Action Ball: An Analysis of Energy Expenditure and Subjective Experiences of Participants

Abstract

Energy expenditure and subjective experiences of college students participating in action ball were examined through two studies. In Study 1, six students participated in action ball while using a portable metabolic analyzer. Energy expenditure data from these students were compared to American College of Sports Medicine (ASCM) daily activity recommendations. Participating in forty minutes of action ball exceeded the ACSM recommendation of 3.0-5.9 metabolic equivalent of tasks (METs). Participation in action ball did not, however, exceed the ACSM kilocalories (kcal) standard. In Study 2, hypotheses about differences between action ball and the other two sports were tested. Data from 109 students in five physical education classes were analyzed. Three of the classes (n=72 students) participated in action ball, one class participated in basketball (n=14), and one class participated in ultimate Frisbee (n=23 students). Heart rate (HR), kcal, and four indicators of subjective experience quality were measured during and immediately after participation. Action ball produced greater kcal expenditure than basketball. Action ball yielded significantly greater deep structured experience prevalence than basketball (Week 12). Action ball also yielded significantly less deep structured experience frequency than ultimate Frisbee (Week 12) and basketball (Week 12). Collectively, results suggest that action ball provides similar energy expenditure and experience quality to other similar sports.