Objective: Recent studies have shown promising effects of physical activity on cognitive function, but there is a need to investigate this link in real‐life settings such as schools. Hence, the objective of the present pilot study was to investigate whether the school‐based physical activity programme “FIFA 11 for Health” for Europe could improve cognitive performance in preadolescent Danish children. Methods: The pilot study used an 11‐week cluster‐randomised intervention study design. School classes were randomly assigned to either a control group (CG) (n = 93 children, age = 11.8, s = 0.2 years), which performed the obligatory daily school‐based physical activity (5 × 45 minutes per week); or an intervention group (IG) (n = 838 children, age = 11.9, s = 0.4 years), which substituted 2 × 45 minutes per week of the daily school physical activity with the “FIFA 11 for Health” for Europe programme. The programme combines small‐sided football games, drills and health education. Cognitive performance was evaluated at baseline and follow‐up. Results: The IG improved their cognitive performance compared to the CG for psychomotor function (56, s_x^– = 22 ms, p < .001), attention (39, s_x^– = 17 ms, p = .012) and working memory (79, s_x^– = 35 ms, p = .020). Conclusion: This pilot study provides evidence that the school‐based physical activity programme “FIFA 11 for Health” for Europe can improve cognitive performance in preadolescent Danish schoolchildren. Future studies should attempt to disentangle the effects of “FIFA 11 for Health” for Europe on cognitive performance by investigating the characteristics of the programme's physical activity.

We investigated the exercise intensity and fitness effects of frequent school-based low-volume high-intensity training for 10 months in 8–10-year-old children. 239 Danish 3rd-grade school children from four schools were cluster-randomised into a control group (CON,n=116) or two training groups performing either5×12 min/wk small-sided football plus other ball games (SSG,n=62) or interval running (IR,n=61). Whole-body DXA scans, flamingo balance, standing long-jump, 20 m sprint, and Yo-Yo IR1 children’s tests (YYIR1C) were performed before and after the intervention. Mean running velocity was higher (p<0.05) in SSG than in IR (0.88±0.14versus0.63±0.20 m/s), while more time (p<0.05) was spent in the highest player load zone (>2;5.6±3.4versus3.7±3.4%) and highest HR zone (>90%HRmax;12.4±8.9versus8.4±8.0%) in IR compared to SSG. After 10 months, no significant between-group differences were observed for YYIR1C performance and HR after 2 min of YYIR1C (HRsubmax), but median-split analyses showed thatHRsubmaxwas reduced (p<0.05) in both training groups compared to CON for those with the lowest aerobic fitness (SSG versus CON: 3.2%HRmax[95% CI: 0.8–5.5]; IR versus CON: 2.6%HRmax[95% CI: 1.1–5.2]). After 10 months, IR had improved (p<0.05) 20 m sprint performance (IR versus CON: 154 ms [95% CI: 61–241]). No between-group differences (p>0.05) were observed for whole-body or leg aBMD, lean mass, postural balance, or jump length. In conclusion, frequent low-volume ball games and interval running can be conducted over a full school year with high intensity rate but has limited positive fitness effects in 8–10-year-old children.

This study examined cardiovascular adaptations in 8‐ to 10‐year‐old schoolchildren after 10 months (a full school year) of 3 × 40 minute per week of small‐sided ball games (SSG, including football, basketball, and/or floorball) or circuit strength training (CST). The study involved 291 Danish schoolchildren, 8‐10 years old, cluster‐randomized to SSG (n = 93, 4 schools, 5 classes), CST (n = 83, 4 schools, 4 classes), or a control group (CON, n = 115, 2 schools, 5 classes). Before and after the 10‐month intervention, resting heart rate and blood pressure measurements were performed as well as comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography and peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT). Analysis of baseline‐to‐10‐months changes showed between‐group differences (P < 0.05) after both training interventions in diastolic blood pressure (delta scores: SSG −2.1 ± 6.0 mm Hg; CST −3.0 ± 7.1 mm Hg; CON 0.2 ± 5.3 mm Hg). Moreover, there were between‐group differences in delta scores (P < 0.05) in interventricular septum thickness (SSG 0.17 ± 0.87 mm; CST 0.30 ± 0.94 mm; CON −0.15 ± 0.68 mm), left‐atrial volume index (SSG 0.32 ± 5.13 mL/m²; CON 2.60 ± 5.94 mL/m²), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (SSG −0.4 ± 3.3 mm; CON: 0.1 ± 3.6 mm). No significant between‐group differences were observed for the PAT‐derived reactive hyperemia index. In conclusion, 10 months of 3 × 40 minutes per week of SSG and CST in 8‐ to 10‐year‐old children decreased diastolic blood pressure and elicited discrete cardiac adaptations, suggesting that intense physical exercise in school classes can have effects on cardiovascular health in children.

This study investigated whether the physical fitness and body composition of 10–12-year-old Danish children are related to participation in leisure-time club-based sporting activities. The study involved 544 Danish 10–12-year-old 5th-grade municipal schoolchildren (269 boys and 275 girls, 11.1 ± 0.4 years). After answering a questionnaire about leisure-time sporting activities, the children were divided into four groups: football club participation (FC; n=141), other ball games (OBG; n=42), other sports (OS; n=194), and no sports-club participation (NSC; n=167). The children completed a battery of health and fitness tests, including a 20 m sprint test, a standing long-jump test, the Yo-Yo IR1 children’s test (YYIR1C), and body composition, blood pressure, resting heart rate (HRrest), and the flamingo balance test. The children engaged in club-based ball games (FC and OBG) had higher (p<0.05) lean body mass than NSC (FC: 17.5 ± 2.9; OBG: 18.4 ± 2.6; OS: 16.7 ± 2.9; NSC: 16.4 ± 2.8 kg), performed better (p<0.05) in the YYIR1C test (FC: 1083 ± 527; OBG: 968 ± 448; OS: 776 ± 398; NSC: 687 ± 378 m), and had lower (p<0.05) %HRmax after 1, 2, and 3 min of YYIR1C. Moreover, HRrest was lower (p<0.05) for FC than for OS and NSC (FC: 68 ± 9 vs OS: 72 ± 10 and NSC: 75 ± 10 bpm), and lower (p<0.05) for OBG than for NSC (OBG: 70 ± 10 vs NSC: 75 ± 10 bpm). This study found that 10–12-year-old Danish children engaged in club-based football and other ball games had better exercise capacity, lower resting heart rate, and higher muscle mass than children not engaged in leisure-time sports. Thus, participation in club-based leisure-time ball-game activities seems to be of importance for the fitness and health profile of prepubertal children.