Fundamental Movement Skills and Sports Skills: Testing a Path Model

This study examined the temporal relationship between fundamental movement skills (FMSs) and sport-specific skills (SSSs) in children aged 7 to 10. Based on the premise that FMSs are the basis for sport skills, we implemented a 10-week intervention program targeting two FMSs (running and stationary...

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Main Authors: Fernando Garbeloto, Sara Pereira, Eduardo Guimarães, José Maia, Go Tani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Sports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/7/211
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author Fernando Garbeloto
Sara Pereira
Eduardo Guimarães
José Maia
Go Tani
author_facet Fernando Garbeloto
Sara Pereira
Eduardo Guimarães
José Maia
Go Tani
author_sort Fernando Garbeloto
collection DOAJ
description This study examined the temporal relationship between fundamental movement skills (FMSs) and sport-specific skills (SSSs) in children aged 7 to 10. Based on the premise that FMSs are the basis for sport skills, we implemented a 10-week intervention program targeting two FMSs (running and stationary dribbling) and one SSS (speed dribbling), followed by immediate and long-term assessments. Using a path-modeling approach, we tested two models: one examining whether FMSs were associated with sport skill performance at the same time point and another exploring whether this influence emerged over time. Results revealed significant FMS and SSS improvements immediately after the intervention program. However, significant associations between the FMSs and SSS emerged only at later time points (8 to 20 months post-intervention), suggesting the delayed influence of the FMSs on the SSS. These findings support that while FMSs are essential for developing more complex skills, their effect may not be immediately observable, emphasizing the importance of long-term follow-up. The results also align with theoretical models contending that proficiency in FMS and sustained practice opportunities are key to integrating fundamental and sport-specific motor skills and may represent an important foundation for public health initiatives advocating early FMS interventions as a strategy to promote lifelong physical activity and sustained engagement in sports.
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spelling doaj-art-67d70b39c0ce4d76ad9bbb2f0c366bf52025-08-20T03:56:49ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632025-06-0113721110.3390/sports13070211Fundamental Movement Skills and Sports Skills: Testing a Path ModelFernando Garbeloto0Sara Pereira1Eduardo Guimarães2José Maia3Go Tani4Motor Behavior Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sports, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-030, BrazilCentre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, PortugalCentre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, PortugalCentre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, PortugalMotor Behavior Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sports, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-030, BrazilThis study examined the temporal relationship between fundamental movement skills (FMSs) and sport-specific skills (SSSs) in children aged 7 to 10. Based on the premise that FMSs are the basis for sport skills, we implemented a 10-week intervention program targeting two FMSs (running and stationary dribbling) and one SSS (speed dribbling), followed by immediate and long-term assessments. Using a path-modeling approach, we tested two models: one examining whether FMSs were associated with sport skill performance at the same time point and another exploring whether this influence emerged over time. Results revealed significant FMS and SSS improvements immediately after the intervention program. However, significant associations between the FMSs and SSS emerged only at later time points (8 to 20 months post-intervention), suggesting the delayed influence of the FMSs on the SSS. These findings support that while FMSs are essential for developing more complex skills, their effect may not be immediately observable, emphasizing the importance of long-term follow-up. The results also align with theoretical models contending that proficiency in FMS and sustained practice opportunities are key to integrating fundamental and sport-specific motor skills and may represent an important foundation for public health initiatives advocating early FMS interventions as a strategy to promote lifelong physical activity and sustained engagement in sports.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/7/211longitudinal studyintervention programchildren
spellingShingle Fernando Garbeloto
Sara Pereira
Eduardo Guimarães
José Maia
Go Tani
Fundamental Movement Skills and Sports Skills: Testing a Path Model
Sports
longitudinal study
intervention program
children
title Fundamental Movement Skills and Sports Skills: Testing a Path Model
title_full Fundamental Movement Skills and Sports Skills: Testing a Path Model
title_fullStr Fundamental Movement Skills and Sports Skills: Testing a Path Model
title_full_unstemmed Fundamental Movement Skills and Sports Skills: Testing a Path Model
title_short Fundamental Movement Skills and Sports Skills: Testing a Path Model
title_sort fundamental movement skills and sports skills testing a path model
topic longitudinal study
intervention program
children
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/7/211
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AT josemaia fundamentalmovementskillsandsportsskillstestingapathmodel
AT gotani fundamentalmovementskillsandsportsskillstestingapathmodel