6533b831fe1ef96bd1299a1f

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Improving Children's Coordinative Skills and Executive Functions

Marianna AlesiAnnamaria PepiAntonino BiancoAntonio PalmaGiorgio Luppina

subject

Malemedicine.medical_specialtymotor skillExperimental and Cognitive PsychologyFootball050105 experimental psychologyDevelopmental psychologyagilityExecutive Function03 medical and health sciencesChild Development0302 clinical medicineExercise programAerobic exercise; Agility; Football exercise program; Motor skills; Planning; Soccer; Working memory; Medicine (all); Experimental and Cognitive Psychology; Sensory SystemsmedicineHumansAerobic exercise0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesCognitive skillChildExerciseMotor skillfootball exercise programWorking memoryMedicine (all)05 social sciencesWorking memoryExecutive functionssoccerSensory SystemsPlanningMemory Short-Termaerobic exerciseMotor Skillssoccer; aerobic exercise; motor skills; agility; working memory; planning; football exercise programSedentary groupPhysical therapyPsychology030217 neurology & neurosurgery

description

Recent studies have focused on the positive influence of regular physical activity on executive functioning in children. Coordinative skills (agility) and executive functions (updating, attention, inhibition and planning processes) were investigated in children before and after 6 months of a Football Exercise Program compared to a control group of sedentary peers. The participants were 44 children aged 8.8 years: Group 1 comprised 24 children in a football (i.e., soccer) exercise program and Group 2 comprised 20 sedentary children. At pre-test and post-test, coordinative skills and executive functions were measured. After the Football Exercise Program, there were significant differences between sport and sedentary groups in coordinative skills and executive functions. The football group at post-test showed significantly larger gains than the sedentary group on measures of agility, visuo-spatial working memory, attention, planning and inhibition. Findings shed light on the issue to plan structured sport activities as a natural and enjoyable way to improve cognitive skills.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2016-02-01Perceptual and Motor Skills
https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512515627527