Fundamental movement skills in preschoolers: a randomized controlled trial targeting object control proficiency.
BACKGROUND
Adequately developed fundamental movement skills, particularly object control dimensions, are considered essential to learn more complex movement patterns and to increase the likelihood to successfully participate in organized and non-organized sports during later years. Thus, the present randomized controlled trial aimed at improving object control dimensions at an early state in a kindergarten setting.


METHODS
Catching, throwing, kicking, rolling and stationary dribbling were assessed via gross motor development 2 (TGMD-2) testing in 41 normally developed preschoolers. On a cluster-randomized basis [strata: age, sex and body mass index (BMI)], three kindergartens were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 22, INT, age: 4.6 ± 1.0 years; BMI: 16.2 ± 1.1 kg/m(2) ) and three to a control group (n = 19, CON: age: 4.5 ± 1.2 years; BMI: 16.8 ± 1.2 kg/m(2) ). Twelve structured training sessions were given within 6 weeks (12 sessions). The total training volume was 330 min.


RESULTS
Moderate time × group interaction were observed for the total sum score (Δ+22%, P = 0.05) and dribbling (Δ+41%, P = 0.002). Adjusting for baseline differences analyses of covariance did not affect these results. Interestingly, likely to most likely practically worthwhile effects were detected for the total sum score, catching and dribbling.


CONCLUSIONS
Object control dimensions such as dribbling and catching that apparently rely on rhythmical movement patterns and anticipatory eye-hand coordination seem to benefit from short-term object control training. These skills are considered important for successful team-sport participation and appropriate sportive motor development.
Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Donath
Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Faude
Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Hagmann
Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Roth
Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Zahner
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D013557:Switzerland
TGMD-2; children; exercise; kindergarten; motor development; physical activity; pre-school