Cross-sectional relationships between motor coordination and change-of-direction and jumping performance in primary schoolchildren

Abstract

Motor coordination and physical fitness interrelated throughout childhood, although the magnitude of this association may differ according to age, sex, and the motor demands imposed by the assessment tasks. This study investigated the relationships between motor coordination and three indicators of physical performance in children aged 6–11 years: the 4 × 10 m shuttle run, standing long jump (SLJ), and countermovement jump (CMJ). The sample comprised 636 children recruited from two public primary schools. Motor coordination was evaluated using the 3JS test. The analyses included prespecified Pearson correlations, multiple linear regression models adjusted for age and sex, and comparisons among coordination groups were defined relative to the sample. Global motor coordination was associated with SLJ performance (r = 0.405), 4 × 10 m time (r = −0.756), and CMJ performance (r = 0.438; Holm-adjusted p < 0.001 for all three). In multivariable models, motor coordination remained independently associated with 4 × 10 m time (β = −0.663), CMJ performance (β = 0.410), and SLJ performance (β = 0.290). The full models explained 61.9%, 22.7%, and 19.0% of the variance in these outcomes, respectively. Children in the highest sample-relative coordination group performed better on all three tests. In this sample, motor coordination was consistently associated with change-of-direction and jumping performance, particularly 4 × 10 m performance. The cross-sectional design precludes causal inference, but the findings support the joint assessment of motor competence and physical performance in physical education.