Abstract Studies that address the problem of excess weight and inactive behaviors such as television and video games in children and adolescents have focused on chronic noncommunicable diseases, with few studies about the effects of sedentary lifestyle on coordination capacities (balance, precision and movement capacity). The objective of the study is to analyze the coordinative capacities in school children of grades 10 and 11 in a public school in Bogotá. This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 63 schoolchildren (30 men and 33 women) with an average age of 16.24 ± 0.689. The motor quotient was evaluated by means of the KTK test with the authorization of the institutional ethics committee, assent signature and informed consent. Descriptive statistics were obtained (mean SD frequencies, percentages). Data were tested using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and independent t-test was applied to measure the significant difference among the variables. P-value less than 0.05 was considered a significant difference. The motor quotient showed the following qualifications: symptomatic 11.1% (n = 7), normal 58.7% (n = 37) and good 30.2% (n = 19). Statistically significant differences (p < 0,05) were found in the motor quotient between boys (37,048) and girls (34,374), with girls being mainly in the symptomatic category. It can be concluded that girls need to increase motor experiences to improve their coordinative abilities. The importance of this study consisted in the possibility of identifying the effects of sedentarism on coordination capacities, as well as the impact produced by the current government by reducing hours of physical education in schools, leading to an increase in sedentarism. For this reason, it is essential to develop research aimed at stimulating coordination capacities in schoolchildren as a strategy to reduce public health problems. Key messages For this reason, it is essential to develop research aimed at stimulating coordination capacities in schoolchildren as a strategy to reduce public health problems. Promotion of public policy as a Determining factor in the reduction of sedentarism in children, through Strategies that include assessment of Coordinating Capacities of schoolchildren.