title: Influence of age, sex, balance, and sport participation on development of sidearm striking 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 sidearm-striking by children in Grades K through 8. Each of 380 boys and 337 girls (ages 4-14 years), enrolled in a medium-size school system in southeastern Maine, was individually assessed on side-arm-striking and on static and dynamic balance. 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 sport participation within each grade, data were subjected to multiple-regression analysis. Development of mature striking was associated with sex; boys performed better at all grades except in Grade 5 where the percentage of girls showing a mature sidearm-striking pattern approximated that of boys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, College of Education, Cleveland State University, OH 44115, USA.
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; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D004856:Postural Balance; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports