Building on a 10-year history, Republic FC and UC Davis Health have teamed up to launch Strive for 45, a new program focused on working directly with the region’s children to promote healthy, sustainable fitness and nutritional habits and empower individuals to act as advocates for healthy change.
Strive for 45 will launch as a pilot program this spring at five regional Title I schools where at least 40% of enrollment is made up of children from low-income families. Weekly physical education class takeovers with specially programmed youth soccer clinics, nutritional education, and more resources for students will be combined with a pedometer to help remind kids to keep active. With the pedometers as a baseline, the club and UC Davis Health will be able to examine activity and change the program to continue to encourage activity daily.
Create Your Own Strive for 45 Activity Program
Healthy habits start here! Together, let’s aim for 45 minutes of physical movement each day. Here some easy activities to do at home or school.
15 minutes
Bike/walk to school
10 minutes
Play catch with a friend
10 minutes
Have a dance party
15 minutes
Build an obstacle course at home
5 minutes
Stretch when you wake up
10 minutes
Jump rope during recess
10 minutes
Kick a soccer ball around
20 minutes
Go on a walk around the neighborhood
Statistics & Data
- According to the CDC, childhood obesity is prevalent in 1 in 5 children and adolescents
- Locally, rates among children and teens are higher than the California state average
- Childhood obesity and unhealthy nutrition/exercise habits can have long-term effects, including secondary diagnoses (diabetes, heart disease, and other emotional/physical conditions)
Resources
- Listen: Kids Considered Podcast – Pediatric Obesity (a UC Davis Children’s Hospital Podcast)
- Learn How to Eat Healthy with MyPlate
- 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Family’s Eating Habits: HealthyChildren.org
- Childhood Obesity Facts | CDC
Strive for 45 Run
Fans ages 5-14 can get their heart rate up on select matchdays by joining Republic FC on the pitch for the Strive for 45 Run. Following the first half, kids are welcomed onto the field for a fitness takeover, sprinting from endline to endline, providing a moment for healthy activity during the break.