Abstract:
Fundamental motor skill proficiency has been linked to continued participation in sporting activity. However, a number of investigations in Australia have reported inferior levels of the process performance of skills such as kicking, throwing, striking, and catching. Recommendations emanating from the recent NSW Fitness and Physical Activity Survey included greater attention to preparing generalist teachers at the tertiary level. The logical assumption being this will translate into better instruction, and therefore greater proficiency, in fundamental motor skills of primary aged children. This paper reports on the efficacy of an intervention designed to improve the process forms of the fundamental motor skills, of the overhand throw. A five week intensive instruction program for nine and ten year old boys and girls (n=70) was implemented at an urban school to improve the performance of the overhand throw. The Victorian Fundamental Motor Skills manual instrument was employed for assessing the 'process' forms of the skill. Data were analysed using Rasch and Multivariate techniques. Group means evidenced improvement, and trends of improvement within gender groups were unique, however, no significant differences (p=.05) were found attributable to the intervention. The results are viewed in terms of improving skill levels in the primary school setting through the accepted four to five week physical education unit.