DCU Research News: 25% of Primary School Age Children Cannot Run Properly; Basic Movement Skills Development Stalls at Age 10

DUBLIN, Jan. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Dublin City University have carried out an all Ireland study of over two thousand primary school children on the island of Ireland, and have found that one in four cannot run properly; one in two cannot kick a ball properly; and less than one in every five can throw a ball.

The findings also noted that the skills development of children with regards to running, jumping, catching and kicking (movements that are categorised as fundamental movement skills (FMS)), plateau and stop progressing at the age of ten. Existing research shows that mastery of these basic skills is achievable by 8 years of age.

This milestone is considered significant as in the case of children not reaching it, it can result in young people exhibiting an aversion to engaging in sports and physical activity, particularly in their teenage years.

There was a notable difference between boys and girls in certain skills with boys displaying a greater proficiency in ball skills such as throwing and catching, while girls scored higher than boys in skills requiring control of the body such as balance and skipping. The findings are interesting in the context of the activities pursued by girls and boys, with the former often taking up gymnastics, dance and the latter taking part in rugby and soccer. Both boys and girls have a huge involvement in Gaelic Games overall.

The Moving Well-Being Well project is assessing the current situation in Ireland in relation to this and developing interventions to improve children's fitness, wellbeing, physical competence and confidence in a child-centered manner.

As the basic building blocks of more complex movements required to participate in sport and physical activity, FMS are purported to have a significant impact on physical activity participation in adolescents with increased proficiency associated with increased physical activity. The benefits of increased physical activity are well established, with substantial evidence linking it with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, obesity, Diabetes, etc. The recent Children's Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA, 2018) study found that just 17% of Irish primary children engage in the recommended 1 hour per day of moderate to vigorous activity.

The first set of published findings from Moving Well-Being Well are significant in terms of identifying the maturation of FMS and also pivotal points in the context of children mastering and (or as is the case) not mastering FMS. This in turn can underpin their future participation and motivation in sport and physical activity. Those findings are currently being used to develop an intervention in primary school targeting all elements of physical literacy where all actors around the children are involved - teachers, coaches and parents. This holistic approach will support and enhance the development of the core components of physical literacy: physical competence, motivation and confidence as well as childrens' knowledge and understanding of the benefits and importance of physical activity for life.

The findings have been published in the Journal of Sports Sciences and have emerged from data gathered as part of a wider research project Moving Well-Being Well, a major collaboration between the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics at DCU, the School of Health and Human Performance at DCU, the GAA (Gaelic Games Athletic Association) and Dublin GAA to examine the physical literacy of over 2,000 children, aged 5-12 in primary schools nationwide.

Dr. Stephen Behan, Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, DCU and DCU School of Health and Human Performance

"These results are the most comprehensive of its kind ever produced in Ireland, and highlight the poor levels of basic skills in Irish children. If children don't have a solid foundation of basic movement skills, how can we expect them to do more complex skills as part of organised sport? This solid foundation is what allows children to take part in a multitude of physical activities, and to feel confident in trying new things. There is a lot of attention on childhood obesity and low participation rates in sport - a focus on the fundamental movement skills in young children could be key in tackling both".

Dr. Johann Issartel, DCU School of Health and Human Performance, Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, DCU

"These findings highlight core issues that teachers, parents and coaches need to address. If the current generation of children can't throw and catch in basic situations, why would they choose to play if they aren't good at it? "It is not fun" that's what they say, and if it is not fun they won't play. Develop confidence and competence for our children then they won't stop playing and that's what you want. Children at play for as long as possible every day of the year".

Prof. Noel O'Connor, Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, DCU

"It's well known that if you can't measure something then you can't improve it. This unique study has allowed us to measure and therefore understand current levels of mastery of fundamental movement skills in children, an important aspect of their overall development. This improved understanding helps us identify where improvements are needed and this allows us to develop strategies to ensure this improvement takes place. It's a great example of how the power of data analytics can allow us to positively impact society on a national scale".

Dr. Sarahjane Belton, DCU Head of School of Health and Human Performance

"We are learning more and more about the movement deficiencies of our children and young people in Ireland. It is no surprise that the 2018 follow up of the national CSPPA study shows a decline in physical activity participation rates of children by a further 2% since 2010- at primary school less than one in every 5 is active enough to sustain health. Simply put it is time now for action. We need to focus our attention nationally on developing physical literacy capacities and capabilities in our children and young people. We need to help them develop the tools needed to enable them to live long, healthy and active lives. At the moment we are failing our kids badly, and that is a very sad situation".

Key Findings:

• Survey sample included 2,098 primary children (47% female and 53% male) aged between the ages of 5-12. The average age was 9 years.
• Participants were recruited from 44 schools across 12 counties (56% rural and 44% urban) taking into account all four provinces in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Previous research has shown that children can master all FMS skills by the age of 8. However, this most recent research finding shows that a large proportion of Irish children have not mastered FMS by age 10. At this stage, children could become self-conscious in the company of their peers when participating in physical activities/sports that require these skills, and in turn are likely to disengage, leading to a decrease in physical activity.
• Participants were tested using the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-3) which comprises of locomotor (run, skip, gallop, slide, hop and horizontal jump) and object-control (catch, overhand throw, underhand roll, kick, two-handed strike, one-handed strike and stationary dribble) skill subtests. An additional locomotor skill test was included; the vertical jump. The TGMD-3 and the vertical test jump assess the performance of skill components, rather than the outcome.
• Participants were also tested on their balance, consisting of two tasks; walking forward along a straight line and standing on one leg on a balance beam with eyes open. These tests were based on outcome of performance.
• The findings show an absence of proficiency across all FMS components throughout primary school, with the children showing 60.6% of mastery/near mastery in balance while just over half hit mastery/near mastery in locomotor skills (52.8%) and 54.8% scored in object control skills.

Notes to the editor:

Stephen Behan is available for media comment upon request

A copy of the research paper is available upon request

Moving Well-Being Well: Investigating the maturation of fundamental movement skill proficiency across sex in Irish children aged five to twelve. 

Published in the Journal of Sports Science, August 5th 2019. Authors: Stephen Behan (Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, DCU and DCU School of Health and Human Performance), Sarahjane Belton (DCU School of Health and Human Performance), Cameron Peers (DCU School of Health and Human Performance), Noel E.O'Connor (Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, DCU), Johann Issartel (DCU School of Health and Human Performance, Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, DCU).

The publication emanated in research supported in part by a research grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI 12/RC/2289) and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund with assistance from the GAA's Research and Games Development Dept and Dublin GAA.

Project Partners:

• Science Foundation Ireland
• Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, DCU
• DCU School of Health and Human Performance
• GAA
• Dublin GAA

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