FFIT Report 2019-2020

FFIT
FFIT
FOOTBALL FANS
IN TRAINING
PROJECT REPORT
2019-2020

WELCOME
Football Fans in Training (FFIT) season 2019-20
was like no other, in more ways than one.
The first six months of the programme went brilliantly,
delivering an impressive uptake in both men’s and women’s
courses across Scotland.
Participants learn how to change their lifestyle which in turn
will help them become healthier and fitter, as well as losing
weight in the process.
In terms of statistics, we were on course for a
hugely successful tenth year. Indeed we believed that
the programme’s overall performance was heading for
a record result.
We continued to evolve the FFIT brand and messaging, to
better reflect participants, and in particular promote real
equality between men’s and women’s programmes.
The launch of ‘Be Your Own Hero’ enabled us to deliver a
new promotional toolkit to all participating community
trusts or associated SPFL clubs (ATCs). It comprised film
and animation, static graphics and pre-prepared template
website stories and media releases.
Everything was complemented by profiling a series of
participants who told their own story, relatable to many
current and future FFIT heroes.
This all centred on the idea that being part of FFIT is
about facing your fears, embracing opportunity and
discovering that you can (and should) be a hero to
yourself before anyone else!
Of course, things changed drastically as Covid-19 struck
early in 2020. By the time the country went into lockdown,
many FFIT programmes moved online; others due to start
in spring did not.
Introducing the SPFL Trust
We work in partnership with community trusts and associated SPFL clubs
(ATCs) and external agencies to promote, support, fund and administer activities
which use the power of Scottish football to help meet identified social needs of
the people of Scotland.
Our purpose is to use football’s unique
presence to assist Scotland’s people to
achieve their goals and improve their
life chances.
Our vision is to work with SPFL clubs
to use the unique power of football to
engage with communities.
Our work focuses on five core areas:
HEALTH
ATTAINMENT
INCLUSION
CAPACITY BUILDING
PROMOTION
At this time, our leadership team and board of trustees have commenced
a review, in line with the end of the current strategic period in 2021.
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FFIT Project Report 2019-2020 SPFL Trust
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FFIT EXPLAINED
FFIT takes an innovative approach to achieving a
healthier lifestyle, by using the loyalty of men and
women to their favourite football team to encourage
them to attend twelve weekly sessions at their club’s
home stadium.
These sessions are delivered by the club’s community
coaching staff to people in same-sex groups, who are
between 35 and 65 years of age and are overweight or
obese - specifically, they must have a BMI of at least 28.
In addition to being held at the football club, FFIT is
designed to appeal to participants in terms of its content
and style of delivery, so that attendees enjoy the sessions
and want to keep coming back.
Many programmes had to adapt in 2020 due to the Covid-19
outbreak and moved sessions to a digital format.
These programmes supported participants by creating a
variety of communications channels for participants to
openly talk about their experience, encourage each other,
and engage fully with coaching staff.
THE ACADEMIC
CASE FOR FFIT
The FFIT programme has been fully evaluated in
a major research project, by the University of Glasgow.
The research project included the first ever
randomised controlled trial of a health intervention
delivered through professional sports clubs, funded
by the National Institute for Health Research Public
Health Research Programme.
Further long term research published in 2018 revealed
that (male) participants not only lose weight, but keep
a significant chunk of that weight off after five years.
OUR
PROGRAMME
AIMS
Improve lifestyle choices
Increase knowledge of
diet & nutrition
Increase physical activity
amongst participants
Reduce weight and waist
measurements
Increase engagement in
other physical activity
FFIT IS
OPEN
TO:
Men and women
who are aged
between 35 - 65
Waist size of
38 inches OR
belly size at
least 40 inches
SPFL Trust
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THE STATS
The data shows that all metrics were on track to exceed or
equal year-on-year figures if programmes had not been stopped
or cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020.
There were 904 people participating in FFIT
when Covid-19 took effect.
Take a look at some of the outcomes
participants achieved:
MEN
1204.25KG
5.30KG
1125.28CM 1903.61CM
1125.28CM 8.42CM
57.06%
47.20%
26.81%
149 UNITS
TOTAL WEIGHT
LOSS
AVERAGE WEIGHT
LOSS
TOTAL WAIST
LOSS
AVERAGE WAIST
LOSS
REDUCTION IN
FIZZY DRINKS
REDUCTION IN
SUGARY SNACKS
RAISED AWARENESS
OF ALCOHOL UNITS
TOTAL REDUCTION
IN ALCOHOL UNITS
PER WEEK
347
226
65.13%
1125.28CM 46.46
64.71%
40.89%
21.19%
65.07%
STARTERS
COMPLETERS
RETENTION
AVERAGE AGE
FRUIT PORTIONS
INCREASED
TAKEAWAY
REDUCED
SEDENTARY
MINUTES REDUCED
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
INCREASED
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SPFL Trust
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MENTAL HEALTH
& WELLBEING
FFIT Participants also completed the
Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing
scale for monitoring of mental wellbeing.
Both groups recorded a significant increase
in improved mental wellbeing according to
the scale results.
MEN
17.46% WOMEN
16.3%
KNOW YOUR RISK DIABETES QUESTIONNAIRE
608 participants
completed
the form
Over 70% of all
participants did not know
their risk before FFIT
WOMEN
622.40KG
3.82KG
1125.28CM
1125.28CM 6.90CM
48.18%
48.16%
26.42%
26 UNITS
TOTAL WEIGHT
LOSS
AVERAGE WEIGHT
LOSS
TOTAL WAIST
LOSS
AVERAGE WAIST
LOSS
REDUCTION IN
FIZZY DRINKS
REDUCTION IN
SUGARY SNACKS
RAISED AWARENESS
OF ALCOHOL UNITS
TOTAL REDUCTION
IN ALCOHOL UNITS
PER WEEK
263
163
61.87%
1125.28CM 46.53
52.96%
55.29%
21.17%
59.80%
STARTERS
COMPLETERS
RETENTION
AVERAGE AGE
FRUIT PORTIONS
INCREASED
TAKEAWAY
REDUCED
SEDENTARY
MINUTES REDUCED
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
INCREASED
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SPFL Trust
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THE PEOPLE BEHIND
THE NUMBERS
Apprehension overcome with Carey’s Buddies
Back with the Bairns!
Carey Bruce (45) first went along
to Football Fans in Training after
seeing posts on social media
through SPFL Trust and St Mirren
Charitable Foundation.
An NHS nurse in her day job Carey
knew that she needed to take care
of her health and wellbeing but was
apprehensive about attending the gym.
“The fact that it was free made me want to succeed and
not waste a place,” she said.
“I had a lot of knowledge through my work, but I wasn’t
applying any of it, I needed a kick up the bum to lose some
weight and be healthier.
“Going to a gym is a bit of a scary thought for me as I felt
people looking at me. Going along to St Mirren with a group
of women in the same situation to me made sense.”
Carey remembered her nerves when first going along
to St Mirren’s FFIT class for the first time.
She added: “I was unsure, I felt a little sick, but as soon as I
walked in the coaches were chatting away and introducing
me to the others.
“I wasn’t the only person by myself and felt part of the
group instantly.”
The impact of FFIT has been a lasting one for Carey.
“We still have our Whatsapp group,” she explained. “We had
such a laugh we stayed in touch. We were a real team by the
end of it, and we even go walking together today.
“The great experience I had encouraged my husband to
go along to the men’s group in September. FFIT has been
transformational for my whole family and our lifestyle.”
The Bruce family found that throughout lockdown the
habits picked up by Carey during FFIT came in handy.
Carey added: “I was walking a lot more, and it encouraged
my husband and the kids to get out too. “We all worked out
together as a family, it was quality time, and making the most
out of a bad situation during Covid-19.”
The FFIT journey had a bit
of a bumpy start for William
Anderson (51) as he started the
programme in 2018 but never
managed to complete it.
The timing wasn’t right for him,
but he was determined to return,
and he did in 2020. It was the right call and he was
welcomed back with open arms.
William had been reasonably active, but was frustrated
that he could not lose weight. The learning part of the
programme about healthy lifestyle really helped.
“The learnings around portion control, calorie intake,
and habit forming were so interesting,” he said.
“I always felt I was active, but couldn’t lose weight,
and the extra knowledge helped me level-up.
“I knew when I didn’t complete it the first time that I would
be back because I found it so interesting. The coaches at
Falkirk welcomed me back to the programme and made
sure I was comfortable.”
We often hear with FFIT just how close participants
become, a shared bond over a mission to get onto a
healthier path.
For William, that camaraderie was good for his mental
health, too.
He added: “The coaches encouraged us to chat and share
stories. We did the icebreakers and mixed in with everyone.
“I didn’t know the whole group when I arrived, but by the
end it was like sitting talking to my best mates. It helped us
open up because we felt we were in a safe environment.”
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FFIT Project Report 2019-2020 SPFL Trust 11

WHO DELIVERED
FFIT IN 2019-20?
Male and Female
MORE FFIT STORIES
In 2019-20 we launched our new-look campaign, Be Your Own
Hero. It featured the stories of three previous participants...
Graham Brown’s Story
Alison McKenzie’s Story
in the Community
GLOBALLY GOOD!
FFIT isn’t just a success in Scotland, it’s been hugely
effective in countries where it’s been licensed across
Europe such as Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary,
Belgium and England - where the EFL Trust has a three
year deal to roll out the programme as “FIT Fans” to
clubs across the EFL.
Male only
Susan Ramsay’s Story
FIT
FIT
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Scottish Professional
Football League Trust
Hampden Park, Glasgow, G42 9DE
0141 620 4162 | enquiries@spfltrust.org.uk
spfltrust.org.uk
Registered Charity No. SC041121