Developing Psychomotor Skills and Social Attributes Through Integrated Psychomotor and Unified Football Training: A Special Olympics Intervention Study

• Published in: Revista Românească pentru educaţie multidimensională Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 224 - 242
• Main Authors: Stefanica, Valentina, Mercea, Ionut-Traian, Ursu, Vasile Emil, Gorban, Corneliu Florin, Dragos, Cristian, Mihaiu, Costinel, Gogean Groza, Gina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 12.08.2024
• ISSN: 2066-7329; 2067-9270
• DOI: 10.18662/rrem/16.3/892

This research investigates the combined effects of a tailored psychomotor development training and  Unified Sports football program on psychomotor abilities and social attributes among Special Olympics  athletes with intellectual disabilities aged 16-18 in Romania. The study aims to assess the impact of the integrated psychomotor and Unified Football training program on the psychomotor abilities of youth Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities, evaluate the influence of the intervention on their social attributes, and examine the relationship between psychomotor abilities and social attributes among participants. The findings indicate significant improvements in psychomotor skills, including Static Balance (t = -8.042, p < 0.001), Identified Stimuli (t = -7.000, p < 0.001), and Friendship Activity Scale  scores (t = -8.990, p < 0.001), reflecting substantial enhancements from initial to final testing. Moreover, Pulse Processing Speed showed a significant improvement (t = -2.299, p = 0.042). However, while Dynamic Balance exhibited a negative t-value (t = -2.021), the p-value of 0.068 indicates a marginally significant improvement. These results suggest notable advancements in psychomotor skills and social interaction among Special Olympics athletes, underscoring the effectiveness of the integrated training program. The implications of these findings extend to coaches and practitioners involved in designing tailored training programs aimed at enhancing psychomotor and social skills among athletes with intellectual disabilities.