Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2019

Publication Title

Journal of Physical Education and Sport

Department

Physical Therapy

Abstract

One after school program, Youth Ambassadors of Physical Education (YA), is designed to promote physical activity in school age children to help combat the growing levels of childhood inactivity. However, this program utilizes skills that are vastly different from the locomotor and object control skills assessed with the Test of Gross Motor Development. Purpose: The purpose of this study it to determine whether the TGMD-2 can identify the children in YA as competent in their motor skills. This study also examines if there is a link between the overall physical activity level of the children in YA and their motor competency scores. Approach: 12 participants for this study were recruited from the 2017 Youth Ambassadors Program (YA) sponsored by the Tacoma public schools. Following completion of the TGMD-2, each participant was fitted with an activity monitor for a period of five days. Results: Descriptive scores on the TGMD-2 range from below average to above average, representing scores from the 25th percentile for children of the same age and gender to the 95th percentile. No correlation was found between physical activity levels and TGMD-2 scores. All participants of YA logged activity levels significantly exceeding the CDC recommendations, both during the weekday and on the weekends Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the factors of high activity levels and proficiency in complex motor skills do not correlate with average or above average scores on the test. The TGMD-2 may not be the best tool for measuring motor proficiency in specific populations of children that practice non-traditional motor skills in their activities.

Volume

19

Issue

2

ISSN

2247806X

Included in

Physiotherapy Commons

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