The underarm throw for accuracy in children

Forty boys and girls of two age groups (mean ages 52 and 70 months, respectively) performed 35 trials on a throwing task demanding accuracy. As might be expected, the older children were significantly more accurate than the younger ones but there were no sex differences. Film analysis of the throws showed that, although both age groups attempted to employ the adult strategy of varying velocity while keeping ball-release angle constant, the younger group was less successful in the latter aspect. The manner in which consistent release angles were arrived at by the older group was through the use of a movement pattern in which the elbow angle did not change during the forward swing. Such a movement pattern appeared less frequently in the younger age group. The results of this study provide support for a mode of research identifying functionally relevant kinematic variables that can subsequently be shown to follow from distinctive execution categories. In such a way, changes in outcome measures with increasing age and/or skill level can be functionally understood and identified.