Benedičić Tomat, Saška, Hartmann, Herbert, Pedisic, Zeljko ORCID: 0000-0003-2886-3556, Strika, Melanija, Matolić, Tena ORCID: 0000-0003-4218-0735, Broms, Lovisa, De Grauwe, Guy, Erkoca Mølgaard, Hilal, Regan, Colin, Veress, Réka and Jurakić, Danijel ORCID: 0000-0002-4861-4066 (2002) Sports Club for Health and similar initiatives in Europe: examples of good practice. In: Sports Club for Health (SCforH) movement in the European Union. Pedisic, Z, ed. Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia, pp. 195-293.

Abstract

The recommended ways to implement Sports Club for Health (SCforH) initiatives have been described in the SCforH guidelines. However, sport practitioners who plan to develop such initiatives in their sports clubs and associations may also benefit from having information on SCforH or other similar initiatives that have already been successfully implemented. Therefore , we collected data on ongoing SCforH and related initiatives in 36 European countries, including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, all 27 European Union member states, and all five countries that are candidates for the membership in the European Union (i.e. Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye). The data were obtained from representatives of sports associations, some of which were partners in the SCforH 2020-22 project. We also reviewed the examples of good practice included in a systematic scoping review of SCforH publications and in the Electronic Toolkit for sports clubs and associations. In the final step, we conducted a comprehensive Internet search. Four authors read the descriptions of the initiatives identified in the search and assessed their eligibility for inclusion. Data about 76 initiatives implemented in 33 European countries were obtained from a total of 31 contact persons. Thirty-six percent of the initiatives were designed for people of any age, while other initiatives targeted specific age groups, including children (20%), adolescents (30%), adults (29%), and seniors (28%). Most (53%) of the initiatives were related to developing specific SCforH or similar projects or activities. In 28% of the initiatives SCforH or related principles were incorporated in existing work. Sixteen percent of initiatives were designed with the aim to raise the awareness of SC-forH or related principles. The least common type of initiative was development of specific SC-forH or related strategies or plans. Importantly, most (62%) of the initiatives were carried out in accordance with all seven guiding principles of the SCforH approach. It can be concluded that SCforH and similar initiatives have been carried out in most European countries, and most of them followed the guiding principles of the SCforH approach. Future SCforH projects should continue disseminating the SCforH guidelines and encouraging sports clubs and associations to implement SCforH initiatives.

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