Effectiveness of physical education to promote motor competence in primary school children |
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| Authors: | Vítor P Lopes David F Stodden Luis P Rodrigues |
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| Institution: | 1. Sport Science Department of School of Education of Polytechnic Institute of Bragan?a, Bragan?a, Portugal;2. Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD)vplopes@ipb.pt;4. Department of Physical Education and Athletic Training, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA;5. Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD);6. Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Escola Superior Desporto e Lazer, Melga?o, Portugal |
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| Abstract: | Background: Motor skill (MS) competence is an important contributing factor for healthy development.Purpose: The goal was to test the effectiveness of primary school physical education (PE) on MS and physical fitness (PF) development.Methods: Three classes (n?=?60, aged 9.0?±?0.9) were randomly assigned to three diverse conditions during a school year: two PE lessons/week (PE-2), three PE lessons/week (PE-3), and no PE lessons control group (CG). BMI, skinfolds, PF (9-min run/walk, sit-up, modified pull-ups), gymnastics, soccer, handball, basketball and track-and-field skills were evaluated. Effect sizes (d) were reported as magnitude of change.Results: Skinfolds significantly increased only in CG (d?=?1.21). PF composite z-scores improved in PE-3 (d?=?0.61), but decreased in PE-2 (d?=?0.57), and had no changes in CG. Statistically significant improvement was verified in gymnastics and handball skills in both experimental groups (gymnastic: d?=?2.95 and d?=?2.61 for PE-3 and PE-2, respectively; handball: d?=?1.87 and d?=?0.57 for PE-3 and PE-2, respectively), and no changes were seen in CG. In soccer, there were improvements only in the PE-3 (d?=?0.55), and in basketball only in PE-2 (d?=?0.46). There were no changes in any group for track-and-field skills.Conclusions: PE programs can effectively promote PF and MS development. |
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| Keywords: | Motor skills motor coordination physical fitness intervention program sports |
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