Physical Education on the Beach: An Alternative Way to Improve Primary School Children’s Skill- and Health-Related Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Maria Chiara Gallotta, Giovanna Zimatore, Ludovica Cardinali, Lavinia Falcioni, Valerio Bonavolontà, Davide Curzi, Laura Guidetti and Carlo Baldari
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Maria Chiara Gallotta: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giovanna Zimatore: Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, 22060 Novedrate, Italy
Ludovica Cardinali: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy
Lavinia Falcioni: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy
Valerio Bonavolontà: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Davide Curzi: University Niccolò Cusano, 00166 Rome, Italy
Laura Guidetti: University Niccolò Cusano, 00166 Rome, Italy
Carlo Baldari: Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, 22060 Novedrate, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: The COVID-19 restrictions could preclude children from participating in physical education (PE) interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a PE intervention conducted on the beach on children’s skill- and health-related outcomes, as a possible alternative PE intervention that could be also applied during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved 106 primary school children, randomly assigned to the traditional indoor (TI) intervention or to the experimental outdoor (EO) intervention. The intervention period lasted 4 months and consisted of two 1-h sessions per week. Intervention was conducted just before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children’s anthropometric parameters (height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and abdominal circumference), fitness parameter (VO 2peak ), health parameters (resting heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure), gross motor coordination, and physical activity level were assessed before and after intervention. Both groups significantly improved fitness and motor coordination but worsened some anthropometric parameters (weight, abdominal circumference) after the intervention period. The EO group showed a higher increase of gross motor coordination than the TI group. Results of this study demonstrated that children benefited from a well-structured PE intervention conducted in the natural environment of the beach improving physical fitness and gross motor coordination. Therefore, planning outdoor PE interventions could be an alternative and safe way to encourage and implement physical activity at school during the particular period of COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; physical education; beach; school context; motor performance; health; fitness; physical activity level (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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