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The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential long-term association of motor skill proficiency at 6 years of age and self-reported physical activity (PA) at age 26. Direct motor performance data were collected in 1991 with a follow-up study occurring in 1996, and then indirect questionnaires (self-report) administered in 2001 and 2011. In 2011, 17 participants who were identified as either having high motor proficiency (HMP) or low motor proficiency (LMP) in 1991 completed a series of 4 questionnaires. Analyses were conducted to determine whether there were differences between groups for motor skill proficiency, PA, or sedentary behavior, and whether these outcomes were related across ages. Motor skill proficiency at age 6 was related to self-reported proficiency at age 16 (r = .77, p = .006), and self-reported proficiency between 16 and 26 years (r = .85, p = .001). Motor skill proficiency at age 6 was positively associated with leisure time PA at age 26 in females and participants in the HMP group. The results may provide preliminary evidence about the importance of how early motor skill proficiency relates to long-term PA. More research with larger sample sizes is needed to investigate the importance of motor skills over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health organisations such as the United Nations continue to place an expectation on school physical education (PE) programmes and wider school strategies to ensure students develop physical literacy and receive the well-established benefits of meeting physical activity guidelines. Barriers to meet this expectation such as lack of trained PE teachers, lack of time and greater emphasis on academic achievement are ongoing challenges to schools. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the multi-component Physical Education Physical Literacy (PEPL) intervention, designed to improve students' fundamental movement skill, perceived physical abilities and level of physical activity. Method: A qualified PE teacher implemented the PEPL intervention across seven schools, and another seven schools formed a control group as part of a randomised cluster-based trial. Grade 5 students (N = 318, age 10.4 years ± SD 0.4) completed assessments of physical activity, fundamental movement skill, attitudes towards PE, and self-perceptions of physical abilities before and after a 33-week intervention. Intervention effects were examined using general linear mixed models. Post-intervention focus groups with students were used to develop insights into experiences and outcomes. Results: With no significant gender interactions, the PEPL approach led to enhanced object control skills (β = 1.62; SE = 0.61; p = 0.008), with little evidence of any other fundamental movement skill improvements in excess of those in the control group. There was also modest evidence for an effect on accelerometer measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during school time (β = 4.50; SE = 2.39; p = 0.058), but this was not accompanied by any significant intervention effect over the entire week. Questionnaires indicated students in the PEPL programme became less satisfied with their own sporting ability (β = −0.20; SE = 0.08; p = 0.013) but qualitative data analyses suggested that they enjoyed the PEPL approach experience, becoming more motivated and confident in their physical abilities. Conclusions: Evidence of enhanced object control skill, increased confidence and motivation to be physically active, and moderate evidence of more MVPA during school time, indicate that the introduction of the PEPL approach contributed to the development of student physical literacy. A decrease in perceived sporting competence warrants greater attention on student's self-perceptions in future iterations of the intervention. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry identifier: ACTRN12615000066583. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the structure of the Test of Gross Motor Development - 3rd edition (TGMD-3). Specifically, we examine bifactor structure, which simultaneously models a fundamental motor skills (FMS) general factor and specific factors for locomotor skills and ball skills, compared to other models.Design: Cross-sectional design using the TGMD-3 normative sample.Methods: The sample (N = 862) of children (Mage = 6.51, SD = 2.23) was matched based on United States census data, ensuring appropriate percentages of demographic representation and disability status. Confirmatory factor analyses, exploratory structural equation modeling, model-based reliability estimates including coefficient omega hierarchical, and coefficient omega hierarchical subscale, explained common variance estimates, and relative parameter bias were examined.Results: Findings revealed bifactor structure produced a better model fit compared to both one-factor and two-factor models. Furthermore, model reliability estimates that parceled true score variance for the general FMS factor, locomotor skills factor, and ball skills factor yielded high internal consistency for FMS (.797) but not locomotor skills (.168) and ball skills (.216). Finally, explained common variance (.852-.879) and relative parameter bias (.018-.072) estimates identified the strength of the run, skip, slide, and dribble skills tests to represent the FMS general factor.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the advantages of using bifactor structure to examine the TGMD-3 compared to one-factor and two-factor models. Additionally, these results provide further evidence that using the TGMD-3 to examine an overall FMS general factor may explain more variance in performance and provide a better picture for evaluating children's current FMS levels compared to subscales independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the learning outcomes of elementary school children who had low skills in horizontal bar exercises over a period of 3 years. We conducted a program of horizontal bar exercises every year from the first grade to the third grade, and examined the children’s learning behaviors and outcomes. Learning outcomes were evaluated against criteria for observational evaluation. It was found that when children first learned horizontal bar movement, they possessed only minimal skills. However, with repeated practice, their skills improved. It was also revealed that they were unable to use certain techniques without practicing for some time, even if they had accomplished the technique once. This suggested that horizontal bar exercise skills need to be learned repeatedly every year. In particular, in order to improve the learning outcomes of low-skilled children, it is necessary to practice in both the first and second grades. For learning horizontal bar movements, teaching each skill separately is not desirable, since the movements learned first may form the basis for those learned next. Teachers are encouraged to plan their teaching considering these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In preschool, children build new contacts and social relationships with other people. They learn to cooperate with their peers and communicate in groups. In addition to social relationships, basic motor competencies (in German: Motorische Basiskompetenzen (MOBAK)) are also seen as a central developmental goal in early childhood and are necessary for participation in the culture of sports and movement. The aim of this paper is to describe the connection between social relationships and basic motor competencies in early childhood. In this present study, the motor competencies of N = 548 preschool children (51% girls, M = 68.0 months, SD = 6.8) were tested in the competence areas of self-movement and object movement. The children's perceived social relationships were recorded from teacher and parent perspectives. The results clearly show a connection between social relationships and motor competencies in early childhood, with a stronger connection observed in boys. This finding is relevant both from a developmental and a health-oriented perspective, as it points to a link between physical and mental health, as well as technical and interdisciplinary competencies, in early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the reliability of fundamental movements in thirteen youth football players (mean age = 16.8 ± 0.6 y). Following a habituation warm-up, players performed three trials of stride-for-distance and bodyweight squats between two weeks. A motion tracking device was used to measure stride distance and squat depth. The weekly mean changes in mean and maximum performance were moderate for the stride (2.8%; 90% confidence interval: 1.1 to 4.5 and 3.6%; 2.1 to 5.2, respectively) and small for the squat (-2.7%; -12.3 to 7.9 and 3.3%; -5.2 to 12.6). ICCs for stride mean and maximum performance were moderate (0.74; 0.43 to 0.90) and high (0.76; 0.46 to 0.90), respectively, and low for the squat (0.22; -0.27 to 0.61 and 0.42; -0.04 to 0.74, respectively). Typical errors for mean and maximum performance were moderate for the stride (2.4%; 1.8 to 3.6 and 2.1%; 1.6 to 3.3, respectively) and large for the squat (15.9%; 11.8 to 25.1 and 13.1%; 9.7 to 20.5, respectively). The motion tracking reliability was encouraging in the stride. This finding warrants further investigation and consideration of the stride test for use in applied practice with a group of youth footballers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the gross motor skills of children with a chronic physical illness with those of their healthy peers., Methods: Data for children with a chronic physical illness come from the Multimorbidity in Children and Youth Across the Life Course study, and data from children without a physical illness come from the Health Outcomes and Physical Activity in Preschoolers study. Multimorbidity in Children and Youth Across the Life Course and Health Outcomes and Physical Activity in Preschoolers included children ages 3-5 years and administered the Peabody Development Motor Scales-second edition. Participants were sex and age matched (20 male and 15 female pairs; Mage = 54.03 [9.5] mo)., Results: Gross motor skills scores were "below average" for 47% of children with a physical illness compared with 9% of children without a physical illness (P = .003). Matched-paired t tests detected significant differences in total gross motor scores (dz = -0.35), locomotor (dz = -0.31), and object control (dz = -0.39) scores, with healthy children exhibiting better motor skills, and no significant difference in stationary scores (dz = -0.19)., Conclusions: This skill gap may increase burden on children with physical illness and future research should assess gross motor skills longitudinally to establish whether the gap widens with age.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the fundamental movement skills (FMS) of primary school children and aspects of their home environment. Four-hundred-and-eighty-four primary school children were recruited to the study, consisting of 255 boys and 229 girls, aged between 9 and 11 years. Participants were assessed on eight different FMS and placed into different ability profiles according to the similarity of their FMS proficiencies. Four-hundred-and-eighty-four parent questionnaires were completed and matched to the profile membership of the participants. For boys, positive relationships were found between their FMS ability and the variables of parent–child interaction in video gaming, parental beliefs concerning the importance of social development, motor development and children's participation in physical activity, parental awareness of their own child's extracurricular participation in community sports clubs and physical activity preferences. For girls, positive relationships with FMS proficiency were found for parental beliefs concerning the importance of participation in physical activity for social function and the importance of participation in physical activity for learning rules. In the case of girls only, several family characteristics were also significantly related to FMS proficiency. These were the following: the involvement of members of the extended family in their before and after-school care provision; their parents' employment status; and their mother's physical activity participation. In conclusion, parental beliefs and behaviours have the potential to influence children's FMS performance and their impact needs to be considered in any interventions to improve the FMS of children of primary school age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early childhood is a key period for children to begin developing and practicing fundamental movement skills (FMS), while aiming to perform sufficient physical activity (PA). This study reviews the current evidence for the levels of achievement in FMS and PA measured using accelerometers among 4-5-year-old children and examines differences by gender. This review was conducted using the PRISMA framework. Keyword searches were conducted in Pubmed, Medline, Google Scholar and SPORTDiscus. Inclusion criteria included age: 4-5 years old; FMS measurement: Test of Gross Motor Development 2 and 3; PA measurement: objective methods; balance measurement: static single limb; study design: cross-sectional observational/descriptive, randomised control trials, intervention studies; language: English. Twenty-eight articles from twenty-one countries met the inclusion criteria and were split into either FMS and PA articles (n = 10) or balance articles (n = 18). Three articles showed children achieving 60 min of moderate to vigorous PA per day, two articles demonstrated significant differences between girls' and boys' performance of locomotor skills and five reported locomotor skills to be more proficient than object control skills at this age for both genders. Balance was measured in time (n = 12), points score (n = 3) or biomechanical variables (n = 3), displaying heterogeneity of not only measurement but also outcomes within these data, with static single limb balance held between 6.67 to 87.6 s within the articles. Four articles reported girls to have better balance than boys. There is little conclusive evidence of the current levels for FMS, PA and balance achievement in young children 4-5 years of age. The academic literature consistently reports low levels of FMS competence andmixed evidence for PA levels. Inconsistencies lie in balance measurement methodology, with broad-ranging outcomes of both low and high achievement at 4-5 years old. Further research is required to focus on increasing practice opportunities for children to improve their FMS, increase PA levels and establish sufficient balance ability. Consistent and comparable outcomes during early childhood through more homogenous methodologies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children and youth are facing three major challenges: (1) poor mental health, (2) physical inactivity, and (3) lack of school readiness. Fundamental movement skills (FMS) and social–emotional learning (SEL) are two developmental domains that are associated with each of these challenges. Currently, there is little focus on interventions that target both FMS and SEL. Thus, the purposes of this study were to: (1) examine the acceptability and feasibility of an FMS and SEL program (Move 2 Smile) and (2) assess the impact of Move 2 Smile on FMS and SEL in children.Methods: An exploratory, pilot study using a within-subjects design was conducted. Descriptive statistics were computed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the Move 2 Smile program. Changes in FMS and SEL were analyzed using a paired sample t-test. A focus group was conducted with parents to gain feedback after the program ended.Results: Eleven children (four girls; Mage = 50.56 months, SD = 8.63) participated, with families attending 80% of the sessions. The children and parents rated the enjoyment of the program 4.1/5 and 4.7/5, respectively. The instructor rated the children's perceived enjoyment 4.6/5 and feasibility of the sessions 4.7/5. Parents engaged in the FMS take-home activities once per week and the SEL activities three times per week. The intervention had a non-significant small to medium effect on FMS (dz = 0.42, p = 0.19), a significant large effect on social skills (dz = 1.38, p = 0.001) and emotion expressiveness (dz = 0.79, p = 0.03), and a non-significant small to medium effect on emotion knowledge (dz = 0.58, p = 0.10) and emotion regulation (dz = 0.44, p = 0.17). The results from the focus group suggest that parents and children enjoyed the program and that the program was useful and effective at impacting FMS and SEL.Conclusions: This intervention is one of the first to intentionally target both FMS and SEL. Children, parents, and instructors deemed this program as acceptable and feasible. These preliminary findings warrant future evaluations of Move 2 Smile, including a randomized controlled trial.

Background The practical application of the Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA) has been reported in some Western countries. However, a few studies reported the application of the CAMSA in Chinese children. In addition, given that the CAMSA was designing to incorporate both movement skills and agility assessment, the value and validity of the timing component of the CAMSA are worth discussing. Methods By choosing the Illinois Agility Test, Repeated Side Step-1 m distance, and the newly designed Repeated Side Step-half of height as the benchmark, we evaluate the performance of the CAMSA, further establish the concurrent validity of the CAMSA timing components (completion time and time score). In total, 149 male children (mean age 9.0 ± 0.8 years) from public schools in Shanghai, China, participated in the study. Results The mean CAMSA completion time was 19.3 ± 5.3 (s), and mean time score was 8.7 ± 3.9 (range of 1–14) for all participants (n = 149). After adjusted the sprint speed, older age was positively associated with the performance of the CAMSA. Being overweight was not associated with the performance of the CAMSA comparing with healthy body mass children, however, being obese was negatively associated with the CAMSA timing components and total score. Children having extracurricular sports activities (e.g., athletic experiences), mostly soccer, were more likely to demonstrated better performances of the CAMSA completion time, time score and total score. However, overweight and obese, also athletic experiences were not significantly contributed to the CAMSA skill score, although the association was slight (Adj R2 = 0.13). Besides, the CAMSA completion time has a strong correlation with the IAT, r = 0.77; RSS-1MD, r = − 0.76; and RSS-HHD, r = − 0.77, p

Background: Normal motor development and adequate levels of physical activity engagement during the early years of life form the foundation of long-term psychological and physiological health. This is one of the very few studies that investigate the stability and relationships of motor competence and physical activity in preschool children.Methods: Baseline and 12 month follow-up data of physical activity and motor competence of 550 preschool children aged 2–6 years from the Swiss Preschoolers' Health Study were used for this work. Physical activity data, expressed in counts per minute for total physical activity and minutes per day for time spent moderately-to-vigorously physically active, were collected over 1 week using accelerometers. Motor competence was assessed with the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment. Both motor competence and physical activity were age- and sex-adjusted. To examine the individual stability of physical activity and motor competence and reciprocal cross-sectional and longitudinal effects between these two domains, a latent variable cross-lagged panel model where motor competence was represented through a latent construct was examined using structural equation modeling.Results: A weak cross-sectional correlation of motor competence with total physical activity (r = 0.24) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (r = 0.23) was found. Motor competence exhibited high stability (β = 0.82) in the preschool years and physical activity was moderately stable with estimates ranging from β = 0.37 for total physical activity to β = 0.48 for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. In contrast to the autoregressive coefficients denoting individual stability, both cross-lagged effects were negligible indicating that physical activity was not a determinant of motor competence or vice versa.Conclusions: Motor competence and physical activity developed independently of each other in early childhood. Although measures of quantity and intensity of physical activity were not related to motor development, specific movement experiences and practice—which are not reflected by accelerometry—may be needed for skill development. Future research should focus on examining what type of physical activity is important for motor development and how to assess it, and also whether the relationship between physical activity and motor competence evolves over time.Clinical Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN41045021 (date of registration: 21.03.14)

The purpose of this study is to develop a comprehensive and systematic method and standard for evaluating children’s physical activity competency as a solution to the problem of increasing child obesity rates due to a decrease in physical activity among children. This study was used a cross-sectional study design. A literature review and Delphi survey were conducted to develop children’s physical activity competency evaluation. The evaluation criteria were presented based on the measurement data of metropolitan area kindergarten students (228 subjects) on the 2016 winter vacation. Items in the evaluation of children’s physical activity competency test battery include health physical strength, basic movement skills, physical activity habits, and physical activity attitudes. Physical fitness for health consisted of muscle strength and endurance (sit-up), flexibility (sit and reach, trunk lift) and body composition (BMI). Fundamental movement skills consisted of mobility (run, hop, jump), stability (static balance, dynamic balance), and control (throw kick). Physical activity habits consisted of the amount of daily steps (steps), exercise time, screen time, and sleep time. Physical activity attitudes consisted of preference, enjoyment, and confidence. The evaluation criteria for child physical activity competency test battery were presented in five stages, divided by age and gender. With the developed evaluation of children’s physical activity competency, the overall level of physical fitness for health, fundamental movement skills, physical activity habits, and physical activity attitudes of kindergarteners in the metropolitan area could be confirmed, and standards were presented.

Abstract Background Children’s physical activity levels are low and efforts to improve their physical activity levels have proven difficult. Freely chosen and unstructured physical activity (active play) has the potential to be promoted in a variety of settings and potentially every day of the year in contrast to other physical activity domains, but active play interventions are an under-researched area. Therefore, the primary aim of this systematic review was to determine the effect of active play interventions on children’s physical activity levels, particularly moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), and fundamental movement skills (FMS). Methods Studies were included if they were solely or predominantly active play randomised, or cluster randomised controlled trials that targeted children aged 3–12 years. They had to report on at least one of the following outcomes: objectively measured physical activity, FMS, cognition and weight status. During December 2016, four databases (PE Index, SPORTDiscus, Medline and ERIC) were searched for relevant titles. Duplicates and irrelevant titles and abstracts were removed. The included studies had their quality assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool. Suitable studies were combined in a meta-analysis using a random-effect model. A narrative synthesis was conducted for all outcomes. Results Of the 4033 records, 91 studies were eligible for full text screening, of which 87 were removed, leaving four studies (representing five papers). The meta-analysis of two studies highlighted there was no significant effect of active play interventions on MVPA. However, the narrative synthesis suggested that active play interventions may increase total volume of physical activity. Only two studies examined the effect of active play interventions on children’s FMS, one study examined effects on weight status and none examined effects on cognition. Conclusions Due to the small number of eligible studies and their heterogeneity, the review could not draw firm conclusions on the effect of active play interventions on children’s physical activity levels. High-quality active play interventions, targeting different times of the day (school and after school) in different populations and settings, and with a wider range of outcomes, are required to determine the potential of active play.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity and anthropological status in six-year-old children. The study was conducted on 30 boys (years 6.34 ± 0.51) and 30 girls (years 6.21 ± 0.59). Six tests for motor ability evaluation, two measures for assessing morphological characteristics, and a questionnaire for assessing physical activity and sedentary activities, the Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire (NPAQ), were applied to the participants. The correlation analysis results clearly show that sedentary activity cannot be regarded as a predictor of anthropological status in six-year-old children (p>0.05). This research provides an insight into the complex issue of the precise identification of the effects of physical activity, and changes in anthropological status that are influenced by natural growth and development.

Background: Physical literacy is a multidimensional concept that describes a holistic foundation for physical activity engagement. Understanding the utilization and effectiveness of physical literacy in the context of health and the health care setting will support clinical and population health programming. The purpose of this rapid scoping review was to: 1) map the conceptualization of physical literacy as it relates to health; 2) identify and describe the utilization of physical literacy in the context of health and engagement of health care providers; and 3) better understand the relationship between physical literacy, physical activity, and health.Methods: Following established scoping review methods adapted for a rapid review approach, we searched electronic databases Medline OVID, CINAHL Ebsco, PsycInfo Ebsco, Web of Science ISI, and ERIC Ebsco from conception until September 2019. Tabulation coding was used to identify the key themes across included articles and synthesize findings. The review follows an integrated knowledge translation approach based on a partnership between the health system, community organizations, and researchers.Results: Following removal of duplicates, our search identified 475 articles for title and abstract screening. After full text review, 17 articles were included (12 original research papers and five conceptual or review papers). There was near consensus among included papers with 16 of 17 using the Whiteheadian definition of physical literacy. There was limited involvement of health care providers in the concept of physical literacy. Physical literacy was connected to the following health indicators: BMI and body weight, waist circumference, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour. The primary demographic focus of included studies was children and there was a conceptual focus on the physical domain of physical literacy.Conclusions: Despite growing popularity, the empirical evidence base linking physical literacy and health outcomes is limited and the relationship remains theoretical. Physical literacy may present a novel and holistic framework for health-enhancing physical activity interventions that consider factors vital to sustained participation in physical activity across the life course. Future work should continue to explore the nature and direction of the relationship between physical activity and physical literacy to identify appropriate focused approaches for health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies that have analysed the association between the different movement behaviours and fundamental movement skills (FMS) have considered it in an independent manner, disregarding the compositional nature of 24-h movement behaviours (24-h MB). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the 24-h MB and FMS in preschoolers using a compositional data analysis. Two hundred and four preschoolers (4.5 ± 0.8 years old; 101 boys) provided objectively assessed physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) data (Actigraph wGT3X), and FMS (TGMD-2). Sleep duration (SD) was reported by parents. Association of daily composition of movement behaviours with FMS was explored using compositional analysis and isotemporal substitution (R Core Team, 3.6.1). When considered as a 24-h MB composition (PA, SB and SD), adjusted for age, BMI and sex, the composition predicted locomotor (r2 = 0.31), object control (r2 = 0.19), and total motor score (r2 = 0.35), respectively (all P < 0.001). Reallocation of time from light to moderate-to-vigorous PA was associated with greatest positive changes in total motor score. Achieving adequate balance between movement behaviours over the 24-h period, and its relationship with locomotor and object control skills should be considered and further investigated in early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Test of Gross Motor Development 2 (TGMD-2) is currently the standard approach for assessing fundamental movement skills (FMS), including locomotor and object control skills. However, its extensive application is restricted by its low efficiency and requirement of expert training for large-scale evaluations. This study evaluated the accuracy of a newly-developed video-based classification system (VCS) with a marker-less sensor to assess children's locomotor skills. A total of 203 typically-developing children aged three to eight years executed six locomotor skills, following the TGMD-2 guidelines. A Kinect v2 sensor was used to capture their activities, and videos were recorded for further evaluation by a trained rater. A series of computational-kinematic-based algorithms was developed for instant performance rating. The VCS exhibited moderate-to-very good levels of agreement with the rater, ranging from 66.1% to 87.5%, for each skill, and 72.4% for descriptive ratings. Paired t-test revealed that there were no significant differences, but significant positive correlation, between the standard scores determined by the two approaches. Tukey mean difference plot suggested there was no bias, with a mean difference (SD) of -0.16 (1.8) and respective 95% confidence interval of 3.5. The kappa agreement for the descriptive ratings between the two approaches was found to be moderate (k = 0.54, p < 0.01). Overall, the results suggest the VCS could potentially be an alternative to the conventional TGMD-2 assessment approach for assessing children's locomotor skills without the necessity of the presence of an experienced rater for the administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine effects of a task intervention on kinematic synergies in catching. Participants were young children (5.58 ± 0.52 years) with the lowest scores on two-hand catching, according to assessments with the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) and were allocated into two groups. The constraints group took part in an 8-week intervention, whereas the control group experienced a typical physical education. Both groups were assessed with motor development and kinematic coordination measures with a catching task with a ball thrown from 2 m distance. Kinematic variables were recorded using a wireless motion capture system. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to measure the kinematic synergies formed among active body parts. Two synergies that emerged in catching were mainly utilised for "reaching" and "catching" the ball. The control group tended to re-organise the majority of active body parts into two functional units in all phases, whereas the constraints group adapted their active parts into functional units according to the requirement of the novel movement in the transfer task. The findings of this study suggested that task constraints could facilitate object control by re-organisation of active body parts into functional synergies to achieve successful performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Canadian Journal of Environmental Education is the property of Canadian Journal of Environmental Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Since young children spend approximately 30 h per week in early childcare centres (ECC), this setting is ideal to foster healthy behaviours. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé (HSDS) randomized controlled trial in increasing physical activity (PA) levels and improving healthy eating and fundamental movement skills in preschoolers attending ECC.Methods: Sixty-one ECC were randomly selected and allocated to either the usual practice (n = 30; n = 433 children) or intervention group (n = 31; n = 464 children). The HSDS intervention group was provided a 3-h on-site training for childcare educators which aimed to increase their knowledge and self-efficacy in promoting healthy eating, PA and development of fundamental movement skills in preschoolers. PA was measured during childcare hours for five consecutive days using the Actical accelerometer. Preschoolers' fundamental movement skills were assessed using the standard TGMD-II protocol and POMP scores. Food intake was evaluated using digital photography-assisted weighted plate waste at lunch, over two consecutive days. All data were collected prior to the HSDS intervention and again 9 months later. Mixed-effect models were used to analyse the effectiveness of the HSDS intervention on all outcome measures.Results: Total number of children who provided valid data at baseline and endpoint for PA, food intake and fundamental movement skills were 259, 670 and 492, respectively. Children in the HSDS intervention group had, on average, a 3.33 greater point increase in their locomotor motor skills scores than children in the control group (β = 3.33, p = 0.009). No significant differences in effects were observed for object control, PA and food intake. However, results demonstrated a marginal increase in portions of fruits and vegetables served in the intervention group compared to control group (β = 0.06, p = 0.05).Conclusion: Of the 12 outcome variables investigated in this study, 10 were not different between the study groups and two of them (locomotor skills and vegetables and fruits servings) showed a significant improvement. This suggests that HSDS is an effective intervention for the promotion of some healthy behaviours among preschoolers attending ECC.Trial Registration: Clinical Trials NCT02375490. Registered on February 24, 2015; 77 retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to compare the effects of a designed program based on games situations with those of a conventional one, the Adapted Physical Education (APE) program, on the fundamental movement skills (FMS) in children with Down Syndrome (DS), aged 6 to 10. Methods: Twenty‐eight children (13 girls and 15 boys; age 8.84 ± 1.06) with DS participated in this study. The participants were divided into two groups as the experimental group (EG) with 13 children (3 girls and 10 boys) and the control group (CG) composed with 15 children (10 girls and 5 boys). The EG participated in a conceived training program based on games situations along 10 weeks, while the CG took part in an APE conventional program based on football, long Jump and sprint adapted exercises. The FMS (locomotor and object control skills) were evaluated using the Gross Motor Development‐2 Test at pretraining and posttraining for both groups. Results: The results revealed that both programs improve significantly locomotor skills with significantly better improvement in the EG. However, a significant object control skills improvement was observed only among the EG. Conclusions: In light of our findings, a training program based on adapted games situations during 10 weeks may be recommended for FMS improvement, specifically object control skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fundamental movement skills acquired during pre-school years provide the basis of normal motor development, positive self-image, self-perceived sports competencies in the adolescence. An instructional approach supported with visual materials may improve learning in pre-school children. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of digital physical exercise videos on pre-school children's locomotor skill learning. A total of 906 children (662 Turkish and 244 Bulgarian), participated in the study as intervention (n = 442) and control (n = 464) groups. Each motor skill program consisted of video based 15-minute physical exercise for eight-weeks. Ulrich's Test of Gross Motor Development was used for the assessment of fundamental motor skill performance at the beginning of the study as pre-test and at the end of the eight-week digital visual supported locomotor movement program as posttest. Two separate 2 × 2 (Group × Time) ANOVAs with repeated measures were used to analyze the improvement in locomotor skills performances of intervention and control groups. Results indicated significant Group × Time interactions for the locomotor sub-scale (p < 0.05). The intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement in locomotor skills, whereas control group did not show any significant change. The result provide evidence that locomotor motor skill performance may be improved via digital materials focused on locomotor skill development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Fundamental movement skill (FMS) assessors in education environments rely upon real-time FMS assessment; however, the recognition of individual proficiency criteria during real-time process-oriented FMS assessment may be problematic. Few studies consider the accuracy of identifying individual proficiency criteria in process-oriented FMS assessment, even though criteria are relied upon for intervention planning. This study aimed to further understand assessors' ability to recognize proficiency criteria during real-time FMS assessment and the impact of assessor experience on assessment accuracy. Methods: 10 primary teachers, and 7 pediatric professionals assessed 10 performances of four FMSs (Jump, Hop, Kick, Throw) presented in videos and point-light displays using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2. Results: Accuracy in identifying proficiency criteria was moderate for both pediatric professionals (74.73%) and primary teachers (69.58%), with no differences between groups. In contrast, reliability of overall proficiency scores was good to excellent (ICC>0.8) in both groups. Some individual criteria may be more difficult to assess, evidenced by large average accuracy ranges within skills (e.g., 46% difference between Throw criteria 1 (34%) and 2 (80%)). Conclusions: The study reinforces the difficulty of observing proficiency criteria during real-time FMS assessment regardless of assessor experience. Results suggest that assessors can accurately score overall FMS proficiency, whilst accurate identification of proficiency criteria is problematic. Accurate criterion identification is crucial to understand skill deficiencies and inform subsequent intervention. Attentional demands during real-time assessment may be too great to allow accurate criterion identification, even by experienced assessors, which presents an important consideration for test administrators and developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Move 2 Learn (M2L) program is an evidence-based intervention designed to improve movement and pre-literacy skills in children ages 1.5–6 years. Purpose: The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention as delivered by non-experts in a community-based setting. Methods: Staff from four community centers were trained to implement M2L. Two sites were evaluated using a quasi-experimental design and the remaining two were evaluated using a pre–post design. Movement and pre-literacy skills were assessed twice in all children. Implementation fidelity was assessed using a weekly checklist and through site-visits. Results: Thirty-one children (15 girls and 16 boys; age range 23–53 months) participated in the study. The results of the quasi-experimental study (n = 17) showed that there was an overall effect of the program on time 2 total gross motor scores (standardized beta = 1.3, p <.05) but not pre-literacy scores, specifically print or alphabet knowledge. The pre–post design (n = 14) showed significant change over time for total gross motor scores (Cohen's d = 1.78) and print knowledge (Cohen's d = 1.76). Conclusions: Overall, the M2L program seems to have had a positive impact on participants when delivered in a community setting by trained, non-expert leaders. Future research will need to evaluate the effectiveness of the program delivered by various educators in larger and more diverse samples of children, using more robust research designs, and to determine whether there is long-term effect of M2L on health and academic outcomes in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to investigate levels of fundamental movement skills (FMS) proficiency and their relationship with measures of health-related physical fitness of primary school children prior to their transition to high school in Wales. The results demonstrated that overall levels of FMS proficiency with these children were low with significant differences existing between the genders. In addition, the measures of health-related physical fitness significantly correlated with FMS proficiency in both genders. In summary, these findings suggest that primary school children lack the foundational elements to support their transition to high school physical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared fundamental movement skills (FMS) in children from schools on the lower and upper levels of socioeconomic status. Data were collected from 228 schoolchildren across five schools in Ireland. There were 147 children from schools of social disadvantage (Mage = 7.67 [SD = 0.62] years; 55% boys) and 81 children from schools considered in the normal range for socioeconomic development (Mage = 7.34 [SD = 0.26] years; 56% boys). FMS were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development–2. Mixed models were used to estimate differences in FMS, while controlling for the nested structure of the data and for sex, age, body mass index, and class size. There was a substantial sex×school interaction, with girls from schools of social disadvantage exhibiting greater object-control skills proficiency than their counterparts in schools on the upper tertiles of socioeconomic development (standardized effect size = 0.66 [±95% confidence limits, ±0.50]; p =.02). The suggestion that children from social disadvantage are delayed in FMS is unsupported in this cohort. Differences in the structure of physical education and types of sports undertaken by children in schools of social disadvantage in Ireland are considered as explanations for this departure from previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term 'physical literacy' (PL) is widely used in both policy and practice discourses, especially among sport, physical activity, and physical education communities. Yet, despite its popularity, interesting questions remain to be answered. For example, is PL a coherent concept, or an umbrella term for a looser collection of ideas and practices? Related this question is another, namely which competences are most commonly associated with PL? Finally, from where did the label PL originate? This short article reports on some early findings from a wide-ranging review of this intriguing field. It does so with the hope of provoking further critical discussion and, perhaps, stimulating new thinking about PL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are the basic building blocks of more advanced, complex movements required to participate in physical activity. This study examined FMS proficiency across the full range of Irish primary school children (n = 2098, 47% girls, age range 5–12 years). Participants were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development, 3rd edition (TGMD-3), Victorian Fundamental Movement skills manual, and the balance subtest from the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2 (BOT-2). Independent sample t-tests and a one way between groups ANOVA with planned comparisons were used analyse sex and age differences. Mastery or near mastery of skills ranged from 16% for overhand throw, to 75.3% for run. Girls scored significantly higher than boys in the locomotor and balance subtests with the boys outperforming the girls in object control skills. Improvements in ability can be seen over time (F(8,1968) = 70.18, p < 0.001), with significant increases in FMS proficiency seen up to the age of 10, after which proficiency begins to decline. The findings demonstrate the low levels of FMS proficiency amongst Irish primary school children, the differences between sex that exist, and highlights the need for more programmes that focus on developing these FMS at an early age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely accepted that children in Scotland, as in other high-income countries, are not engaging in sufficient moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), the consequences of which can be adverse for health and wellbeing. In this paper, it is contended that active play (a form of gross motor or total body movement in which children exert energy in a freely chosen, fun, and unstructured manner) has potential to redress this deficit in MVPA. This paper reflects on lessons learned from active play interventions in Scottish schools, providing recommendations for schools on how to encourage more active play. It is argued that promoting active play during school break times and in the after-school period, and participating in active play interventions are promising ways of increasing children's MVPA and improving their fundamental movement skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preschoolers with developmental delay (DD) are at risk for poor fundamental movement skills (FMS), but a paucity of early FMS interventions exist. The purpose of this review was to critically appraise the existing interventions to establish direction for future trials targeting preschoolers with DD. A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Major findings were summarized based on common subtopics of overall intervention effect, locomotor skill outcomes, object-control outcomes, and gender differences. Trials ranged from 8 to 24 weeks and offered 540-1700 min of instruction. The majority of trials (n = 9) significantly improved FMS of preschoolers with DD, with a large intervention effect (η2 = 0.57-0.85). This review supports the utility of interventions to improve FMS of preschoolers with DD. Future researchers are encouraged to include more robust designs, a theoretical framework, and involvement of parents and teachers in the delivery of the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gross motor (GM) development delays often appear in the toddler years but may not be diagnosed until school age. Early identification and intervention can improve motor outcomes. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales - 2nd edition (PDMS-2) can assess GM skills but is resource-intensive. A parent-reported questionnaire, the Ages & Stages Questionnaire - 3rd edition (ASQ-3), may be a simple and effective way to flag potential GM delays requiring follow-up. This study aims to investigate the concurrent validity of the ASQ-3 GM subscale and the PDMS-2 GM subscale in toddlers and determine if the ASQ-3 GM subscale can accurately identify toddlers with motor delays. 103 healthy toddlers (12–35 months) completed the PDMS-2 GM assessment and parents completed the ASQ-3. The relationship between ASQ-3 GM and PDMS-2 GM was assessed with Kendall's Tau-b correlation, and contingency tables assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predicted values. The Kendall's Tau-b correlation showed a moderate to strong correlation between the ASQ-3 GM raw scores and PDMS-2 GM quotient scores (tau-b = 0.51, p < 0.0001). The monitor zone cut-off on the ASQ-3 had a sensitivity of 67 % and specificity of 85 % for identifying children scoring >1SD on the PDMS-2. The moderate-to-strong correlation between the ASQ-3-GM and PDMS-2-GM, adequate specificity and near-adequate sensitivity of the ASQ-3 combined with low resource requirements suggests that the ASQ-3 can be employed at a population level to identify toddlers with a delay and who may require referrals for further GM testing and intervention. • Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) may quickly assess toddler gross motor skills. • Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS) is well established but resource-intensive. • ASQ-3 gross motor scores are moderate-to-strongly correlated with PDMS scores. • ASQ-3 may be used at population level to identify toddlers for further screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between weekday, weekend day and four-day physical activity (PA) behaviours and fundamental movement skills (FMS) in British preschool children from a low socio-economic status background using compositional data analysis (CoDA). One hundred and eighty-five preschool children aged 3–4 years provided objectively assessed PA and sedentary behaviour (SB) data (GENEActiv accelerometer) and FMS (TGMD-2). The association of 24-h movement behaviours with FMS was explored using CoDA and isotemporal substitution (R Core Team, 3.6.1). When data were considered compositionally (SB, light PA (LPA), moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA)) and adjusted for age, BMI and sex, the weekday-derived composition predicted total motor competence (r2 = 0.07), locomotor (r2 = 0.08) and object control skills (r2 = 0.09); the weekend day-derived composition predicted total motor competence (r2 = 0.03) and object control skills (r2 = 0.03), the 4-day-derived composition predicted total motor competence (r2 = 0.07), locomotor (r2 = 0.07) and object control skills (r2 = 0.06) (all p < 0.05). Reallocation of 5 min of LPA at the expense of any behaviour was associated with significant improvements in total motor competence, locomotor and object control skills; for weekend-derived behaviours, MVPA was preferential. Considering movement behaviours over different time periods is required to better understand the effect of the 24-h movement composition on FMS in preschool children.

This study aimed to examine the associations between play behaviors during preschool recess and foundational movement skills (FMS) in typically developing preschool children. One hundred and thirty-three children (55% male; mean age 4.7 ± 0.5 years) from twelve preschools were video-assessed for six locomotor and six object-control FMS using the Champs Motor Skill Protocol. A modified System for Observing Children’s Activity and Relationships during Play assessed play behaviors during preschool recess. Associations between the composition of recess play behaviors with FMS were analyzed using compositional data analysis and linear regression. Results: Relative to time spent in other types of play behaviors, time spent in play without equipment was positively associated with total and locomotor skills, while time spent in locomotion activities was negatively associated with total and locomotor skills. No associations were found between activity level and group size play behavior compositions and FMS. The findings suggest that activity type play behaviors during recess are associated with FMS. While active games without equipment appear beneficial, preschool children may need a richer playground environment, including varied fixed and portable equipment, to augment the play-based development of FMS.

Active play is a novel approach to addressing low physical activity levels and fundamental movement skills (FMS) in children. This study aimed to determine if a new school-based, ‘Go2Play Active Play’ intervention improved school day physical activity and FMS. This was a pragmatic evaluation conducted in Scotland during 2015–16. Participants (n = 172; mean age = 7 years) were recruited from seven primary schools taking part in the 5-month intervention, plus 24 participants not receiving the intervention were recruited to act as a comparison group.189 participants had physical activity measured using an Actigraph GT3X accelerometer at baseline and again at follow-up 5 months later. A sub-sample of participants from the intervention (n = 102) and comparison (n = 21) groups had their FMS assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2) at baseline and follow-up. Changes in school day physical activity and FMS variables were examined using repeated measures ANOVA. The main effect was ‘group’ on ‘time’ from baseline to follow-up. Results indicated there was a significant interaction for mean counts per minute and percent time in sedentary behavior, light intensity physical activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (all p

Introduction: The principle elements of motor development are fundamental movement skills (FMSs). The children with high levels of FMS are most likely to participate in health-related physical activities. This study aimed to determine motor development status of 3-10 year-old children in Ahvaz, Iran. Methods: The research strategy and design were descriptive-normative and cross-sectional, respectively. A total of 1600 children aged 3-10 years were chosen from 8 regions of Ahvaz using cluster-sampling. The instrument used for data-collection was Test of Gross Motor Development – third edition (TGMD-3). In order to analyze the data, multivariate and Tukey post-hoc analyses were used along with Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests. Results: Results showed that boys, compared to girls, had better levels of performance in locomotor skills of running, horizontal jump and sliding, while girls performed galloping and skipping better than boys. In all ball skills, boys had significant higher levels of performance compared to girls., Results also revealed that in both subtests, performance enhanced with age increase. Prevalence of low motor proficiency was observed in skipping, forehand strike and overhand throw, while there was prevalence of mastery in hoping, sliding, dribble and catching. Low motor proficiency was observed for several FMSs in girls. Conclusion: Girls, compared to the boys of the same age, had lower levels of performance in all ball skills and some of locomotor skills. This result shows they are at the risk of unhealthy motor development; therefore, it is suggested that special programs and equal opportunities be prepared for them in order to enhance their motor competence in FMS.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 10 weeks of shadow play on preschool children's fundamental movement skills. In this quasi-experimental study with pretest/posttest design and a control group, 28 girls and boys (6 years old) were selected by convenience sampling method from children in a preschool and were randomly divided into the experimental group (5 girls & 9 boys) and the control group (5 girls & 9 boys). For 10 weeks (three 45-minute sessions), the experimental group performed the shadow play and the control group had their routine activities of preschool. The pretest and the posttest were administered by "the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Test (M-ABC)". This test consisted of three subtests of manual dexterity, ball skills and balance skills. Analysis of data was performed by covariance analysis (α=0.05). The results showed that 10 weeks of shadow play had a significant effect on subtests of manual dexterity, balance skills and the total score of fundamental skills but had no significant effects on ball skills. Findings of this study showed that shadow play may improve preschool children's fundamental movement skills.

Background: Active video games (AVGs) encourage whole body movements to interact or control the gaming system, allowing the opportunity for skill development. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show decreased fundamental movement skills in comparison with their typically developing (TD) peers and might benefit from this approach. This pilot study investigates whether playing sports AVGs can increase the actual and perceived object control (OC) skills of 11 children with ASD aged 6–10 years in comparison to 19 TD children of a similar age. Feasibility was a secondary aim. Methods: Actual (Test of Gross Motor Development) and perceived OC skills (Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence for Young Children) were assessed before and after the intervention (6 × 45 min). Results: Actual skill scores were not improved in either group. The ASD group improved in perceived skill. All children completed the required dose and parents reported the intervention was feasible. Conclusion: The use of AVGs as a play-based intervention may not provide enough opportunity for children to perform the correct movement patterns to influence skill. However, play of such games may influence perceptions of skill ability in children with ASD, which could improve motivation to participate in physical activities.

Background: One of the risks associated with low physical activity levels is the insufficient development of motor proficiency, which in turn has an impact on participation in physical activity and sport during adolescence. Objectives: To determine the relationship between motor proficiency and physical activity levels in adolescent Senior Phase learners in Potchefstroom, South Africa. No literature exists on the relationship between motor proficiency and physical activity levels among South African adolescents. Method: A total of 239 13- to 14-year-old learners were assessed using the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2 (BOT-2) for motor proficiency, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) for physical activity levels. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficients and effect sizes. Results: Statistically and practically significant correlations were found between the total BOT-2 score and the physical activity levels of the total group, as well as the boys and the girls respectively. Fine motor coordination correlated with physical activity levels in the girls, while manipulation coordination correlated with the physical activity levels of the total group and the boys. The body coordination skill of jumping in place and the strength test items showed strong correlations with physical activity in all the groups. Conclusion: The motor skills of Senior Phase learners, especially coordination and strength skills, should be developed and maintained in the Physical Education curriculum to enhance physical activity levels.

The present study investigated the effects of 8-weeks of core stability training on fundamental movement skills in children with low proficiency in both locomotor and object control skills. By using a semi-experimental research design. 30 elementary boy students (means age= 8.89 years, SD= 1.06) were recruited and organized in training (n= 15) and control group (n=15). Fundamental movement skills were measured before and after the training period using the test of gross motor development – 2nd (TGMD-2). In comparison with control group, results showed significant improvement in both locomotor (P

Background: When assessing motor skills, occupational therapists are encouraged to seek the perspectives of children and their parents to promote the delivery of client-centered care., Aim: To investigate whether 9-12-year-old children's views and their parents' proxy views of the children's motor skill competence and their performance on a standardized, performance-based assessment are associated., Materials and Methods: Thirty 9-12-year-old children completed the Perceived Motor Competence Questionnaire in Childhood (PMC-C) and the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence - version 2 (PMSC-2), while their parents completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd Edition Checklist (MABC-2 Checklist). Children's objective motor skills were measured by the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2nd Edition (BOT-2). Spearman's rho correlations were used to analyze the data., Results: Significant associations were found between the BOT-2 total motor composite and the PMC-C. A significant association was found between the MABC-2 Checklist and the BOT-2 Strength and Agility composite, as well as the PMC-C total score., Significance and Conclusions: Occupational therapists are encouraged to include children and their parents in the therapeutic process to capture individual perspectives and deliver client-centered care.

This study investigated the effect of external (EC) and internal coaching cues (IC), analogies with a directional component (ADC) on sprint (20 m) and vertical jump performance in academy soccer players ( n  = 20). A repeated-measures analysis, with post-hoc comparisons, was used to identify any differences between these cues and a neutral (control) cue. Significant differences were found for both sprint ( p  < 0.001) and jump ( p  = 0.022) comparisons among cue types. In post-hoc analyses for the 20 m sprint, significant differences were observed between the EC and the IC, favouring the EC ( p  < 0.01, ES = 1.27 [CI: 0.24, 2.30]), and "away" ADC and the IC, favouring the "away" ADC ( p  < 0.01, ES = 1.21 [CI: 0.19, 2.22]). No other cues showed significant differences. For vertical jump, there was just one significant difference between comparisons, that being for the "away" ADC vs. the neutral cue, favouring the latter ( p  = 0.023, ES = 0.4 [CI: -0.04 to 0.84]). It appears that ECs and ADCs are most effective when coaching sprinting performance in academy soccer players. However, simply encouraging maximal effort from a youth athlete also appears to be a reasonable cueing strategy to drive performance in youth athletes.