Run Club Toolkit A new tool for you! The Tennessee Department of Health is investing in Run Clubs as a way to introduce Tennesseans at a young age to the concept of physical activity as a fun part of a healthy life.  We want our Tennessee children to anticipate and participate in physical activity as a daily habit that they will continue to do as they become adults.  Run Clubs are open to children of all ages and ability levels.  Run Clubs include those who walk, jog, run or use a mobility device and enable participants to challenge themselves to increase their stamina over time.  Running or walking requires little equipment and only a safe space.  Walking and running can be done in a neighborhood, at school, while traveling, during the week or on the weekend.  They are activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family.  Children who participate in physical activity such as running have been shown to typically have better mental and physical health through adulthood. Kristina Giard-Bradford, MAEd, Program Director with the Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Family Health and Wellness

Circa 1985…where’s Kristina? Why did we think these haircuts looked good?

The More They Burn The Better They Learn Research shows that students who earn mostly As are almost twice as likely to get regular physical activity than students who receive mostly Ds and Fs. Physical activity can help students focus, improve behavior and boost positive attitudes.

Components of CSPAP A Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) is a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all 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. A CSPAP reflects strong coordination and synergy across all of the components: quality physical education as the foundation, physical activity before, during, and after school, staff involvement, and family and community engagement.9 The goals of a CSPAP are:8,9 ■ To provide a variety of school-based physical activities to enable all students to participate in 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day. ■ To provide coordination among the CSPAP components to maximize understanding, application, and practice of the knowledge and skills learned in physical education so that all students will be fully physically educated and well-equipped for a lifetime of physical activity. Students can accumulate the recommended amount of physical activity through the provision of the multicomponent CSPAP. 5,8,9 The following sections describe each component of a CSPAP in greater detail. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/cspap.htm

Who this toolkit is for Created for adults leaders who may have never coached a run club. Created to support adult leaders that are not “runners”. Originally created with the idea it would be used by Tennessee Department of Health staff, but we are happy to share! Targeting before, during or after school programs. Promotion with community partners. Could also be useful for other types of clubs, such as biking or walking clubs.

What is a run club? A run club is defined as a program (typically school-based) involving a running coach/mentor with organized practices. A run club is open to any school age student interested, regardless of athletic ability, and may or may not have a fee associated with the club. Running clubs typically take place on school grounds before or after the school day and can be part of an extended care program.

Toolkit Table of Contents Over 106 downloads since release in Feb. 2016

Toolkit Feedback “I like the activity break down each week, with running for short periods of time over the course of minutes. We implemented this in our first practice, and it really allowed the group to be supportive of one another.” “I have several children who fit under the "Special Populations" so I have implemented some of the tips within the infrastructure of the entire Run Club.” “Thank you for pulling all the information into one central location.” “We are using part of the pre and post surveys, along with integrating a timed pre and post mile run.”

Kristina Giard-Bradford, MAEd Tennessee Department of Health Program Director Division of Family Health & Wellness Andrew Johnson Building, 8th Floor 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243 615-253-8729 kristina.g.bradford@tn.gov https://www.tn.gov/health/topic/run-clubs or tn.gov and search for “run club” Thank you and keep on running!