Motor skills of first year students in Human Movement Studies

Abstract

The facilitating of Human Movement Studies form an important part of a learner's
total development. The World Health Organization found that more than two thirds of
young people are not sufficiently physically active (Brundtland, 2002: 2). This lack of
movement above all entails inadequate physical development. The aim of this study is
to determine the level of the motor skills of first year students by using a test battery
which was developed by the researchers. The level of motor skills was recorded by
means of a five point scale. It was found that more than half of the respondents'
motor skills were insufficiently developed. The article concludes with the
recommendation that physical education students and teachers need to improve their
own levels of motor skills in order to develop movement activities significantly. There
should also be a clear distinction between movement activities as part of the formal
academic programme and activities as part of an extra mural activity plan.

Keywords: Motor skills; Movement; Physical development; First year students.

South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol. 29 (1) 2007: pp. 39-52