The Correlation Between Fundamental Movement Skills and Step Count in Second Grade Children

Abstract

One of the Surgeon General's (1996) 12 moderators of children's physical activity (PA) behavior is sport competence. The mastery of fundamental motor skills (FMS), a prerequisite to sport competence, are a potential correlate of the involvement of children in sport and consequently physical activity. Previous research has demonstrated low correlations between physical activity and FMS, however, these studies lacked a validated comprehensive FMS assessment instrument. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between FMS performance and step counts using a validated comprehensive FMS assessment instrument. METHODS: Forty-five second grade children (18 females, 27 males) and parents participated. FMS were assessed using the TGMD II, a process oriented criterion based assessment that includes 12 motor skills from two general motor skill groups, locomotor and manipulative. Each group consists of six skills, and generates two group scores, which are summed for a total score. The step count was measured by a Accusplit 120XL pedometer for 6 consecutive days (4 weekdays and 2 weekend days). Average steps per hour was computed to account for the differences in time the children wore the pedometers each day. Parents recorded the time the pedometer was attached in the morning and removed in the evening recording the number of daily steps and the time the pedometer was removed during the day. Correlations between average steps per hour, locomotor, manipulative and total scores were computed using a Pearson product moment correlation. RESULTS: There were no significant correlations for females, all correlations were less than r=.28. For the males, positive moderate correlations were found between step counts and manipulative scores (r = .41 p < .05) and total score (r=.46, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between level of physical activity measured by step counts and manipulative, locomotor and total scores differed based upon gender. There were no correlations for the females whereas those males who had higher manipulative scores and total scores were more physically active. To understand the direction of these correlations, future research needs to begin with younger children who are initiating their FMS development (3-years-of-age) and observe changes across time in physical activity.