Insights Into School-Based Physical Activity Implementation Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Thematic...

In the United States, most school-aged children do not meet recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines that promote health. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools were well-situated to provide children with structured PA opportunities through physical education, organized sports, recess and active transportation to school. However, the COVID-19 pandemic limited schools' abilities to provide these opportunities, likely due to the global adoption of recommended COVID-19 guidelines (e.g., social distancing guidelines, remote and hybrid learning, shared equipment limitations). Preliminary evidence suggests that children's PA levels decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but few studies have explored how schools responded to these challenges in real time.

This study explored how schools provided students with PA opportunities amid COVID-19 pandemic restrictions during the 2020-2021 school year. We conducted a secondary data analysis using an interpretive qualitative approach through a partnership with a childhood obesity prevention initiative providing infrastructure to schools to promote healthy behaviours. Participants representing 247 schools in Maine and Carroll County, New Hampshire, USA responded to a 34-question digital survey, including a subset of three open-ended questions, which were analysed through inductive thematic analysis.

The 247 participants were predominantly nurses and teachers. Most schools were public schools with fewer than 400 students enrolled, nearly half of the participants represented elementary schools and more than half of the student body was eligible for free/reduced lunch in 35% of schools. Themes included: (1) PA strategies in disruptive learning environments; (2) barriers to PA participation; and (3) silver linings: physical activity and crisis resilience.

These findings provide insight into how schools created PA opportunities for students amid COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Emergency preparedness plans may incorporate flexible PA programming and further develop infrastructure that supports opportunities for PA.