Community Coaching Research Highlights - Fact Sheet

• Children's participation in physical activity and sport contributes to their growth and development
• The number of overweight kids in Canada has doubled in the past 15 years. (6)
• The number of obese kids in Canada has tripled in the past 15 years. (6)
• Less than half of boys and even fewer girls are active enough for optimal health (7)
• A positive sport experience contributes to optimal growth and development by building muscle strength and motor fitness. (4)
• Sport helps to improve aerobic capacity (especially after age 10) and to build maximum aerobic powers, which increases markedly during adolescence. (4)
• Good coaching nurtures optimal growth and development of children and youth, recognizing differences in genetic make-up and maturation rates, matching challenge with ability and fostering the joy of sport. (5)

Trained coaches contribute to the holistic development of children
• Fostering development of self-efficacy, contributing to higher seif-esteem and reduced stress and anxiety.
• Contributing to academic performance by teaching motor skills and fostering participation in aerobic activities.
• Fostering cultural harmony by helping people to understand each other while striving toward a common goal.

Positively influencing the ethical and moral development of Canada's children

• Teaching relevant life skills, positive self-development and reducing leisure boredom
• 34 per cent of Canadians 15 years of age or more (8.3 million) participated regularly in one or more sports:; 21 per cent (1.7 million) of these were amateur sport coaches (3)
• 90 per cent of Canadians believe that coaches are important role models. (2)
• 95 per cent of Canadians believe it is important that amateur sport coaches be certified. (2)

sources cited in this paper
• 1 Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 1996. Parents' beliefs about children's activity. Progress in Prevention, Bulletin no 9.
• 2 Straight Talk about Children and Sport, 1997
• 3 Statistics Canada, 1998
• 4 The Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, 1997. Physical activity and sport in the lives of Physical & mental health dimensions for an interdisciplinary approach. Washington, DC: The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport.
• 5 Melina, R.M. (1994). Physical activity: Relationship to growth, maturation, and physical fistness. In C. Bouchard, R.J. Shephart T. Stephends (Eds.). Physical activity, fitness and health: International proceedings and consensus statement Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• 6 Tremblay MS, Willms JD. Secular trends in the body mass index of Canadian children. [published erratum appears in CMAJ 2001; 164(7): 970]. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2000; 163(11): 1429-1433.
• 7 Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI). 2000 Physical Activity Monitor. 2000.
• Online: [accessed February 6, 2004].