Hoosier Sport: Refining and Implementing a Sustainable Campus-Community Partnership in Rural Indiana

Hoosier Sport is a sport-based youth development program that uses the power of sport to teach children and adolescents sport and leadership skills while promoting health education. Conducted in rural middle and high schools, the program aims to enhance health and wellness by incorporating unique sports such as volleyball and flag football, along with leadership activities like goal setting and health education on the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle. The program runs for eight weeks each semester (Fall and Spring), with sessions twice a week during PE class, where college service-learning students lead the curriculum. Data on physical activity and psychosocial factors are collected to assess changes in health, ensuring confidentiality through strict IRB protocols.