Background/Purpose: Object control skills (OCS) provide the means for children to be physically active. In fact, success in OCS in childhood is predictive of performance in adolescence. However, gender equality in some OCS remains elusive. Some scholars argue that gender differences in throwing originate in human evolution. A similar case can be made for striking. The purpose of this study was to longitudinally examine throwing and striking development.
Method: The design was multi-cohort longitudinal. Trained examiners tested children's (grades k-8, N=186) throwing and striking twice per year for up to five years on the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2). Children in grades 5-8 (year one) were systematically tested fewer times.
Analysis/Results: Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was applied to analyze the data. HLM models performance over time using individual growth curves. Throwing: A significant quadratic age-effect was found (γ=-.099, p<.001). A significant cubic effect was found for boys (γ=.017, p<.001). That is, throwing level increased more rapidly for boys and plateaued at age 10. Girls peaked at a slightly lower level at age 12, then declined to age 14. Striking: A significant quadratic age-effect was also found for striking (γ=-.044, p<.001). A marginally significant gender x age interaction was observed (γ=.084, p=.063). Striking peaked at ages 11-13: Boys peaked sooner than girls, but Gender differences decreased over time.
Conclusions: Overall, these findings indicate that gender differences in throwing and striking remain persistent and may be influenced by evolution. Instructional interventions should be in place well before grade four.