Optimizing Motor Coordination in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: Mini-Handball vs. Motor Skills...

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience motor competence challenges that hinder their participation in physical activities and affect daily functioning. While traditional motor skills training is commonly used, sport-based interventions offer the potential for greater benefits by providing dynamic, contextually rich environments for learning. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mini-handball training versus conventional motor skills training in improving coordination in children with DCD.

Forty-four children aged 9-10 years from Khorezm, Uzbekistan, with coordination difficulties (scores below the 16th percentile in the MABC-2) were randomly assigned to three groups: mini-handball training (n = 15), motor skills training (n = 15), and control (n = 14). Both intervention groups participated in three 90 min sessions per week for 12 weeks. The mini-handball group engaged in sport-specific drills including passing, dribbling, shooting, and small-sided games, while the motor skills group performed balance, locomotor, and fine motor exercises. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using the MABC-2. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models with time, group, and their interaction as fixed effects.

Both intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in motor coordination compared to controls. However, in general, the mini-handball group outperformed the other groups, particularly in domains requiring anticipatory control and visuomotor integration, including aiming and catching, balance, and overall coordination scores.

Mini-handball represents a promising, ecologically valid intervention for children with DCD. By integrating motor skills practice with cognitive challenge, social interaction, and intrinsic motivation within a meaningful sport context, mini-handball appears more effective than traditional training approaches. These findings suggest that sport-based, open-skill interventions should be considered in therapeutic protocols, school curricula, and community programs for children with DCD. Future research should examine long-term retention, transfer to daily activities, and implementation across diverse populations.