Quiet Minds for Cardio Kids - Exploring the Effect of Physical Activity on Brain and Psychological Development in Children with and without ADHD

The intervention for this study is a tennis-based physical activity program that mixes aerobic workouts, music, and socially inclusive physical activities. The intervention has been developed specifically for this trial. The intervention will be delivered face-to-face in small groups (up to six participants) and will take place at local sporting clubs and/or schools in the Melbourne (Australia) metropolitan area. Materials for the intervention include sporting equipment (cones, line markers, agility ladder), tennis balls, tennis racquets, and a speaker to play music. Participants will take part in the intervention through a one-week intensive block (4 x 45min sessions) and then twice per week (2 x 45min sessions) for eight weeks during the school term. The intervention will be delivered by sports coaches who have experience conducting physical activity sessions with children and have a current First Aid qualification. Each session consists of a dynamic warm-up (approximately 5 minutes), tennis-based activities (skill-based exercises, approximately 30 minutes including rest time), and non-tennis activities (cardio-based exercises, approximately 10 minutes including rest time). The sessions will be accompanied by music from a standardised music track-list. The one-week intensive block at the beginning of the program (Week 1) will include activities related to ground strokes (forehands, backhands), net game (volleys), transition game (approaching the net) and all court activities (activities that combine ground strokes, transition to the net, and volleys). Tennis-based activities will then be themed across the school term (Weeks 2-9). Weeks 2-3 will focus on ground strokes (4x45 min sessions), Weeks 4-5 will focus on net game (4x45 min sessions in total), Weeks 6-7 will focus on transitioning to the net (4x45min sessions) and Weeks 8-9 will focus on all court activities (4x45min sessions). The tennis-based and non-tennis-based activities will be of moderate to vigorous intensity. The intensity of the activities will be assessed using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE). Members of the research team will regularly contact participating families via phone and email to schedule the intervention sessions, promote adherence to the intervention and answer questions that may arise. To monitor adherence to the intervention, attendance will be recorded by a member of the research team.