Testing Seefeldt’s Proficiency Barrier: A Longitudinal Study

Fernando Garbeloto dos Santos, Matheus Maia Pacheco, David Stodden, Go Tani and José António Ribeiro Maia
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Fernando Garbeloto dos Santos: CIFI2D, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, R. Dr. Plácido da Costa 91, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
Matheus Maia Pacheco: CIFI2D, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, R. Dr. Plácido da Costa 91, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
David Stodden: Department of Physical Education & Athletic Training, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
Go Tani: School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Mello Moraes, 65, São Paulo 05508-030, Brazil
José António Ribeiro Maia: CIFI2D, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, R. Dr. Plácido da Costa 91, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: The idea that proficiency in the fundamental movement skills (FMS) is necessary for the development of more complex motor skills (i.e., the proficiency barrier) and to promote health-enhancing physical activity and health-related physical fitness levels is widespread in the literature of motor development. Nonetheless, to the best of our knowledge, there is no study assessing whether children presenting proficiency below a specified proficiency barrier would demonstrate difficulty in improving performance in more complex skills—even when subjected to a period of practice in these complex skills. The present study tested this. Eighty-five normal children (44 boys) aged 7 to 10 years participated in the study. The intervention took place during 10 consecutive classes, once a week, lasting 40 min each. Six FMS (running, hopping, leaping, kicking, catching and stationary dribbling) and one transitional motor skill (TMS) (speed dribbling skill) were assessed. The results showed that only those who showed sufficient proficiency in running and stationary dribbling before the intervention were able to show high performance values in the TMS after intervention. In addition, in line with recent propositions, the results show that the basis for development of the TMS was specific critical components of the FMS and that the barrier can be captured through a logistic function. These results corroborate the proficiency barrier hypothesis and highlight that mastering the critical components of the FMS is a necessary condition for motor development.

Keywords: intervention program; motor development; fundamental movement skills; transitional motor skills; specific sport skills (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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