Effect of Physical Literacy Breaks (PLBreaks) program on physical literacy in Portuguese schoolchildren

INTERVENTION: Experimental group will carry out the program in the educational centres during break times, 3 times a week, for 3 months. The duration of each session will be between 20 and 30 minutes, according to the time pre‐established by each educational centre for the students' breaks. During these sessions, activities will be carried out in which physical activity is practised at the same time as motivation is fostered and knowledge is acquired about healthy lifestyle habits and knowledge about conceptual aspects of physical activity and its benefits. Every session will be divided into two 10‐minute blocks. In the first block, activities will be carried out to develop knowledge and understanding of healthy lifestyle habits and active daily behaviours through body expression. For example, students in groups will have to represent ways of moving actively to school, a concept related to Physical Activity (strength, endurance, agility...), a healthy lifestyle habit, a sporting skill,... and their classmates will have to guess their actions. The second block will be based on active play, as play is fundamental in the transmission of values and attitudinal content, also stimulating social and civic relations with others. During the games, basic skills will be developed, such as moving, jumping, spinning or throwing, thus trying to improve them, as well as the motivation of the pupils. The games will have a cooperative as well as a competitive component, due to the motivational benefits this can bring. All session will be supervised by the physical education teacher and a sports sciences professional researcher. The attendance will be checked using a checklist. CONDITION: Public Health ‐ Health promotion/education Physical literacy; ; Physical literacy PRIMARY OUTCOME: Physical literacy assessed using the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy Development (CAPL‐2).[Prior to start the intervention (week 0), upon completion of the intervention (week 13, primary timepoint) and one month after the end of the intervention (week 17) as follow up measure.] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Participants must meet the following INCLUSION CRITERIA: (1) age between 8 and 16 years; (2) be registered and/or residing in Portugal; (3) not suffer from pathologies that contraindicate the exercise and physical activity programme or require special attention; (4) authorised by parents or legal guardians; and (5) acceptance of the child or young person to participate in the study. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Bodyweight shall be measured with a bioimpedance meter (Tanita MC‐780 MA, Tanita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The assessment shall be performed in 'standard mode' by entering the participant's age, sex and height. The body weight will be recorded in kg, with an accuracy of 100 g. This instrument will also be used to assess participants' fat mass, fat mass percentage and fat‐free mass. In addition, to obtain accurate measurements from the bioimpedance meter, preconditions will be standardised according to the manufacturer's guidelines: more than 3 hours after waking up, urinating before the measurement, not eating or drinking within the last 3 hours, not eating or drinking excessively the previous day, no heavy exercise within the last 12 hours, no alcohol consumption within the last 12 hours, and no use of metal objects or wearing a pacemaker.[Prior to start the intervention (week 0), upon completion of the intervention (week 13) and one month after the end of the intervention (week 17) as follow up measure.] Height shall be measured with a measuring rod (Tanita Tantois, Tanita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The instrument shall be placed on a vertical surface where the measuring scale shall be perpendicular to the ground. The height shall be measured while standing, with the shoulders balanced and the arms relaxed along the body. The measurement shall be made in cm, to the nearest mm. [Prior to start the intervention (week 0), upon completion of the intervention (week 13) and one month after the end of the intervention (week 17) as follow up measure.]