Difference in physical fitness in children with initially high and low gross motor competence: A ten-year follow-up study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the difference in relative physical fitness between children with initially high and low gross motor competence in a ten-year prospective study. A sample of 49 children from a local primary school was tested on gross motor competence and physical fitness in 1st grade (5/6 years old). The children were tested again in 2nd (motor competence only), 7th, and 10th grade (15/16 years old). The sample was divided into two groups; initially high and low gross motor competence, according to score (median-split) on the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder-test battery in 1st grade. Results suggested that the initially high gross motor competence-group performed significantly better on a multidimensional physical fitness test, compared to the initially low gross motor competence-group at all time-points. There were also statistically significant differences between the groups in gross motor competence in 7th and 10th grade, with the initially high gross motor competence-group scoring most favorable. The findings from the present study highlight the importance of identifying and supporting young individuals with low gross motor competence, to prevent low levels of physical fitness in the future.