Method: Seven elementary school children (n= 7, 4 female, 3 male; Mage= 6 years and 5 months) served as participants. Throughout the 2013-2014 school year children attended a daily 75-minute afterschool program designed to promote motor skills, physical activity, and other health outcomes. Motor ability and physical fitness were assessed at the beginning (September) and end (April) of the school year. Fundamental motor skills were measured using the Test of Gross Motor Development – 2nd edition (TGMD-2; Ulrich, 2000) and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children – 2nd edition (MABC-2; Henderson, Sugden & Barnett, 2007). The TGMD-2 assesses six locomotor and six object control skills. The MABC-2 measures motor ability in three categories—manual dexterity, catching and aiming, and balance. The Fitnessgram® PACER test was used to assess physical fitness.
Analysis/Results: At the end of the school year, children demonstrated significant improvements in their TGMD locomotor skills (t=-3.22; p<.05), TGMD object control skills (t=-3.40; p<.05), total TGMD (t=-3.45; p<.05), and MABC balance (t=-3.75; p<.05). No changes were seen in physical fitness.
Conclusions: The findings provide evidence that support the effectiveness of this afterschool program on motor skill performance.