Motor Skills: Motor Fitness Structure of 9-Year-Old Boys

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the place of motor skills in the motor fitness structure of 9-year-old boys.  Materials and methods. The study participants were 48 9-year-old boys. The children and their parents were informed about all the features of the study and gave their consent to participate in the experiment. The study used the following research methods: analysis of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical observations, testing of motor fitness, probabilistic approach to assessing the learning process, methods of mathematical statistics. In the experiment, the study controlled the level of proficiency in the following exercises: “Rope climbing in two steps”, “Rope climbing in three steps”, “One leg swing upward circle”. Results. The level of fitness of the 9-year-old boys is homogeneous by the development of “agility”, “movement coordination”, “speed strength”, and “endurance”; inhomogeneous – by the development of flexibility, arm strength, vestibular stability, and the level of proficiency in rope climbing. The most informative indicators that determine the level of 9-year-old boys’ motor fitness are: No. 12 “Rope climbing in two steps, level of proficiency” (r = 0.960); No. 13 “Rope climbing in three steps, level of proficiency” (r = 0.960); No. 14 “One leg swing upward circle, level of proficiency” (r = 0.875); No. 10 “Maintenance of stable posture – standing on one leg with closed eyes, s” (r = 0.683). Conclusions. Based on factor analysis, it was found that the level of proficiency in the exercises determines the variation of testing results by 24.287%, and the development of motor skills is a priority in the educational process at primary school. The level of proficiency in rope climbing shows that the exercises are difficult for 9-year-old boys to perform. Based on the data analysis, it can be argued that the comprehensive development of motor abilities ensures the formation of motor skills, and the improvement of the level of development of 9-year-old boys’ arm flexors will positively influence the educational process effectiveness.