Learning in Fitness and Education through Sports (LiFEsports)
Ohio State University
Learning in Fitness and Education through Sports (LiFEsports)
Since 2009, LiFEsports has grown to address the ever-changing needs of our community’s youth and the field of sport-based positive youth development
Winner of the 2020 W. K. Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Awards
View all 2020 W. K. Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Award Recipients
LiFEsports' mission is "to prepare youth for life and leadership through sport." Aligning with Ohio State's impact areas, LiFEsports seeks to: provide quality sport-based positive youth development (PYD) programming, especially to youth from vulnerable circumstances; prepare and train tomorrow's sport-based PYD workforce; and research, discover, and share best practices in sport-based PYD. Since 2008, more than 8,000 low-income youth aged 6-18 have participated in LiFEsports Summer Camps, year-round sports clinics, and Youth Leadership Academy. Annually, approximately 200 college students complete internships, research, classwork, and paid or volunteer work. The project has resulted in 22 journal articles, book chapters, and proceedings, and more than 50 research papers, posters, and workshops. Translational research at LiFEsports improves practices in PYD and sport, locally and globally.
LiFEsports is spearheaded by the Department of Athletics, College of Social Work, Department of Recreational Sports, Office of Outreach and Engagement, and OSU Extension, along with 13 other OSU units. In collaboration with more than 20 community partners, such as the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Franklin County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board, and Columbus City Schools, LiFEsports transforms lives through outreach and engagement, teaching, learning, and research.