Fundamental Movement Skills Development under the Influence of a Gymnastics Program and Everyday Physical Activity in Seven-Year-Old Children

Ana  Kezic; Zoran  Culjak; Durdica Miletic; Suncica Delas Kalinski; Frane  Zuvela

IJ Pediatrics

The Scientific Journal of Growth & Development Research Center

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Fundamental Movement Skills Development under the Influence of a Gymnastics Program and Everyday Physical Activity in Seven-Year-Old Children

Author(s):

Ana Kezic^1,*,

Zoran Culjak²,

Durdica Miletic³,

Suncica Delas Kalinski⁴,

Frane Zuvela⁵

IJ Pediatrics:Vol. 24, issue 2

Published online:Feb 15, 2014

Article type:Research Article

Received:Jun 25, 2013

Accepted:Jan 23, 2014

How to Cite:Ana KezicZoran CuljakDurdica MileticSuncica Delas KalinskiFrane ZuvelaFundamental Movement Skills Development under the Influence of a Gymnastics Program and Everyday Physical Activity in Seven-Year-Old Children.Iran J Pediatr.24(2):null-null.

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of this study were: a) to examine the influence of an 18-week basic artistic gymnastics program on fundamental movement skills (FMS) development in seven-year-old children; b) to determine correlations between children’s daily activities and successful performance of FMS and basic artistic gymnastics skills. Methods: Seventy five first grade primary school children took part in this study. A physical education teacher specialized in artistic gymnastics conducted a gymnastics program for 18 weeks, three times a week. The level of gymnastics skills and FMS were identified at the beginning and at the end of the program. The level of gymnastics skills was evaluated by performance of eight artistic gymnastics skills, while FMS were evaluated by the use of FMS-polygon. Physical activity and inactivity was evaluated by using a proxy-questionnaire “Netherlands Physical Activity QuestionnaireË (NPAQ). Findings: According to the dependent samples t test, significant differences were found in the FMS-polygon and all gymnastics skills before and after the 18-week gymnastics program. Increasing correlations were established over time between gymnastics skills and the FMS-polygon. Unorganized daily activity of children significantly correlated with their mastering of gymnastics skills and FMS. The presented findings confirm: (1) the thesis that basic artistic gymnastics skills and FMS could be developed simultaneously, (2) the theory of positive transfer of similar skills between FMS and artistic gymnastic skills. Conclusion: Mastering basic artistic gymnastics skills will provoke improvement of FMS and finally become a prerequisite for successful introduction of learning more complex gymnastics skills. The obtained results imply that an increase of children’s unorganized daily activities can improve the mastering of basic gymnastics skills and simultaneously the development of FMS.

Keywords

Unorganized Activities

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