Gaelic4 mothers & others: An evaluation of a sports program helping to remove barriers to female adult recreational participation in sports

Abstract

Staying physically active has been shown to help improve a person physical and mental health and overall wellbeing. An active lifestyle can help reduce problems associated with aging and a modern-day lifestyle. Sadly, research has shown that the modern-day lifestyle has led to an increase in obesity across many cultures due to sedentary behaviors. Likewise, social behaviors and sedentary lifestyles have increased stress, anxiety, and depression among many adults. Regrettably for many adults the struggle to have a healthy physical lifestyle is increasing due to many potential barriers. It is important for adults to maintain a healthy lifestyle as physical and mental health problems increase as we get older but yet it can be difficult to do so with work, family, and the potential financial costs associated with a physically active lifestyle. Therefore, many national governments and sports organizations are attempting to create more opportunities for adults to improve their wellbeing lifestyle through sports programs and general physical activity programs. One such organization is the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) which is based in Ireland and focuses on promoting Gaelic Football to women. The LGFA provide football for females from underage to adulthood but it becomes more elite as you get older and therefore many adult women stop playing. To help keep those women involved the LGFA have created a program called Galeic4mothers&others and this paper will review this programs content and goals potential to increase a healthy lifestyle for adults and thus can be used as an example for other organizations.