Effect of Relative Age on Gross Motor Coordination Development, Considering Biological Maturity and Sex
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of relative age on gross motor coordination (GMC) development, taking into account biological maturity and sex. Methods: 729 participants aged 10 to 16 years completed three GMC tests newly designed to minimize the potentially confounding effects...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Children |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/619 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850257710205894656 |
|---|---|
| author | Xiaoyu Zhang Gaël Ennequin Anthony J. Blazevich Sébastien Ratel |
| author_facet | Xiaoyu Zhang Gaël Ennequin Anthony J. Blazevich Sébastien Ratel |
| author_sort | Xiaoyu Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of relative age on gross motor coordination (GMC) development, taking into account biological maturity and sex. Methods: 729 participants aged 10 to 16 years completed three GMC tests newly designed to minimize the potentially confounding effects of physical fitness. The tests included a Hand-Foot coordination test, Dribbling-Targeting test (DT test), and a T balance and agility test (T test). Relative age was determined using birth quartiles: BQ<sub>1</sub> (January–March); BQ<sub>2</sub> (April–June); BQ<sub>3</sub> (July–September); and BQ<sub>4</sub> (October–December). Regarding biological maturity, the participants were categorized according to their estimated peak height velocity (pre- and post-PHV). Results: Relative age did not significantly impact the overall GMC score. In contrast, biological maturity emerged as a significant determinant of GMC, with post-PHV participants outperforming their pre-PHV counterparts in the three tests (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The results also showed a significant main effect of sex in the DT and T tests, i.e., in tasks involving dynamic coordination and agility, with boys consistently outperforming girls (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Significant biological maturity × sex interactions in the DT and T tests also indicated an advantage of boys over girls with advancing biological maturity (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Conclusions: these findings highlight the importance of considering biological maturity and sex rather than relative age in GMC development from childhood through adolescence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ecbc25cc2afb4357b68a7ada98812b59 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj-art-ecbc25cc2afb4357b68a7ada98812b592025-08-20T01:56:20ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-05-0112561910.3390/children12050619Effect of Relative Age on Gross Motor Coordination Development, Considering Biological Maturity and SexXiaoyu Zhang0Gaël Ennequin1Anthony J. Blazevich2Sébastien Ratel3AME2P, UFR STAPS, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, FranceAME2P, UFR STAPS, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, FranceCentre for Human Performance, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, AustraliaAME2P, UFR STAPS, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, FranceObjective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of relative age on gross motor coordination (GMC) development, taking into account biological maturity and sex. Methods: 729 participants aged 10 to 16 years completed three GMC tests newly designed to minimize the potentially confounding effects of physical fitness. The tests included a Hand-Foot coordination test, Dribbling-Targeting test (DT test), and a T balance and agility test (T test). Relative age was determined using birth quartiles: BQ<sub>1</sub> (January–March); BQ<sub>2</sub> (April–June); BQ<sub>3</sub> (July–September); and BQ<sub>4</sub> (October–December). Regarding biological maturity, the participants were categorized according to their estimated peak height velocity (pre- and post-PHV). Results: Relative age did not significantly impact the overall GMC score. In contrast, biological maturity emerged as a significant determinant of GMC, with post-PHV participants outperforming their pre-PHV counterparts in the three tests (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The results also showed a significant main effect of sex in the DT and T tests, i.e., in tasks involving dynamic coordination and agility, with boys consistently outperforming girls (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Significant biological maturity × sex interactions in the DT and T tests also indicated an advantage of boys over girls with advancing biological maturity (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Conclusions: these findings highlight the importance of considering biological maturity and sex rather than relative age in GMC development from childhood through adolescence.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/619relative age effectmaturationmotor skill developmenttalent identificationyouth athlete development |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoyu Zhang Gaël Ennequin Anthony J. Blazevich Sébastien Ratel Effect of Relative Age on Gross Motor Coordination Development, Considering Biological Maturity and Sex Children relative age effect maturation motor skill development talent identification youth athlete development |
| title | Effect of Relative Age on Gross Motor Coordination Development, Considering Biological Maturity and Sex |
| title_full | Effect of Relative Age on Gross Motor Coordination Development, Considering Biological Maturity and Sex |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Relative Age on Gross Motor Coordination Development, Considering Biological Maturity and Sex |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Relative Age on Gross Motor Coordination Development, Considering Biological Maturity and Sex |
| title_short | Effect of Relative Age on Gross Motor Coordination Development, Considering Biological Maturity and Sex |
| title_sort | effect of relative age on gross motor coordination development considering biological maturity and sex |
| topic | relative age effect maturation motor skill development talent identification youth athlete development |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/619 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xiaoyuzhang effectofrelativeageongrossmotorcoordinationdevelopmentconsideringbiologicalmaturityandsex AT gaelennequin effectofrelativeageongrossmotorcoordinationdevelopmentconsideringbiologicalmaturityandsex AT anthonyjblazevich effectofrelativeageongrossmotorcoordinationdevelopmentconsideringbiologicalmaturityandsex AT sebastienratel effectofrelativeageongrossmotorcoordinationdevelopmentconsideringbiologicalmaturityandsex |