Does A Multiple-Sport Intervention Based on the TGfU Pedagogical Model for Physical Education Increase Physical Fitness in Primary School Children?

Armando Cocca, Jovanny Edmundo Carbajal Baca, Germán Hernández Cruz and Michaela Cocca
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Armando Cocca: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Fürstenweg 185, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Jovanny Edmundo Carbajal Baca: Degree in Sport Training, State University of Sonora, Boulevard Rosales 189, Colonia Centro, 83079 Hermosillo, Mexico
Germán Hernández Cruz: School of Sport Organization, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 66455 San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
Michaela Cocca: School of Sport Organization, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 66455 San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-11

Abstract: Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) is one of the pedagogical models used for increasing health through physical education (PE), being associated with several psychological benefits. However, only few studies have studied the effect of TGfU on physical fitness. This study aims at assessing the changes in students’ physical fitness after a six-month TGfU-based program with primary school children. A total of eight schools from the state of Sonora (Mexico) were randomly distributed into experimental (EG) and control group (CG). The final sample consisted of 188 pupils (100 boys, 88 girls; age = 10.22 ± 0.76 years) from the 5th and 6th grade. Employing a quasi-experimental design, physical fitness was assessed by means of the Eurofit test battery. At post-test, EG obtained significantly higher scores than CG in flexibility, abdominals, speed ( p < 0.001), handgrip ( p = 0.002), low-limb power ( p = 0.032), and cardiorespiratory fitness ( p = 0.048). Our findings suggest that TGfU can be a valid alternative to traditional methodologies not only when the aim of a PE unit is to stimulate the cognitive domain, but also for the development of physical fitness attributes that may help pupils develop in a comprehensive manner.

Keywords: physical education; children; physical fitness; pedagogical models; health; sports (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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