Background/Purpose: Three NASPE standards focus on fitness, motor skill competence (MSC) and physical activity (NASPE, 2004). Although physical activity and fitness levels decline in as children move through adolescence, little is known about relationship among MSC, cardiorespiratory fitness, and physical activity in elementary students. Thus, the present study sought to examine the relationship among these variables.
Method: Participants included 294 fourth and fifth grade students (142 girls and 152 boys; M age = 11.0) from three elementary schools. Students completed previously validated questionnaires assessing their physical activity. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by FITNESSGRAM® Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (Cooper Institute, 2007). Students' motor skills in basketball, overhand throwing, and striking were assessed by PE Metrics TM (NASPE, 2010).
Analysis/Results: There were positive correlations among three motor skills. Each of the three motor skills was positively correlated with cardiorespiratory fitness. The basketball skill was positively associated with students' physical activity. Two regression analyses indicated overhand throwing, basketball, and striking were positive predictors of students' cardiorespiratory fitness (R2 = 18.2 %; β = .28, .14, .13, respectively, all p < 0.05). The basketball skill was the only predictor of students' physical activity (R2 = 1.4 %; β = .12, p < 0.05). Basketball was the only skill test that required working with another student.
Conclusions: The results suggested that students' fundamental MSC is vital to being physically educated and is a predictor of fitness. Given relatively small contributions of MSC on students' physical activity, the relationship between motor skills and physical activity requires further exploration.
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