Basic Motor Competencies in Italian Schoolchildren Using the MOBAK-Test: Normative Data for a Novel Framework.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric motor development
• Children's physical activity
• Sports science

Background:

• Basic motor competencies (BMC) are crucial for children's engagement in physical activities.
• Existing normative data for BMC are limited, particularly for Italian schoolchildren.
• The MOBAK test battery assesses fundamental self-movement and object-movement skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative data for basic motor competencies in Italian children aged 5-11 years.
• To identify sex-based differences in motor skill development.
• To provide benchmarks for evaluating children's motor competence.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the MOBAK test battery to assess 1626 schoolchildren (5-11 years) in Northern Italy.
• Employed descriptive statistics, percentile ranks, z-scores, and T-scores for normative value establishment.
• Analyzed sex and grade level differences using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Main Results:

• Established the first normative data for BMC in Italian children.
• Observed increasing raw scores with age across all participants.
• Boys outperformed girls in object movement, while girls excelled in self-movement tasks.
• Boys showed age-related difficulties in achieving high scores, unlike girls whose development was more stable.

Conclusions:

• The study provides essential normative data and benchmarks for Italian children's basic motor competencies.
• Identified distinct developmental trajectories and sex-based differences in motor skills.
• Highlights the need for tailored interventions to support children's motor development and promote lifelong physical activity.