Childhood obesity is an epidemic. With more than 12,550,000 American children and adolescents that are obese, it has more than tripled in the last 40 years. Due in part to this trend, 1 in 3 children that were born in the year 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes at some point in their lifetime. For the first time in two centuries, the current generation of children in the United States may have shorter life expectancies than their parents.
This epidemic is also preventable. Communities,
health professionals, organizations, and families can work together to create
opportunities for kids to eat healthier and get more active. That is why USA
Baseball joined forces with The Congressional Task Force on Childhood Obesity
for their Childhood Obesity Prevention Awareness Expo on October 13. The Task
Force is challenged with creating a healthy start in life for children, from
infancy through early childhood; empowering parents and caregivers to make healthy
choices for their families; serving healthier food in schools; ensuring access
to healthy, affordable food; and increasing opportunities for physical
activity.
Along with three other sports (soccer,
wheelchair basketball, and lacrosse), USA Baseball participated in the Expo as
an activity station where attendees received a hands-on learning experience
with USA Baseball's newest childhood enrichment initiative, Fun at Bat. Expo
attendees included members of Congress and their respective staffs.
Fun at Bat is a bat and ball, entry-level program for kids with an emphasis on character development, functional movement, active play and fun. The initiative stems from meticulous research on introductory youth sport programs and is supported by Major League Baseball (MLB), SHAPE America, Franklin Sports and industry professionals. The curriculum for the program was created in partnership by USA Baseball and SHAPE America to help students meet and exceed the National Physical Education Standards. The program focuses on physical literacy through age-appropriate games and activities, as well as character development through USA Baseball Championship Principles. The Championship Principles are a collection of eight positive character traits that are taught to the children throughout the Fun at Bat lessons. Children also receive the Fun at Bat book, which provides a story for each Championship Principle.
USA Baseball has created several other
initiatives that raise awareness and provide solutions around the current state
of childhood health. Among those initiatives is the Long-Term Athlete
Development Plan (LTAD). The LTAD, created with support from MLB, is a
multi-stage developmental pathway for an individual's life-long experience
within the sport of baseball in the United States. Through developmentally
appropriate programs for all ages, the LTAD aims to increase participation, aid
in performance, and enhance enjoyment across the sport of baseball at all
levels. The LTAD is a culmination of evidence-based information and provides
structure around physical literacy, physical development, injury prevention,
psychosocial well-being, specialization, periodization and competition.
While Fun at Bat and the LTAD are centered on
athlete development, USA Baseball believes that coach, parent, and umpire
education is equally as important in creating a positive experience within the
game.
With that focus in mind, the USA Baseball Online Education Center was created to provide free educational resources to all constituents of the game, specifically coaches, parents and umpires. The Online Education Center hosts online courses, the Sport Development Blog, and the LTAD, and provides access to the USA Baseball Mobile Coach app and the Amateur Resource Center.
The online courses, free to all users, are hosted by some of the most esteemed professionals within the game and can be completed in less than 30 minutes. Courses focus on various topics within the game, such as creating a positive and successful environment, coaching your own child, skill development, and keeping perspective. In addition to the courses, the Sport Development Blog also provides resources on team development, skill development, and coaching philosophy, among other topics.
With the goal to enrich the game of baseball for
all participants, USA Baseball continues to provide resources and programs for
athletes of all ages, as well as coaches, parents, and umpires within the game.
USA Baseball is committed to Our Pastimes Future and helping children lead
healthy lives both on and off the diamond.
