Development and validation of a model of motor competence in children and adolescents

Abstract

a b s t r a c tObjectives: This study was aimed at developing a quantitative model to evaluate motor competence (MC) in children and adolescents, to be applicable in research, education, and clinical contexts. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: A total of 584 children (boys n = 300) with ages between 6 and 14 years were assessed using nine well known quantitative motor tasks, divided into three major components (stability, locomotor and manipulative). Structural equation modelling through EQS 6.1 was used to find the best model for representing the structural and measurement validity of MC. Results: The final MC model was composed by three latent factors closely related with each other. Each factor was best represented by two of the initial three motor tasks chosen. The model was shown to give a very good overall fit ( 2 = 12.04, p = .061; NFI = .982; CFI = .991; RMSEA = .059). Conclusions: MC can be parsimoniously represented by six quantitative motor tasks, grouped into three interrelated factors. The developed model was shown to be robust when applied to different samples, demonstrating a good structural and measurement reliability. The use of a quantitative protocol with few, simple to administer and well known, motor tasks, is an important advantage of this model, since it can be used in several contexts with different objectives. We find it especially beneficial for physical educations teachers who have to regularly assess their students.

The relationship between motor competence and health-related fitness in children and adolescents

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the relationship between MC and a composite HRF index across a large sample of male and female children and adolescents, using a validated instrument [12] that includes the three theoretical components proposed by Gallahue and colleagues [10]. However, the current study presents some limitations.…”

“…MC was evaluated with a valid quantitative instrument developed by Luz and colleagues [12]. This instrument is composed of two tests for each MC category (stability, locomotor, and manipulative).…”

“…In the literature, MC has encompassed a wide variety of terms such as fundamental motor skill or movement, motor proficiency or performance, motor ability and motor coordination [9]. In this study, and as proposed by the theoretical framework developed by Gallahue and colleagues [10], MC will be defined as a person’s ability to be proficient in a broad range of locomotor, stability and manipulative skills [11,12]. Recent research emphasizes the importance of MC for developing an active and healthy lifestyle [8,9,13,14].…”

“…Additionally, manipulative skills are expected to have a decisive role in the associations between MC and HRF [17,24]. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine these variables using a quantitative instrument [12] that provides an overall MC composite value derived from locomotor, stability and manipulative components [10]. …”

The relationship of gross upper and lower limb motor competence to measures of health and fitness in adolescents aged 13-14years

“…26 There is a wide range of movement battery tests that assess MC as a whole or as individual subsections such as manual dexterity, throwing and catching, and balance tasks (static and dynamic), with specific tests for different age groups. [29][30][31] Evidence has suggested that measures of overall MC are invalid due to vast differences in fine and gross MC in a single participant with many tasks not representing normal distributions. These subsections of MC should be assessed separately.…”