Effects of the “Più Sport @ Scuola” project on fitness, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy of primary school children: a DEDIPAC study

Sport plays an important role in the psychophysical development of children. Health benefits, such as improved muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and skill development derive from participating in sport. In addition, sporting activities offer youth opportunities for enjoying experiences, increasing self-efficacy and subjective well-being. In the DEDIPAC framework, we decided to conduct a natural experiment on the effects of the “Più Sport @ Scuola” (PS@S) project. The PS@S project was funded by the Veneto Region from 2004 to 2014 with the specific aims to promote physical activity and sport for primary school children, collaborating with local administrations and sport clubs. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the PS@S project on fitness (muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and upper extremity function), enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy of primary school children involved in.