports and may feel anxious about engaging in sports .…”