Differences in motor skills in preschool children enrolled in various sport programs

Cilj istraživanja Razlike u motoričkim znanjima djece vrtićke dobi uključene u različite sportske programe bio je utvrditi razliku u motoričkim znanjima djece predškolske dobi koja su uključena u različite organizirane programe tjelesnog vježbanja (univerzalna sportska škola i sportski klubovi i ostali programi tjelesnog vježbanja) i djece koja ne vježbaju organizirano. Uzorak se ispitanika sastojao od 960 djece u dobi 3 – 6 godina (djevojčice i dječaci) uključenih u vrtićki program diljem Republike Hrvatske. Istraživanje je provedeno u dva dijela. U prvom dijelu roditelji su ispunili sociodemografski upitnik i opći upitnik o sudjelovanju djeteta u sportskim aktivnostima, a u drugom dijelu provedena su mjerenja motoričkih znanja i sposobnosti djece vrtićke dobi. Provjeravane su razine lokomotornih i manipulativnih znanja ovisno o uključenosti u pojedini sportski program ili, s druge strane, neuključenosti. Prije samog izvođenja zadatka, mjeritelj je svakom djetetu dao jasnu uputu (verbalnu i demonstracijsku) kako pravilno izvesti zadatak. Nakon toga djeca izvode zadatke jedan po jedan. Mjerenja motoričkih znanja djece predškolske dobi provedena su pomoću TGMD-2 baterije testova („Test of Gross Motor Development 2“). Razlike između grupa vježbača uključenih u univerzalnu sportsku školu, sportske klubove i djece koja nisu uključena u organizirane oblike vježbanja, utvrđene su analizom varijance (one-way ANOVA). Analizirani su rezultati u TGMD2 bateriji testova kod djece uključene u univerzalnu sportsku školu, sportske klubove i djece koja nisu uključena u organizirane oblike vježbanja, te je utvrđeno da ne postoje statistički značajne razlike u ukupnom motoričkom razvoju. No, postoje razlike u pojedinačnim testovima baterije TGMD2 i to u skoku u dalj, bacanju lopte, hvatanju lopte i udarcu lopte nogom u korist djece uključene u univerzalnu sportsku školu i sportske klubove. Poželjno je uključiti djecu od najranije dobi u organizirane programe vježbanja koje vode stručne osobe, u ovom slučaju kineziolozi koji će se potruditi usmjeriti djecu i upoznati ih sa svim prednostima i blagodatima tjelovježbene aktivnosti.The purpose of Researching the difference in the level of motor skills between the preschoolers involved in different sports activities was to determine the difference in the motor skills between the preschoolers who were involved in different organized physical activities (universal school of sport and sports clubs, including other physical activity programs) and the preschoolers not involved in such sports activities. The respondent consisted of 960 children aged 3 – 6 (both male and female), who were a part of the public kindergarten system in Croatia. The research was conducted in two parts. In the first part, the parents of the children were asked to fill out the sociodemographic questionnaire and the questionnaire about their kids' involvement in sports activities. The second part consisted of measuring the respondents' motor abilities. The locomotor and manipulative skills levels were checked depending on whether they were engaging in sports activities. Prior to the task, the respondents were given clear instructions on how to perform the task (both verbal and demonstration). Measuring of the motor skills was conducted using a TGMD-2 battery of tests („Test of Gross Motor Development 2“). The difference between the group of respondents involved in the universal school of sports and sports clubs and the respondents that were not involved in any organized sports activities were determined using ANOVA one-way variance. The results of the TGMD 2 battery of tests indicated that there are no statistically significant differences between the respondents involved in universal sports schools, and sports clubs and the ones not involved in it. However, there was a difference in specific TGMD2 tests that involved long jump, ball throwing, ball catching, and ball kicking in favor of the respondents engaged in organized sports activities. It is preferable to apply the children from an early age in different sports clubs and the universal school of sports that are being led by educated individuals, especially kinesiologists that will try to point the children in the right direction and familiarize them with all the advantages of physical activity