Examining the Effectiveness of a Data Coaching Process to Increase Child Physical Activity, Perceived Motor Competence, and Staff Physical Activity Promoting Practices A Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether a data coaching process called Out of School Time Coach OST-Coach can increase physical activity among children, improve their perceived motor skills, and encourage staff to promote physical activity more effectively. This randomized controlled trial aims to see if targeted data coaching helps children in after-school programs engage in more physical activity and enhances staff practices compared to standard methods. The study involves two groups one receiving the OST-Coach intervention and the other continuing standard practice. The OST-Coach intervention includes four data coaching sessions throughout the academic year following the steps of investigate, design, practice, and reflect. During these sessions, site leaders receive customized data reports and set goals to improve child physical activity, motor competence, and staff behavior. The control group only receives data reports without coaching. Participants are children enrolled in elementary-level after-school programs. Researchers will measure child physical activity through observation and surveys about motor skills, while staff behavior will be observed and surveyed to assess physical activity promotion. Feedback is provided four times during the year. The main outcome is child physical activity tracked over one year, with staff behaviors and perceived motor competence also evaluated. The study runs from September 2025 to July 2026 with no masking.

Data Coaching Process to Address Staff Physical Activity Promoting Behavior and Child Physical Activity