A sport-for-development intervention for the physical and mental health of young adolescents in Gulu, Uganda

INTERVENTION: Current interventions as of 03/09/2012: Assessors are masked to registration for the intervention and subsquent computer generated allocation into three parallel groups. Intervention: The Gum Marom Kids League is a community based sport‐for‐development programme in Gulu, Uganda. It comprises of a 11 week football league with weekly training sessions (approximately 1.5 hour) and games (approximately 1 hour) delivered by trained coaches. Control 1: No treatment (wait‐listed for next "season" of the intervention). Control 2: No treatment (not registered to participate in the intervention). Initial follow‐up assessment will take 3 weeks and will take place immediately after the completion of the intervention. It is anticipated that final follow‐up for a sample of the participants will take place 15 months after the completion of the intervention. Previous interventions until 03/09/2012: Intervention: The Gum Marom Kids League is a community based sport‐for‐development programme in Gulu, Uganda. It comprises of a 11 week football league with weekly training sessions (approximately 1.5 hour) and games (approximately 1 hour) delivered by trained coaches Control: No treatment (wait‐listed) Initial follow‐up assessment will take 3 weeks and it is anticipated that final follow‐up for a sample of the participants will take place 15 months after the completion of the intervention. CONDITION: Physical activity, physical fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, mental health, non‐communicable diseases ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: 1. Cardiorespiratory fitness measured using the standardised multi‐stage fitness test ("beep test") at baseline and at 4 months (i.e. after the intervention). Long term follow‐up measures planned for a sample of the participants at 15 months post intervention.; 2. Muscular strength measured using the standing broad jump at baseline and at 4 months (i.e. after the intervention). Long term follow‐up measures planned for 15 months post intervention.; 3. Body composition measured using body mass index (BMI)‐for‐age at baseline and at 4 months (i.e. after the intervention). Long term follow‐up measures planned for a sample of the participants at 15 months post intervention.; 4. Mental health measured using the Acholi Psychosocial Assessment Instrument (APAI) to assess local depression‐like (two tam, kumu, par) and anxiety‐like (ma lwor) syndromes at baseline and at 4 months (i.e. after the intervention). Long term follow‐up measures planned for a sample of the participants at 15 months post intervention. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Physical activity measured using accelerometers on a series of subjects for a duration of 1 week during the intervention. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Healthy and able‐bodied young adolescents 2. Enrolled in P6 of a primary school within Gulu Municipality 3. Aged between 11‐14 years 4. Informed consent obtained