A Narrative Review of Motor Competence in Children and Adolescents: What We Know and What We Need to Find Out

Luís Lopes, Rute Santos, Manuel Coelho-e-Silva, Catherine Draper, Jorge Mota, Boris Jidovtseff, Cain Clark, Mirko Schmidt, Philip Morgan, Michael Duncan, Wesley O’Brien, Peter Bentsen, Eva D’Hondt, Suzanne Houwen, Gareth Stratton, Kristine De Martelaer, Claude Scheuer, Christian Herrmann, António García-Hermoso, Robinson Ramírez-Vélez, António Palmeira, Erin Gerlach, Rafaela Rosário, Johann Issartel, Irene Esteban-Cornejo, Jonatan Ruiz, Sanne Veldman, Zhiguang Zhang, Dario Colella, Susana Póvoas, Pamela Haibach-Beach, João Pereira, Bronagh McGrane, João Saraiva, Viviene Temple, Pedro Silva, Erik Sigmund, Eduarda Sousa-Sá, Manolis Adamakis, Carla Moreira, Till Utesch, Larissa True, Peggy Cheung, Jaime Carcamo-Oyarzun, Sophia Charitou, Palma Chillón, Claudio Robazza, Ana Silva, Danilo Silva, Rodrigo Lima, Isabel Mourão-Carvalhal, Zeinab Khodaverdi, Marcela Zequinão, Beatriz Pereira, António Prista and César Agostinis-Sobrinho
Additional contact information
Luís Lopes: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Rute Santos: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Manuel Coelho-e-Silva: Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Estádio Universitário de Coimbra, 3040-248 Coimbra, Portugal
Catherine Draper: South African Medical Research Council/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Chris Hani Road, Soweto, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa
Jorge Mota: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Boris Jidovtseff: Department of Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Unit on Childhood, University of Liège, Allée des sports 2, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Cain Clark: Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
Mirko Schmidt: Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 145, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Philip Morgan: Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity & Nutrition, Faculty of Education & Arts, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Michael Duncan: Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
Wesley O’Brien: School of Education, Sports Studies and Physical Education Programme, 2 Lucan Place, Western Road, University College Cork, T12 KX72 Cork, Ireland
Peter Bentsen: Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Nordre Fasanvej 57, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Eva D’Hondt: Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
Suzanne Houwen: Inclusive and Special Needs Education Unit, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ Groningen, The Netherlands
Gareth Stratton: Research Centre in Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Wales SA1 8EN, UK
Kristine De Martelaer: Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
Claude Scheuer: Department of Education and Social Work, Campus Belval, Institute for Teaching and Learning, University of Luxembourg, Porte des Sciences 11, L-4366 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Christian Herrmann: Department for Movement and Sports, Zürich University of Teacher Education, Lagerstrasse 2, LAC—H073 CH-8090 Zürich, Switzerland
António García-Hermoso: Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
Robinson Ramírez-Vélez: Department of Health Sciences, Navarrabiomed, CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, IdiSNA, Public University of Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
António Palmeira: CIDEFES, Universidade Lusófona, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal
Erin Gerlach: Educational Sciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
Rafaela Rosário: Campus de Gualtar Edifício 4, School of Nursing, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Johann Issartel: School of Health and Human Performance, Multisensory Motor Learning Lab, Dublin City University, 9 Dublin, Ireland
Irene Esteban-Cornejo: PROFITH “PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity” Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Ctra. Alfacar, s/n, 18017 Granada, Spain
Jonatan Ruiz: PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity Research Group (PROFITH), Department of Physical and Sports Education, School of Sports Science, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Ctra. Alfacar, s/n, 18017 Granada, Spain
Sanne Veldman: Amsterdam University Medical Center, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HVAmsterdam, The Netherlands
Zhiguang Zhang: Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada
Dario Colella: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Virgilio Street, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Susana Póvoas: Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, University Institute of Maia, ISMAI, 4475-690 Maia, Portugal
Pamela Haibach-Beach: Sport Studies & Physical Education Department, Kinesiology, College at Brockport, State University of New York, NY 14420, USA
João Pereira: Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Estádio Universitário de Coimbra, 3040-248 Coimbra, Portugal
Bronagh McGrane: St Patrick’s Campus, DCU Institute of Education, School of Arts Education & Movement, Drumcondra, 9 Dublin, Ireland
João Saraiva: Centro de Investigação em Educação, Campus de Gualtar, Instituto de Educação da Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Viviene Temple: School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
Pedro Silva: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Erik Sigmund: Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University Olomouc, třída Míru 117, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Eduarda Sousa-Sá: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Manolis Adamakis: School of Education, Sports Studies and Physical Education Programme, 2 Lucan Place, Western Road, University College Cork, T12 KX72 Cork, Ireland
Carla Moreira: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Till Utesch: Department of Sport Psychology, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, Horstmarer Landweg 62b, 48149 Münster, Germany
Larissa True: Department of Kinesiology and Dance, New Mexico State University, 1572 Stewart St., Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Peggy Cheung: Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
Jaime Carcamo-Oyarzun: Departament of Physical Education, Faculty of Education, Social Science & Humanities, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145 Temuco, Chile
Sophia Charitou: Laboratory of Adapted Physical Activity/Developmental and Physical Disabilities, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 71 Ethikis Antistasis str., 17238 Athens, Greece
Palma Chillón: PROFITH “PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity” Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Ctra. Alfacar, s/n, 18017 Granada, Spain
Claudio Robazza: BIND-Behavioral Imaging and Neural Dynamics Center, Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Ana Silva: Research Centre on Child Studies (CIEC), Campus de Gualtar, Institute of Education, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Danilo Silva: Department of Physical Education, Campus “Prof. Aloísio de Campos”, Federal University of Sergipe, Jardim Rosa Elze, São Cristóvão 49100000, Sergipe, Brazil
Rodrigo Lima: Institute of Sport Science, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Isabel Mourão-Carvalhal: Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Zeinab Khodaverdi: Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Kharazmi University, 15719-14911 Tehran, Iran
Marcela Zequinão: Center for Health Sciences and Sports, Department of Physical Education, Santa Catarina State University, R. Pascoal Simone, 358, Florianópolis 88080-350, Brazil
Beatriz Pereira: Research Centre on Child Studies (CIEC), Campus de Gualtar, Institute of Education, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
António Prista: Faculdade de Educação Física e Desporto, Universidade Pedagógica, Maputo 1106, Mozambique
César Agostinis-Sobrinho: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Lack of physical activity is a global public health problem causing not only morbidity and premature mortality, but it is also a major economic burden worldwide. One of the cornerstones of a physically active lifestyle is Motor Competence (MC). MC is a complex biocultural attribute and therefore, its study requires a multi-sectoral, multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approach. MC is a growing area of research, especially in children and adolescents due to its positive association with a plethora of health and developmental outcomes. Many questions, however, remain to be answered in this field of research, with regard to: (i) Health and Developmental-related Associations of MC; (ii) Assessment of MC; (iii) Prevalence and Trends of MC; (iv) Correlates and Determinants of MC; (v) MC Interventions, and (vi) Translating MC Research into Practice and Policy. This paper presents a narrative review of the literature, summarizing current knowledge, identifying key research gaps and presenting questions for future investigation on MC in children and adolescents. This is a collaborative effort from the International Motor Competence Network (IMCNetwork) a network of academics and researchers aiming to promote international collaborative research and knowledge translation in the expansive field of MC. The knowledge and deliverables generated by addressing and answering the aforementioned research questions on MC presented in this review have the potential to shape the ways in which researchers and practitioners promote MC and physical activity in children and adolescents across the world.

Keywords: motor development; motor coordination; fundamental movement skills; motor proficiency; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/1/18/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/1/18/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2020:i:1:p:18-:d:466531

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().