Effect of a 9-wk. after-school multiskills club on fundamental movement skill proficiency in 8- to 9-yr.-old children: an exploratory trial

Percept Mot Skills. 2008 Jun;106(3):745-54. doi: 10.2466/pms.106.3.745-754.

Abstract

This exploratory study examined the effects of a 9-wk. after-school multiskills club on fundamental movement skill proficiency in 8- to 9-yr.-old children. Two schools were randomly assigned to either a control (n = 15 children) or multiskill club (n = 19 children) condition. The multiskill club received 18 coaching sessions designed to improve fundamental movement skills. The control group followed normal routines. 7 skills were assessed using process-oriented measures with video analysis. Participation in the multiskill club yielded significant improvements in proficiency at posttest only in static balance, while potentially practically important improvements were observed in performance of the catch, throw, and kick skills. The after-school multiskill club offered a viable opportunity for movement skill acquisition, but any such programme would need to run for a longer duration to assess whether this type of activity could benefit all skills.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Achievement
  • Child
  • Child Development / physiology*
  • Control Groups
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Motor Skills / physiology*
  • Movement / physiology*
  • Physical Fitness / physiology
  • Schools
  • Social Behavior
  • Sports / education
  • Sports / physiology
  • Students / psychology
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*
  • Teaching*
  • Videotape Recording