Study aim: This study examined the associations between gender, the nature of sports club participation, training volume, and motor coordination in late childhood.
Material and methods: 10- to 11-year-old children (n = 900) completed a questionnaire assessing anthropometrics, gender, the nature of sports club participation, and coach-led training volume. The Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) test battery was used to evaluate motor coordination.
Results: In total motor quotient reflecting overall motor coordination, no gender differences were found. However, some differences in KTK sub-tests were found. Children participating in sports club activities performed better than their non-participating peers. The mastering of motor coordination was especially apparent in the competing children. Also, the volume of coach-led training was positively associated with motor coordination. Furthermore, participation in sports club activities and a higher level of motor coordination measured in the fourth grade seemed to promote continued sport participation two years later.
Conclusions: Participation in sports clubs, particularly in competitive settings, may play a crucial role in enhancing children’s motor coordination and, consequently, their overall motor competence. This, in turn, may foster greater engagement in physical activity, offering additional opportunities for development of motor competence and health-related fitness. Therefore, sports clubs, in conjunction with non-organized physical activities and unstructured outdoor play, may serve as an essential environment for fostering children’s long-term engagement in an active and healthy lifestyle.
Profil Orcid