title: Prioritizing school intramural and interscholastic programs based on observed physical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine which school sports engage children in more physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational, cross-sectional study examining differences between intramural (IM) and interscholastic (IS) sports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athletic facilities at two schools with IM sports and two schools with IS sports in Wake County, North Carolina.
  
  
  METHODS
  Middle-school children (N = 6735).
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentage of children observed in sedentary, moderate, and vigorous activity assessed by the System for Observation Play and Leisure Among Youth (SOPLAY). Energy expenditure and physical activity intensity were also estimated by using MET values.
  
  
  METHODS
  T-tests; generalized linear model using cumulative logit link function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IM sports had higher MET values than IS sports (t = -3.69, p < .001), and IM sports ranked in four of the top five sports in terms of average MET values. Regression models found a significant interaction between school sport delivery model and gender, with boys significantly less physically active in IS programs than boys in IM programs (B = -.447, p < .001) but more physically active (B = .359, p <.001) than girls in IM sports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regardless of sport type, IM sports generated more physical activity than IS sports among boys but not girls. Soccer, basketball, and track, regardless of school delivery approach, provide the highest physical activity levels. Results suggest that school administrators consider reassessing their programs to more efficiently use diminishing resources to increase students' physical activity levels.
authors.forename: Jason N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Bocarro
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kanters
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Casper
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: McKenzie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001490:Basketball / Q000502:physiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009657:North Carolina; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012574:Schools / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014142:Track and Field / Q000502:physiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data