Application of the TGMD-2 test in early school-age children for determining the level of fundamental movement skills in different sports

Abstract

Fundamental movement skills are described as the most important aspect of human movement in early childhood, as well as the most important prerequisite for later involvement in sport.Aim:The main purpose of this research was to determine the differences in FMS among eight-year-old children participants of different sports activities.Methods:The sample consisted of 60 students: football school (N = 20), gymnastics school (N = 20) and universal sports school (N = 20). Children were tested using the Test of Gross Motor Development – 2 (TGMD-2). Differences between the three examined groups were tested by analysis of variance with a post-hoc Tukey test. Results: It is possible to conclude that all three sports activities that children are engaged in develop their fundamental movement skills on a high level. Based on the overall TGMD-2 test results, it is not possible to discuss which sport is developing overall skills on a higher level, because significant differences have not been found. However, by analysing locomotor- and object-control subtests, obvious advantage of gymnasts in locomotor skills, and footballers and participants of the universal sports school in manipulative skills is significantly visible. Conclusions: To gain even better insight in which sport or sports discipline best develops fundamental skills in children, it would be important to analyse an even larger sample of subjects of different basic sports in future research.