Knowledge Corner: Insights and Resources for Sport for All

KNOWLEDGE CORNER:
INSIGHTS AND RESOURCES FOR SPORT FOR ALL

KEC


We are excited to share valuable references with the Sport for All community, carefully selected by the TAFISA Knowledge Exchange Commission. This global team of experts, practitioners, and leaders works collaboratively to exchange ideas, best practices, and innovative approaches to promote public health, inclusivity, and engagement through Sport for All. These curated resources are designed to inspire and support your efforts in building more inclusive, healthy, and active communities. Each reference has been thoughtfully chosen to provide valuable insights and practical tools for your initiatives.

You can click on each box to review a brief summary, explore the key keywords, and access a link to the full resource for further details. We hope these references are helpful in your work and spark new ideas to advance the global Sport for All movement.
 

Health benefits of different sports: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal and intervention studies including 2.6 million adult participants.
This systematic review summarizes the evidence about health benefits associated with recreational sports. Endurance activities are associated with reductions in all-cause mortality, while football and handball are associated with improvements in body composition and cardiovascular health.
Key words: health benefits; participation in sports
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Family structure and the association with physical activity—Findings from 40 countries participating in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children.
The study aims to understand the association between family structure and physical activity among adolescents, considering cross-national variations in the associations. Findings showed cross-country variations in the relationship between living with one versus two parents and physical activity, being more pronounced for vigorous physical activity.
Key words: Physical activity development; behaviour; diversity; family structure
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Psychology of physical activity: Determinants, well-being and interventions.
It covers the fundamentals of exercise psychology, including discussion about mental health, theories of motivation and adherence, and how to design successful interventions for increasing participation in physical activity.
Key words: Psychological well-being; self-esteem; cognitive functioning; physical activity; mental health
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Process evaluations of health-promotion interventions in sports settings: A systematic review.
This systematic review examines how process evaluations of health-promotion interventions are conducted in sports settings and highlights the facilitators and barriers to delivering these interventions.
Key words: Implementation science; health-promotion; process evaluation; sports
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Reimagining physical activity for children following the systemic disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.
This editorial highlights changes in the physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns (including screen time) of Australian children during COVID-19, with a focus on reimagining the best ways to support children and young people in staying physically active.
Key words: children; physical activity; sedentary behavior; recommendations
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Physical activity promotion, human and planetary health – a conceptual framework and suggested research priorities.
This commentary introduces a framework that links physical activity promotion to both human health and planetary sustainability. The framework encourages promoting activities that not only support individual health but also lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on fossil-fuel-based transportation.
Key words: Physical activity; exercise; sport; climate; sustainability; planetary health
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Status and trends of physical activity surveillance, policy, and research in 164 countries: Findings from the Global Observatory for Physical Activity—GoPA! 2015 and 2020 surveys.
The aim of this paper was to assess the status and trends in PA surveillance, policy, and research in 164 countries. Findings showed that global progress in physical activity surveillance, policy, and research has been modest, with large inequalities between countries and world regions.
Key words: guidelines and recommendations; health promotion; measurement; public health
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Evaluating the effects of an enhanced strength training program in remote cardiological rehabilitation: A shift from aerobic dominance—a pilot randomized controlled trial.
This pilot study looks at how integrating high-intensity strength training into cardiac rehabilitation programs highlights its potential to enhance muscle strength, exercise capacity, and quality of life, supporting a balanced approach in health recovery.
Key words: resistance training; patient engagement; remote health monitoring
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A higher frequency of physical activity is associated with reduced rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
This large population-based study found that individuals who engaged in regular physical activity were significantly less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2, with the likelihood decreasing as activity frequency increased. These findings highlight the potential protective role of physical activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Key words: physical activity; SARS-CoV-2; prevention; health benefits
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Politics of gender (in)equality relating to sport and development within a sub-saharan context of poverty.
The study examines the lived realities of women in post-Apartheid South Africa, highlighting how ideology, culture, influential figures, resource availability, and democracy influence gender roles and opportunities in the country.
Key words: Gender inequalities; sport development; sport and poverty
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Stuck between medals and participation: An institutional theory perspective on why sport federations struggle to reach Sport-for-All goals.
This study investigates how the dual mission of providing Sport-for-All and high-performance sport affects the Sport-for-All projects of Flemish sport federations.
Key words: Sport for All; sport participation; inequalities; institutional theory; sport federations
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Eight investments that work for physical activity.
This provides an overview of the best evidence available to advocate for, inform, and guide physical activity policy and discussions, highlighting eight effective investments: school programs, active transportation, active urban design, healthcare, public education (including mass media), sport and recreation for all, workplaces, and community-wide programs.
Key words: public health; health promotion; interventions; policy; public health practice
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To ensure continuous knowledge-sharing and up-to-date insights, new resources and references will be added every three months. Stay tuned for the latest research, case studies, and tools to support your work in making sport and physical activity more accessible and impactful for all. If you have suggestions for additional references, feel free to reach out—we’d love to hear from you!