title: Influence of age, sex, balance, and sport participation on development of catching by children grades K-8.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the contributions of age, sex, balance, and sport participation on development of catching by children in Grades K to 8. The subjects were 380 boys and 337 girls (ages 4 to 14) enrolled in a medium-sized school system in southeastern Maine. Each subject was individually assessed on catching and static and dynamic balance. In addition, all subjects completed a survey relative to their participation in school or community-sponsored sports. To assess the independent effects of age, sex, static balance, dynamic balance, and participation in sports within each grade, data were subjected to multiple-regression analysis. Mature catching development was influenced by sex; boys performed better at all grades except in Grade 8 all girls and boys showed mature catching patterns.
authors.affiliation: College of Education, Cleveland State University, OH 44115.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Loovis
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Butterfield
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001076:Aptitude; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*