Promotion and encourAGement of recreatiONal team sport

The problem of obesity among adolescents in the European countries has grown dramatically in recent years. Studies of a range of academic databases, such as Public Affairs Information Services of the European Countries, publications of the World Health Organization, the International Scholarly Research emphasise the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents and lack of physical activities. Research shows that childhood obesity is strongly associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, mental disorder, underachievement in school, etc. The research results reveal the necessity to work out methods and tactics to encourage health-enhancing physical activity especially among young people, embracing two target groups, such as inactive adolescents to promote healthy life style and socially inactive young people who for example have dropped out from school and do not work or study (NEET group - Not in Employment, Education or Training). As stated above the first target group is adolescents. Considering that adolescence is the teenagers’ period of searching purpose of life, aims related to appearance, well-being, togetherness, inclusion, etc., they are the right target group to promote team sports to develop healthy life style habits. Another target group are young people who are dropped-out from school, not working and training, so called NEET group. Without the help of society to encourage them and involve in rather activities these youngsters are at very high risk to stay as drop-outs for all their life. We mainly concentrate on youngsters drop-outs from school or training. While having team sports for adolescence and NEET as our projects primary focus, we see value of also having for part of the activities more narrow focus. Specifically, two relatively new sports – Handball and Floorball, both having a list of common aspects that separate them from other sports. Taking into account above mentioned, the aim of the project is to promote active lifestyle in adolescents ages 13 – 15 with recreational team sport. Or in full: The aim of the project is to promote active lifestyle in adolescents ages 13 – 15 that are at risk for obesity and adolescents with fewer opportunities (NEET) using recreational team sport and their guiding principles both on and off the pitch as the main tool.