Relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, and motor competence in school children

• Published in: Motricidade Vol. 13; no. suppl 1; pp. 76 - 83
• Main Authors: Santos, Camila Ramos dos, Silva, Carla Cristiane da, Marques, Inara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Edições Desafio Singular 01.12.2017
• Subjects: SPORT SCIENCES; children; motor skills; healthy
• ISSN: 1646-107X

The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between habitual physical activity, physical fitness, and motor competence in school children. In total, 100 children aged 8-10 years took part in this study, subdivided into 2 groups: the Physical Education Group (PEG) characterized only by practical classes of Physical Education; and another group that performed Systematized Physical Activity (SPA). Habitual physical activity was investigated using the webdafa questionnaire. The physical fitness battery included a 20-meter running test, throwing a medicine ball, a horizontal jump test, and running for six minutes. Motor competence was measured by the TGMD-2 test. For statistical analysis we used the Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney and Chi-square Fisher tests. The results demonstrated moderate correlations between habitual physical activity and the 20-meter running test (r=0.41) and (r=0.49) motor competence. Furthermore, moderate correlations were found between physical fitness and motor competence in the horizontal jump test (r=0.55), running for six minutes (r=0.50), and 20 meter running test (r=0.65). In conclusion, it was observed that the SPA demonstrated better results and the school physical education classes were not sufficient to ensure adequate levels of habitual physical activity, physical fitness, or motor competence in the children in the present study.