Motor Learning in Adapted Ice Skating with Children with Intellec-tual Disabilities – A Qualitative Study

The purpose of this thesis was to analyse the motor development of the children with disabilities in a short ice skating intervention and provide the children of the Koivula School experiences in physical activity. The skating school took place in Koivula School’s ice ring. This project consisted of three skating sessions that were held in January and February 2014. Six boys and one girl participated in the project. Children were 11 to 13-years-old with diagnosis of intellectual disability. Each session had its own theme. The skills were analysed subjectively by the writers based on a motor track. Theoretical information studied in this thesis included information about adapted physical activity, motor learning and development, evaluation of skills as well as information about our intervention. The findings showed that the intervention was too short for permanent changes in motor skills. Even though the time period was short we could see some positive changes in motor development with every child