[Drawing up indicators regarding success in public health programmes having a social-sports approach].

OBJECTIVE The present study was aimed at analysing how social sports projects are evaluated so as to draw up and develop indicators of success regarding social programmes' efficacy and effectiveness. METHOD This was a descriptive survey. The sample consisted of 51 participants, male (n=29) and female (n=22), from the Nova Descoberta project whose ages ranged from 8 to 17. Data was obtained from a semi-directed survey having open items covering 10 topics; it was carried out with children and adolescents over a 2-year period (2007-2008). Documental data was also obtained from schools which had agreed to cooperate with the project. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between the performance of survey group participants and those who had not joined the project in terms of scholastic performance during 2007. A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed regarding studying Portuguese when comparing the groups having the highest averages being obtained by students who joined in 2008. DISCUSSION A series of indicators contributing towards reliable evaluation emerged within the social context regarding sports projects. The manifestation of other characteristics in the environment could have interfered with participation and involvement in physical activity and, consequently, with the children and adolescents' health and quality of life. CONCLUSION It was found that school work performance indicators could be taken together with other indicators, such as development of various abilities, participation in other activities, activity motivation, behaviour and attitudes at home and at school, for evaluating social projects.