| Title: |
Addressing Disparities in Fundamental Motor Skills through Sport-Based Positive Youth Development: Research at LiFEsports |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Samantha Bates (ORCID 0000-0002-0915-5709); Sydney Mack (ORCID 0000-0003-4681-0378); Obidiah Atkinson (ORCID 0000-0003-1923-8476); Dimetrius Brandon (ORCID 0009-0006-9793-4804); Kylee Ault-Baker (ORCID 0000-0002-0656-7302); Dawn Anderson-Butcher (ORCID 0000-0001-7231-8323); Jacqueline D. Goodway (ORCID 0000-0002-2199-2577); Kethan Mokadam (ORCID 0009-0000-9487-6035) |
| Source: |
Journal of Motor Learning and Development. 2026 14(1). |
| Availability: |
Human Kinetics, Inc. 1607 North Market Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 800-474-4457; Fax: 217-351-1549; e-mail: info@hkusa.com; Web site: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jmld/jmld-overview.xml |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
10 |
| Publication Date: |
2026 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: |
Psychomotor Skills; Athletics; Youth Programs; Children; Preadolescents; Gender Differences; Program Effectiveness; Skill Development; Time; Motor Development; Summer Programs |
| Geographic Terms: |
Ohio |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: |
Test of Gross Motor Development |
| DOI: |
10.1123/jmld.2025-0033 |
| ISSN: |
2325-3193; 2325-3215 |
| Abstract: |
Fundamental motor skills are critical for the holistic development of youth and predictive of future physical activity and sport involvement. LiFEsports is one sport-based positive youth development program known to produce social development outcomes; however, its contribution to fundamental motor skills development has not yet been studied. This study examined changes in object control (OC) skills (M = 3.04, SD = 4.49) among 72 youth aged 8-12 who participated in the LiFEsports program. Overall, the mean OC scaled score prior to the program was 8.46 (SD = 2.81), while the mean at posttest was 9.75 (SD = 2.82). Analysis of variance analyses were used to explore pre- and posttest outcomes over time, as well as the effects by sex and return status. Time was a significant predictor of growth in OC skills, along with sex differences at pre- and posttests, with male participants outperforming female participants. There was also a significant interaction (p < 0.05) between sex and return status. Follow-up analyses revealed consistent sex differences (p |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1508586 |
| Database: |
ERIC |