Children’s Involvement in Different Sport Types Differentiates Their Motor Competence but Not Their Executive Functions

Martha Spanou, Nektarios Stavrou, Aspasia Dania and Fotini Venetsanou
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Martha Spanou: School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece
Nektarios Stavrou: School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece
Aspasia Dania: School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece
Fotini Venetsanou: School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Sports provide a context where important aspects of children’s health, such as motor skills and cognitive functions, can be enhanced. However, it is unknown which type of sport may be better for the development of motor competence (MC) and executive functions (EFs). This study investigated potential differences in MC and EFs in boys and girls, being involved in different types of sports (team, individual open skill, individual closed skill). A total of 115 children (49 boys), 8–12 years old (10.30 ± 1.19 years), participated in the study. Their MC was assessed with the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 Short Form, whereas for EFs, the Attention Network Test, the digits backwards test, and the how many–what number test were utilized. Significant MC differences among participants in different types of sports were revealed, favoring those from closed-skill sports; nevertheless, their EFs were at similar levels. Furthermore, no significant gender MC and EFs differences were detected. It seems that children’s participation in specific types of sports differentiates their motor skills but not their EFs, whereas boys and girls, when provided with the same opportunities, present similar levels of MC and EFs.

Keywords: motor skills; inhibitory control; working memory; cognitive flexibility (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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