FUNDAMENTAL MOTOR SKILLS IN 11-12 YEARS-OLD BOYS AND GIRLS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

INTRODUCTION Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) are common motor activities with specific observable patterns. Most skills in sports and movement activities are advanced versions of FMS. During the secondary schooling period, students should be taught physical education to further develop their basic motor skills such as throwing, catching and running, into more complex and specific sport and leisure activities. It is also evident from research findings that many children and adults do not regularly take part in physical activities that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. There are many reasons for this lack of physical activity, the most evident being the lack of exposure at an early age to physical skill development activities. From a motor development perspective, FMS are important as they play a primary role in young children’s skills learning and motor development (Haywood & Getchell, 2009). METHODS In the year 1985 a test battery was submitted to 1160 (589 boys 561 girls) Italian students aged 11 and 12 (GR1). The same test battery was proposed to 1465 (772 boys 693 girls) same aged students in 1996 ( GR2) and 1276 (644 boys 632 girls) students in 2010 (GR3).The data were collected through the scholastic system by submitting tests during physical education (PE) lessons after a 20 minutes warm-up. Test battery: Speed Running (m. 80), Endurance Running (m.1000), Long Jumping , High Jumping, Precision Throwing (Basket) and Power Throwing (one hand ball throwing of a 0,3 Kg. for girls and 0,4 Kg for boys), Rope Skipping and Pole-Climbing. RESULTS In the two periods 1985-1996 (P1) and 1996-2010 (P2) differences in the body mass, in height and BMI were found. Today boys and girls are notably taller and heavier. The increase of these two dimensions in children’s morphology is predominant for the increase in body mass, as shown by the marked increase in BMI. All data were compared with the NCHS Growth Charts (NCHS 2000). In all tests a loss of ability in each group was found. Gaps were more evident in endurance and power abilities than in precision tasks. Regarding the sex category, these differences are more evident in the girls. Differences among the participants according to their age and birth date were analyzed with the Pearson’s Chi-square test and statistical significance were confirmed by the O.R. (Odds Ratio) values. DISCUSSION FMS competence has been shown to influence children in many ways. Students who have achieved FMS competence have been found to successfully participate in a range of sports and movement activities and maintain involvement during childhood and adolescence. Regular involvement in sport and movement activities lead to gains in health-related physical fitness. FMS competence plays a fundamental role in preparing students for a healthy lifestyle.