Background/Purpose Comprehensive school physical activity proponents suggest after-school programs might reduce the impact of physical education reductions nationwide. However, little is known about maintaining voluntary and engaging after-school activity programs, beyond competitive athletics, especially in challenging urban communities with wide health disparities. This study used social ecological theory to examine inner-city high school students' and adult leaders' perspectives on the challenges of implementing after-school physical activity clubs (PACs).
Method We created 14 inner-city PACs as “fun, safe, supportive places to do physical activities with friends” that were student-centered with non-sport activities. Over two years, leaders held 938 PAC sessions averaging 16.5 students. We conducted 126 leader and 278 student interviews, and 115 observations. We analyzed data using constant comparison and analytic induction and sought trustworthiness through prolonged engagement, triangulation, member checks, and negative case analyses.
Analysis/Results Students and leaders identified five significant challenges to implementing PACs, including: competing for activity space with high-profile athletics; managing student hunger to avoid lethargy or investment in unhealthy options; addressing transportation issues like safe waiting spaces, risky city buses, and fluctuating daylight; PAC leaders with limited experience or interest in non-sport activities; and extended-day academic requirements in state-identified low performing schools.
Conclusions Given the high volume of club sessions, as well as attendance and participation rates, PACs seemed to offer attractive healthy living opportunities, notwithstanding significant structural, status, and personnel barriers that threatened those opportunities. Based on a social ecological perspective, specific recommendations are offered to reduce the impact of each barrier.