Active For Life 101

What is Active For Life?

• Flexible, 10-week team-based worksite physical activity program

• Team-based approach, with ability to set individual goals

• Receive a point for each minute of physical activity – counts toward individual and team goals

• Participants, Team Captains, and Directors provide encouragement to succeed

• Based on the Stages of Change Theory and the American Cancer Society (ACS) Guidelines for Physical Activity

Evidence Base• Five stages of change:

1. Precontemplation - No physical activity2. Contemplation - Not active, but intends to start in a few months3. Preparation - Participate in some physical activity, but not regularly4. Action - Have been active regularly for less than six months5. Maintenance - Regularly active for more than six months

• Individual Goal Setting, Social Support, Tracking/Journaling

• ACS Recommendations for Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention• Adults: Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical

activity, above usual activities, on 5 or more days of the week; 45 to 60 minutes of intentional physical activity are preferable.

• Children and adolescents: Engage in at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity at least 5 days per week.

• Moderate activity is anything that makes you breathe as hard as you do during a brisk walk. During moderate activity, you will notice a slight increase in your heart rate and breathing, but you probably won’t break a sweat.

• Vigorous activity is performed at a higher intensity. These activities produce an increased heart rate, sweating, and breathing rate.

AFL Structure with Exec DirectorExecutive Director

Program Director Program Director

Team Captain

Team Captain

Team Captain

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Participant

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Executive Director Role• Highest role in the Active for Life (AFL)

program• Suggested for companies running

multiple AFL campaigns with multiple Program Directors (PD) (i.e., an organization composed of a corporate office and two satellite offices, the organization will need an ED to oversee the AFL campaign and PDs to implement the campaign at each satellite office)

Executive Director Responsibilities

• Invite Program Directors • Work with Program Directors to

coordinate your company’s overall AFL program

• Determine incentives and activities• Access reports for all campaigns• Provide program analysis• Wellness Planning Committee

AFL Structure with a Program Director

Program Director

Team Captain

Team Captain

Team Captain

Team Captain

Participant

Participant

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Program Director Role

• Manages a single AFL campaign• May be the highest role in the AFL

campaign if Executive Director level is not needed

• Works closely with Executive Director if applicable

• If no ED, PD determines campaign dates, bonus points, incentives and activities

Program Director Responsibilities

• Determine logistics of campaign• Communicates with management • Selects and invites Team Captains• Creates program news• Monitors team reports• Distributes incentives and plans activities• Chair the campaign’s Wellness Planning

Committee

Team Captain Role & Responsibilities

• Provides program information and support directly to the program participants

• Essential part of keeping the Participants motivated

• Selects the team name and team logo (logo is optional)

• Invites the employees to participate on their team

• Monitors team and Participant reports

Participant Role & Responsibilities

• Participates in the activities• Encourages other participants• Enjoys the benefits of using the AFL

program• Commits to being physically active• Logs their points and keeps their activity

log up-to-date

Role RecapExecutive Director:• Highest role in AFL program• Suggested for companies with multiple worksites

• Invite Program Directors• Develop Reports• Provide Program Analysis

Program Director:• Manage AFL Campaign within worksites

• Selects campaign logistics• Selects/Invites Team Captains• Creates program news• Monitors team reports

Team Captain:• Provide program information and support to participants

• Selects team name and logo (optional)•Invites employees to participate on their team•Monitors team and participant reports

Participant:• Participates in the activities

Active For Life Support Tools• AFL Best Practices

• A document that shares ideas and suggestions from other companies or organizations who have implemented Active For Life in their environment

• Training presentations available for each role within Active For Life

• Campaign Tips within the AFL site• Section of the site that houses role specific tips and

resources

• Active For Life Help section• Details step by step directions by role to assist in navigating

the AFL site

• ACS Relationship Manager Support

Home Pagewww.activeforlife.org

Participant Dashboard

Optional Nutrition and Weight Tools

For more information about Active For Life,

contact your ACS Relationship Manager Or

activeforlife@cancer.org

©2010 American Cancer Society, Inc. No.0052.21