The document summarizes a program called Goal 4 Health Soccer (G4H) that uses soccer to promote physical activity and health education among Latino families in San Bernardino County, California. Over 300 players between ages 3-12, and women ages 14-40, participated in the 11-week program. It included a soccer camp, weekly health topics, and pre-and post-physical assessments. The assessments showed that most age groups improved in at least one fitness area like endurance, flexibility, or core strength. The program was successful in promoting healthy lifestyle changes for participants.

1. Scoring a win: Utilizing soccer as a tool for inspiring physical
activity among Latinos
Tina Pruna, MPH, Sabrina La Bianca, MPH (c), Omari Battles, MPH, Joseph Osario, MPH, Jenifer Jesson, MPH
Community-Academics Partners in Service (CAPS), Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank our current and previous G4H teams both for
helping us make this league so successful. Thanks to the volunteers,
both students and parents, we are able to provide this League each
year.
Introduction
Lack of physical activity has been linked to an
increase in chronic illnesses, such as
diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure
and obesity.[1] Sports can be utilized as a
means to slow the increase of such diseases
and reduce social and economic burdens.
Nearly two out of five children in California
are overweight or obese. The rate is over 60
percent higher among children from very low-
income homes.[2] In San Bernardino County,
forty-six percent of students have unhealthy
body composition, with three-fourths of the
Latino community being considered obese.[3]
Kids who play sports are eight times more
likely to be active later in life than those who
don’t play.4
Goal 4 Health Soccer (G4H) is a unique
program focusing on health among diverse
populations utilizing soccer as a main tool to
develop health education and wellness for the
whole family.
The purpose of Goal 4 Health is to serve the
local San Bernardino community through
wellness promotion. This is done by providing
a safe environment for families to stay fit
together through an educational platform.
Our program is designed to be age
appropriate, interactive, and informative in
health and community wholeness. G4H is
made accessible to the community through
bilingual services in Spanish and English and
discounted registration fees to families with
financial needs.
Approach
Results
• Over 175 players completed both pre and post
physical assessments.
• The 3-4 year and 5-6 years old cohorts showed a
significant improvement in endurance.
• The 9-10 and 11-12 years old cohorts showered a
significant improvement in flexibility.
• The 7-8 and 11-12 years old cohorts
showed a significant improvement in core
strength.
• Overall, improvement was seen in each
cohort in at least one fitness category.
*Results are based on data collected from the
2015 Goal 4 Health Soccer League.
Discussion
G4H’s mission is to increase physical activity
for the whole family in a safe environment,
while also providing health education to
improve lifestyle choices. We encourage
families to be active together inside and
outside of the league by promoting behavior
changes. This simple model serves as a
strategy to integrate health education into
pre-existing children’s activities.
Of the players that completed both pre and
post health assessment, there was
improvement in at least one fitness category.
This shows that the league was successful in
promoting lifestyle change behavior for the
kids ages 3-14. Participants may be involved
in other sports teams, therefore
improvement in physical activity can’t be
ruled as solely due to our League.
Collaborating with others to manage the
logistics of the soccer league will allow G4H
to focus on solely the health education
activities for families. Incorporating health
education presentations as a requirement of
select University courses will help ensure
consistent and well researched presentations
for the league which lead to more effective
behavior/attitude change for participants.
References
1. Sport and Health - United Nations. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5, 2016, from
http://www.un.org/wcm/webdav/site/sport/shared/sport/SDP IWG/Chapter2_SportandHealth.pdf
2. Champions for Change: Network for a Healthy California. (2009). Children’s Fact Sheet. Retrieved October 5,
2016, from https://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cpns/Documents/CalCHEEPS_FactSheet_FINAL_09.12.11.pdf
3. San Bernardino County, Community Indicator Report, 2014, CA Dept Public Health-County Health Rankings,
US Census Quick facts http://cms.sbcounty.gov/portals/21/resources%20Documents/CIR_2014_Report.pdf
4. Facts: Sports Activity and Children | Project Play. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2016, from
http://www.aspenprojectplay.org/the-facts
Weeks Activity
1 Soccer Camp
2 Draft Day, ages 7 & up
3 Pre-Health Assessment
(endurance, core, and
flexibility)
4 Healthy Choices
5 Nutrition
6 Hydration
7 Hand Washing
8 Teamwork and Sportsmanship
9 Physical Activity
10 Wholeness
11 Post-Health Assessment
(endurance, core, and
flexibility
Utilizing a community-based approach, over 300 players participated in the 11-week
program, with ages ranging from 3 to 12 years and 14-40 in the women’s only league. Pre and
post physical assessment were used through FitnessGram and SAS to determine players
strength, endurance and flexibility.
Table 1 shows a breakdown of the
weekly activities that were conducted.
Pre and Post Assessments
Endurance
• 1 mile (9 years +)
• ½ mile (7-8 years )
• ¼ mile (3-6 years)
Core Strength
• Trunk lift (7 years +)
Flexibility
• Sit & reach (9 years +)
Child participating in the obstacle
course (week 9 Activity)