Abstract
It is well known that curricular physical activity benefits children’s executive functions and academic performance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether there is an influence of extracurricular sports on executive functions and academic performance. However, it is less known which specific types of the sport better enhance executive functions in children; to investigate this issue, this study compared the performance on executive functions tasks and academic performance in one hundred and two boys and girls with an average age of 11.84 years recruited from Italian schools and gyms (N = 102), who participated in martial arts or team sports or were sedentary children. Executive functions were measured with the tests: Attenzione e Concentrazione, Digit Span test, Tower of London, IOWA Gambling task BVN 5-11, and BVN 12-18. Results demonstrated that children practicing martial arts showed better executive functioning and higher school marks than those involved in team sports or not involved in any sports. Furthermore, participants aged 12 to 15 years old outperformed in cool and hot executive functions tasks and had a better academic performance. Thus, the present findings supported the view that regular practice of extracurricular sports enhances executive functions development and consequently influences academic performance.
Highlights
Recent studies focus on the positive effect of extracurricular sport on academic performance (AP) [6,7]
It has been proven that sport has beneficial effects upon concentration, enhanced cognitive performance, and better academic performance (AP) [7,8,9,10]
The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of Cool executive functions (EF) and Hot EF tasks and school achievement, among participants involved in martial arts, team sports, and sedentary children with ages ranging from 7 to 15 years
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the school as a key setting for the promotion of physical activity (PA) in children [1]. The school setting is an ideal environment where develop PA interventions in childhood [2]. PA in schools has advantages from a child’s physical and emotional development, but at the same time, it has potentially wide school benefits [1,3,4,5]. Recent studies focus on the positive effect of extracurricular sport on AP [6,7]. It has been proven that sport has beneficial effects upon concentration, enhanced cognitive performance, and better academic performance (AP) [7,8,9,10]
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