Gender and ethnic differences in motor proficiency among Senior Phase learners in Potchefstroom, South Africa

Abstract

The diversity of learners in South African schools implies that learners in the Physical Education class may show different levels of gross- and perceptual-motor proficiency, although no research has been reported on gender and ethnical differences in this regard. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine gender and ethnical differences in motor proficiency among Senior Phase learners in a South African city. A total of 239 13- to 14-year-old learners, from eight schools of different socioeconomic backgrounds in Potchefstroom, were assessed using the Bruininks- Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests and effect sizes. The results show that boys performed better than girls regarding the BOT-2 total and in the BOT-2 components of body coordination, manipulation coordination, strength and agility, while the girls obtained better scores in the fine motor coordination component. White learners performed better than Black learners in the BOT-2 total and the BOT-2 components of fine motor control, body coordination, strength and agility, whereas the Black learners performed better in the manipulation coordination component. These results imply that the Physical Education teacher should especially pay attention to the manipulation coordination of girls, and the body coordination, strength and agility of Black learners and girls in the Senior Phase Physical Education class.

Keywords: Motor proficiency, adolescents, gender, ethnic groups.