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Study Changes Family Fitness Outlook
 In an effort to help inner-city students become more competitive in sports, San Antonio Sports launched a three year collaborative study and pilot program last fall in select elementary schools in Harlandale and San Antonio Independent School Districts. The goal of the Dreams for Youth Athlete & Wellness Development Study is to determine how the school district’s athletic environment will be affected if lower socio-economic children are given the opportunity to participate in an organized, skill-based after-school sports program, as do many of their peers from wealthier neighborhoods. The school districts selected five sports: volleyball, track & field, tennis, soccer and golf. San Antonio Sports assisted in securing training and equipment.
The data is still being analyzed and collected for the first year, but success was apparent immediately in one particular area. Project Director Kampol Surapiboonchai, who is also San Antonio Sports’ head badminton coach, said according to parents surveyed, the program helped make a fitness behavior change in their children and in themselves. Parents noticed that their children, eager to play more, are hurrying to do their homework and are better students who have maintained or improved their grades. They also said the program activated their children’s social skills, and that neighborhood kids are playing more with each other.
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Parents indicated that their own fitness awareness has improved, too. They are more involved with their children and even participating in sports themselves. Parents appreciated the five sport approach which gives their children a feel for different activities and has improved the students’ skills and awareness of sports. In fact, many students now watch sports with their parents and ask questions. Best of all, the kids are spending more time with their parents.
In the second year, the program will continue tracking current students moving into 5th and 6th grades, and add a new group of 4th graders.
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