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Lobs & Lessons
Lobs & Lessons is an after-school intervention program that was developed to facilitate positive social development, healthy lifestyles and future orientation in low-income urban children in grades one through five. 
The School of Social Work, VCU SportsCenter and Division of Community Engagement participate in and contribute to the success of the program.
The intervention has two components: pro-social skills groups and tennis coaching and instruction. Facilitators utilize role-modeling, coaching and experiential exercises to foster the development of important life skills in children related to verbal fluency, emotional regulation, self-esteem, future orientation and healthy lifestyles.
Melissa Abell, assistant professor of Social Work, Kathleen Bowles, director of Lobs & Lessons, and Robert Broce, a doctoral student, worked to develop a theoretically sound curriculum to guide the instruction of the pro-social skills groups and evaluate the program’s outcomes on children’s behaviors. Since the program is in its pilot stages, based upon the feedback received last year, the curriculum will be revised to place a greater emphasis on self-esteem and future orientation and the program will continue to be evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively.
By promoting supportive relationships, healthy lifestyles and future orientation, this after-school program has the potential to have an enriching impact on children and their families.
Get involved
To support this program or get involved as a volunteer, contact Kathleen Bowles at bowleskm@vcu.edu.