Abstract
To address the obesity epidemic there is an increasing effort to emphasize physical activity and fitness in adolescence as opposed to fundamental motor skills. However, what effect this might have on health-related fitness is unclear. This study sought to determine the degree to which motor development competencies in preschool could predict high school fitness. In the initial study, participants were 143 male and 139 female preschoolers (M age = 4.8 yr., SD = 0.7) from four preschool programs in suburban area of a Southern state who completed the Test of Gross Motor Development. Eleven years later, 75 boys and 65 girls (M age = 15.8 yr., SD = 0.7) from the original sample were located and completed the AAHPERD Health Related Fitness Test (1.5 mile run, sit-up, sit-and-reach, body fat percentage). Test of Gross Motor Development scores were found to be strong predictors for all measures of fitness, but object control skills were more predictive of overall physical fitness than locomotor skills. Therefore, educators should consider teaching sport skill development in early childhood over general activity to improve long-term fitness.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
