Leisure-time physical activity in school environments: An observational study using SOPLAY

Background, Schools provide settings for physical activity (PA), but object ive tools for measuring PA are lacking. me assessed an instrument to direct ly observe group PA and measured the leisure-time PA of adolescents through out the school day. Methods. Leisure-time PA was studied by direct observation in 24 middle sch ools in Southern California using SOPLAY (System for Observing Play and Lei sure Activity in Youth). SOPLAY uses momentary time sampling to record the activity of each individual as sedentary, walking, or very active. Results. The largest proportion of students visited activity areas at lunch time (19.5%), followed by before (4.1%) and after school (2.1%). More boys than girls visited activity areas before school (33.4 vs 7.7) and at lunch time (148.8 vs 36.7). Boys in areas engaged in more moderate to vigorous P A than girls before school (59.6 vs 40%) and at lunch time (67.7 vs 51.7%). Conclusions. Few students use opportunities to be physically active during lesiure time at school. Policies and environmental manipulations (e.g., sup ervision, equipment, structured programs) are needed to attract more adoles cents, especially girls, to existing activity areas. The feasibility of SOP LAY for measuring group PA was established. (C) 2000 American Health Founda tion and Academic Press.