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Soccer Schools for Health Promotion - Santiago de Chile, Chile

Country

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Venezuela

Region

Global, Latin America

Programme Summary

The Pan American Health Organization has developed a curriculum to improve the health and development of adolescent boys by focusing on constructs of masculinity and its impact on health and healthy, equitable relationships. The curriculum uses the capacity of soccer coaches to transmit concepts of health promotion to adolescent boys, ages 8 to 12, during soccer practices or clinics. The curriculum has been adapted per the experiences of pilot tests in several countries in Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, and Venezuela.

Communication Strategies

Although the process has differed slightly in each country, in general, coaches receive training on a variety of health issues (smoking, alcohol use, sexual behavior, violence, etc.) and the curriculum with the intention that they will then introduce these topics during soccer training sessions throughout the season. For example, during one session the coaches are asked to introduce a health topic such as violence by using the game of soccer as an example of fair play and the rules that govern the interactions on the field and then relating them to daily life. The curriculum guides the group through an introductory talk, warm ups, play and a wrap up.

Development Issues

Adolescents, Health, Gender.

Key Points

The project builds on the popularity of soccer in the region and the established relationship of trust that soccer coaches enjoy.

Contact

Matilde Madalenno
Director, Programme of Adolescent Health
Pan American Health Organisation
Washington, D.C. USA
maddalem@paho.org

Source

"Documenting and Sharing Learning in Health Communication for Development - A Literature Review." Prepared by Rafael Obreg


Placed on the Communication Initiative site April 24 2002
Last Updated January 27 2006

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