FOR RELEASE: October 7, 2003
CONTACT: Pamela Williams
Office of Communications
405/271-5601

VERB -- Extra Hour for Extra Action Promotes Exercise for Tweens

Help get the youth of America active by being a VERB partner and getting a free kit to promote physical activity. When Daylight Savings time ends and everyone sets their clocks back one hour, you can help to move tweens forward by taking part in the Extra Hour for Extra Action program. Your activity might win a $500 grant.

Health officials are trying to reach tweens, ages 9 to 13 years, to get them involved in extra physical activities. The four-week VERB campaign runs from Oct. 27 - Nov. 21 and is a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and locally of the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).

“We are looking for youth-serving organizations, schools and other groups who can offer fun opportunities for tweens to get active in their local communities using this program. A free promotional kit is available to offer special rewards and recognition for participants,” said OSDH Deputy Commissioner for Family Health Services Dr. Edd Rhoades.

The kit contains the ideas, suggestions and ready-to-use materials to implement the program and tailor it to the needs of your organization. The rewards include specially developed materials just for tweens, the opportunity to contribute to a national effort to improve the physical health of youths, and the opportunity to win a $500 grant to support your local physical activity program.

Examples of fun activity ideas you'll find in the kit include:

• Extra Net Soccer - Add an extra net to each sideline to increase your opportunities to Score a goal. Dribble the ball down the field
• Tag Team - A regular game of Tag, with one twist: this game of tag is a team sport. When the leader tags you, you must join hands and Chase the other players together.
• Extra Base Baseball - It's no longer a baseball diamond when there are five bases. Run around the pentagon to score, unless your Fly ball is caught. Step up to the plate and give baseball or softball a try.
• Step into some in-line skates for a game of roller hockey.
• Learn a new Dance - Take your pick: salsa, cha-cha, mambo, tango, ballet, jazz, or tap.

To order a promotional kit, visit the VERB Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/verb. Other materials are available at http://www.verbparents.com. For more information, contact the OSDH School Health Team in the Child and Adolescent Health Division, Maternal and Child Health Service at 405/271-4471.

###