Sport as a setting for promoting health

The settings approach to health promotion has received increasing support as socio-ecological perspectives on the complexity of systems and the societies in which people make health choices have become recognised as key influences of their health-related behaviours.1,–,3 Sport has been suggested as one such setting for promoting social good, particularly health,4 5 and for delivering health promotion messages.6 7 Like other social institutions, sports clubs are mediating institutions providing an interface between private and public life.8 Although the primary role of sports clubs is to organise and provide opportunities for competition and participation in sport, community sports clubs are also considered by those actively involved in them, to be social organisations for promoting social good, particularly health.5 9,–,11 Internationally, the concept of health promoting sports clubs has been interpreted broadly to include constructs such as ‘coaches/instructors interaction skills’; ‘collaboration with other clubs and/or …