Relationship between motor skill development, participation, and performance

Question 1

Motor skills as an enabler of movement

Answer 1

Early development of motor skills can lead to better performance. Given that most people enjoy things they are good at
Better performance in a sport or activity will lead to even more participation in sport
The more a person participates the more they practise and develop their motor skills and the better their performance becomes.
This creates a positive feedback loop

Question 2

Motor skills as a barrier to movement

Answer 2

A person who has not developed their skills, perhaps due to lack of encouragement from peers, school or parents may choose not to participate in sport and develop bad habits associated with a sedentary behaviour from a young age

Question 3

Motor skills as a barrier to movement

Answer 3

They may choose to play sports at some point, but due to a lack of skill, they may perform poorly and quickly become discouraged and demotivated from further participation.

Question 4

Motor skill development Enabler

Answer 4

Using a lighter javelin allows children to focus on developing the correct technique, which develops their motor skills faster. There are also fewer safety concerns allowing for more practise opportunities

Question 5

Motor skill development barrier

Answer 5

Using a standard Javelin prevents children from focusing on their technique, since they cannot produce enough force to throw the heavy javelin. This result is very little motor skill development and low participation

Question 6

Performance enabler

Answer 6

Children experience success and their performance improves, they are motivated to train further, and their performance get’s better with practise

Question 7

Performance barrier

Answer 7

Children often only manage to throw short distances. They experience a lack of success and little improvement in their technique. They decide not to continue participating in a sport that they experienced little success in

Question 8

Participation enabler

Answer 8

The plastic javelins are not viewed as dangerous, so parents are happy for their children to participate. The accessibility of the sport increases participation

Question 9

Participation barrier

Answer 9

The heavy javelin can pose a risk of injury. This can intimidate potential participation and may cause parents to discourage their children from participating in javelin